Settler attacks escalate against Christians in occupied al-Quds

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
12 Jul 2024 16:25
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The streets of the Old City of occupied al-Quds have seen a rise in ongoing violations and attacks by settlers and Israeli occupation forces against Christians.

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Orthodox Christian clergy marks Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a place where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected, in al-Quds, on April 17, 2022. (AP)

Violations and attacks by settlers and Israeli occupation forces against Christians in occupied Palestine, especially in occupied al-Quds, have been increasing since the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.

Christians in al-Quds have been subjected to harassment and are being prevented from performing their religious rituals, while their holy sites have also been subjected to desecration and violations.

In this context, Israeli media acknowledged what it described as "an escalation in the pace of hateful acts and attacks on Christians."

During the last three months, there have been thirty-six recorded incidents of abuse against Christians, according to "Israel's" Channel 13, 17 incidents of Israelis spitting on Christian churchgoers, nine incidents of vandalism, five physical assaults, and five verbal assaults, all happening while settlers were kept under the protection of occupation police.

Restrictions against Christians

In addition to these attacks, the occupation is imposing other restrictive measures against Christians by levying taxes on churches and their properties in occupied al-Quds.

Late last month, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine declared its firm rejection of the Israeli occupation's imposition of taxes on churches and their properties in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The committee highlighted that the systematic Israeli policies and procedures aimed at imposing taxes on churches and their properties and institutions in occupied al-Quds are designed to pressure the indigenous Christian presence and forcefully displace it.

These measures also aim to exert full control over these churches and their properties, particularly as some Israeli municipalities have filed official claims in courts against many churches, the statement added.

The committee reiterated the principled and steadfast positions of the church patriarchs and leaders who reject these unlawful measures, and emphasized its support for all decisions made to counter these Israeli policies and procedures.