Evangelicals, Christian Zionists, have been long-standing supporters of "Israel". According to an AP report, US evangelicals have even been actively involved in volunteering and supporting the Israeli occupation during its genocide against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip.

For example, the AP report noted that Pennsylvania Christian Zionist, Shawn Landis, following the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood "was chopping vegetables in a Tel Aviv kitchen, preparing meals for Israeli soldiers."

Evangelicals make no regard for Arab Christians or Muslims, the descendants of the Abrahamic prophets and Jesus Christ, as they make the same end-time claims that Zionist Jews make. Disregarding the oppression and atrocities committed in the name of occupation, the Zionist Christians sought to stand with Western Jews occupying Palestine, a stance that Arab Christians in general, and Palestinian Christians more specifically, have refuted and condemned.

Significantly, the report by AP stressed, "In the US, support for Israel has become a top priority for evangelical Christians during a presidential election year."

This shows the significance of Aaron Bushnell's act on the social level and across the US, given that he was born into the Community of Christ compound, which is a Christian Zionist compound that called on October 10, 2023, for the "right of the State of Israel to exist in secure borders."

Read more: The Future of Arab Christians: One path, one destiny

Role of Zionist Christians in assisting Israeli occupation

The AP report underscored that "On Oct. 11, dozens of leading evangelicals signed a statement of support for Israel organized by the public policy wing of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest evangelical faith group in the US."

This meant that influential evangelical figures, including those from the Southern Baptist Convention, had signed statements expressing their support for "Israel" despite the occupation, genocide, and ethnic cleansing policies against the people of Palestine.

Also according to the report, "One of the key pro-Israel groups in the US is Christians United for Israel, founded and led by evangelical pastor John Hagee. CUFI says it has raised and dispersed more than $3 million to support Israeli first responders, healthcare workers, and survivors of the Oct. 7 attack."

These efforts are part of a broader wave of religious "voluntourism" to "Israel", with the Tourism Ministry estimating that one-third to half of the approximately 3,000 daily visitors expected in March are participating in "faith-based volunteer trips" to support the Israeli occupation forces, as with the case of Landis.

Significantly, the report noted that the Evangelical group known as the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, organizing trips since January, plans to bring half a dozen more "volunteers" to "Israel".

In 2007, The Jerusalem Post published a piece titled "Anglicans helped create Israel", which discussed the role of Evangelical Christians in the occupation of Palestine by citing historian Kelvin Crombie, who devoted his life in "Israel" to study the plight of the Zionist Christians. 

Crombie explained that "it is impossible to understand the Balfour Declaration of 1917 without first understanding the theological developments that reached their peak in 1850."

More recently, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby refused to meet with Palestinian pastor Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac of the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beit Lahm after the latter became vocal about the Israeli occupation's crimes against the people of Palestine.

Abp. of Canterbury refuses to meet pastor over pro-Palestine rally

The Archbishop of Canterbury canceled a meeting with Rev. Isaac, as he refused to meet with him if he took part in a platform with the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at a pro-Palestinian rally. It is noteworthy that the Lambeth Palace stated that it did not comment on private meetings.

The Archbishop justified his stance by claiming that he is "concerned about the huge increase in antisemitism" in the UK since October 7, adding that he believes what he described as a "meeting" would "cause a huge problem to the Jewish community."

Isaac is the Palestinian pastor of the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beit Lahm. Expressing deep distress over the Israeli genocide in Gaza in his Christmas sermon, he emphasized that were Jesus Christ born today, he would have been born under the rubble. This sermon was recorded in a video that went viral.

He gave a speech at the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign rally during the weekend. Corbyn was also one of the speakers at the rally as he was invited by the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot.

In an interview for The Guardian, Isaac stated the archbishop’s aides informed him that if he shared a platform with Corbyn, a meeting with him and the Archbishop would be out of the question. He commented on the latter, stating, "It’s shameful. It’s not my type of Christianity not to be willing to meet another pastor because you don’t want to explain why you met him."

"This sums up the Church of England. They danced around positions and ended up saying nothing. They lack the courage to say things," he stressed.

Christians targeted by 'Israel' more than ever: Archbishop Hanna

A few days prior to the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, and thus prior to the genocide in the Gaza Strip, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, Archbishop Atallah Hanna, told Al Mayadeen, "Today, the Christian presence in occupied Al-Quds is targeted by the Israeli authorities, more than ever."

He affirmed that the Israeli practices "target all components of the Palestinian society."

In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Archbishop Hanna pointed out that the phenomenon of spitting and slurring insults by illegal Israeli settlers against Christian priests "is not new," noting that he has been subjected to such acts repeatedly.

He emphasized that "the phenomenon of attacking Christians has been ongoing for a long time," adding that it "has increased during the rule of the fascist government and amid the silence of Western countries."

Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized that Christianity has not been imposed on this nation, but this nation is rather the cradle of Christianity, reiterating that those who target Christians are targeting all the Palestinian people with their symbols and sacred elements.