We express solidarity with Palestinian Christians – amongst the world’s oldest Christian communities – following this morning’s Israeli missile strikes on the Holy Family Catholic Church in northern Gaza, which has killed two women and injured seven, including the Parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli.
Moreover, in recent weeks, Palestinian Christians in the West Bank have also faced ongoing attacks on their homes, livelihoods, churches and holy sites by rampaging Israeli settlers in places like Bethlehem, Taybeh, Kafr Malik and more, often with Israeli Defence Force (IDF) personnel standing by or even helping.
As the unjustifiable blockade of and genocide in Gaza continues unabated, the international community must not forget Palestinians in the West Bank. Only since January 2025, Israel’s “Operation Iron Wall” in the West Bank has seen over 30,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced and several hundreds killed, alongside over 700 documented illegal settler attacks and raids, according to the OHCHR (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights).
Dr Wajid Akhter, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “The continuing illegal occupation and horrifying injustices that Israel is perpetrating with impunity across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and surrounding region, enabled by the lack of meaningful action by governments like ours in the UK, spares no religion, no conscience, and no decency. We commend the Church of England’s General Synod, for calling this out earlier this week by hosting Reverend Hosam Naoum, the Archbishop in Jerusalem, but we urge that more needs to be done.
Some will say, but what about Christian communities being persecuted in some Muslim-majority countries? We have no hesitation in saying that is wrong and in adding that two wrongs will never make a right.
Injustice against any faith is injustice against all faiths. Now is the time for people of conscience, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and friends of all faiths and none, to unite in defence of justice. Our respective teachings call us to stand with the oppressed, not just when it’s easy, but when it matters most. Solidarity is not optional, it is the measure of our humanity and the test of our faith.”
[ENDS]
Notes to editors:
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