Hierarchs of Jerusalem urge to prevent Christians' exodus from Palestine

The Catholic Chapel of the Shepherds' Field in the city of Beit Sahour, Palestine. Photo: UOJ

On August 24, 2026, representatives of Christian Churches of Jerusalem called for preventing the outflow of Christians from Palestine amid the war in Gaza and the deteriorating situation on the West Bank, reports AsiaNews.

The appeal was prepared by the ecumenical group "Jerusalem Voice for Justice," whose signatories include Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran hierarchs. They stated that the destruction in Gaza, the expansion of Israeli settlements, checkpoints, and movement restrictions on the West Bank are deepening despair among Palestinians and causing some to consider emigration.

The authors of the appeal separately urged Palestinian Christians not to leave their land. "We tell you: do not let fear dominate you, suggesting that you are strangers in your own land. Do not let despair cloud your future," the statement reads. The hierarchs emphasized that the Christian communities of Palestine are not "relics of the past" but a part of the present and future of the Holy Land.

The signatories also called on Churches and Christian institutions to support local residents in matters of employment, education, and housing, and urged politicians, including US authorities, to promote an end to killings, destruction, and the displacement of the population. "This land is not only the land where our ancestors lived; it is also the land where we want our children to live," the appeal states.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Theophilos awarded the EU Ambassador to Israel for his support of Christians.

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