Palestinian church body appeals for global action against settler attacks

A Palestinian church-affiliated body has made a stark international appeal, asserting that violent attacks by Israeli settlers are endangering the centuries-old Christian community in Palestine. The Palestinian Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs sent a letter to churches worldwide on Sunday, urging them to take public action to protect civilians. The committee described a systematic campaign of violence and intimidation across the West Bank that aims to alter the region's demographic character and force Palestinians, including Christians, from their land.

Patterns of violence and systematic displacement

The committee's letter specified that attacks have intensified in multiple areas, including Birzeit, Taybeh, and the Bethlehem governorate. It characterized these incidents—ranging from physical assaults and arbitrary arrests to land confiscation and the expansion of illegal settlement outposts—as part of a coordinated policy, not random crimes. "These are not isolated incidents," the committee stated, alleging the violence is conducted "under the protection of Israeli forces and amid complete impunity." Official Palestinian data cited in the appeal notes that the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank now exceeds 770,000.

A broader context of occupation and casualties

This appeal is framed within the wider context of Israel's occupation, which the United Nations and the International Court of Justice have declared illegal. The committee linked the settler violence to broader Israeli actions, including home demolitions and military operations, which it labeled collective punishment. Citing Palestinian figures, the appeal noted that since October 2023, over 1,110 Palestinians have been killed and 11,500 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers. The committee argued this environment, alongside more than 4,723 settler attacks in 2025 alone, constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law that demands a global response.

An appeal for global religious solidarity and Türkiye's stance

The committee, established by presidential decree and affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), called specifically on global churches to break their silence and act. This move seeks to mobilize religious and moral pressure internationally. The situation resonates with the consistent diplomatic position of Türkiye, which has long condemned illegal settlements and advocated for the protection of Palestinian rights, including those of Christian and Muslim communities, in Jerusalem and the occupied territories. Ankara views the preservation of the status of holy sites and the prevention of demographic change as critical to any future just and lasting peace.