Palestinian Official Condemns Attacks on Christian Communities Amid Gaza Conflict

During a press briefing held in Makati City on Thursday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Shahin expressed deep concern over the attacks on Christian villages in Gaza amid Israel’s military operations targeting Hamas militants.

Shahin underscored the alarming decrease in the Christian population in Palestine, which she described as the “cradle of Christianity.” She noted that the Christian demographic has fallen dramatically from 12% in the previous century to less than 1% today in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

"The Christian population has been dwindling from, let’s say, 12% in the last century to 10%, to 8%, to 5%. Today, we are less than 1% in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. That’s a very, very low number, but the contribution is still very high because we are in every sphere that you can think of," she said.

Emphasizing the importance of preserving Christian heritage, Shahin highlighted key sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and burial, and the Church of the Nativity, historically recognized as the birthplace of Jesus.

"We want Christians to be preserved, to remain in the cradle of Christianity, and to bear witness for future generations. Imagine what it means to have the cradle of Christianity without its Christian population," she added.

Shahin affirmed that Christians form an integral part of Palestinian society and emphasized the respect Christianity commands within the Palestinian community.

During her visit to the Philippines, she met with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David and Cardinal Jose Advincula to discuss the challenges faced by Christians in Gaza. Both Cardinals have shown support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict.

Cardinal Advincula has advocated for prayers and peace intentions for war-torn areas, including Palestine, commencing July 2024. Meanwhile, Cardinal David previously asserted that peace cannot be achieved as long as Bethlehem remains encircled by Israeli barriers.

"Hindi tayo magkakaroon ng kapayapaan sa mundo hangga’t hindi natin natutunan na wasakin ang mga pader ng hidwaan at alitan sa isa’t-isa batay sa kulay, o sa relihiyon, o sa lahi, o sa kasarian, o sa estado ng pamumuhay," David stated, which translates to, "We will not have peace in the world until we learn to tear down the barriers of conflict and disagreement between each other based on color, religion, race, gender, or social status."

The late Pope Francis also criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, condemning the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

Shahin further lamented recent damage inflicted upon religious sites, citing the destruction of the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes. The church was sheltering Gazan refugees at the time, many of whom perished in the attack.

"Churches were bombed. The mosques, like Al-Omari Mosque, were bombed. All of it is gone," she said. "The heritage is under a lot of threat, and the world needs to stand up and say, ‘enough is enough.’ Israel cannot continue with whatever it has been doing for a long time."

Responding to these allegations, Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Dana Kursh, denied intentional targeting of churches, mosques, or other heritage sites during military operations in Gaza.

In an interview, Kursh explained that Israeli forces strive to minimize damage to Palestinian civilians and religious landmarks, blaming Hamas for using civilian areas and religious sites as shields.

"What the Hamas terrorist organization is choosing is to place themselves in those spaces, especially in order that we will, God forbid, harm them. And we are doing the maximum to prevent that from happening," Kursh stated.

She also emphasized that Israel respects the freedom of religion for all communities, including Christians in Gaza and the West Bank, and asserted that the decline of the Christian population is a result of Hamas’s restrictive policies rather than Israeli actions.

"How are Christians treated in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas terrorist organization and other jihadists? Israel is the homeland. It’s the birthplace of the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We are doing the utmost not to jeopardize any religion and the freedom of religion," Kursh said. "The finger should not be pointed at us, but at the Hamas terrorist organization and other jihadis."

The ongoing conflict continues to exacerbate the fragile status of religious communities and heritage in one of the world’s most contested regions, prompting calls from multiple stakeholders for urgent international attention and intervention.