Latin Patriarchate calls actions by Israeli occupiers ‘clear violation of Church properties’
Reposted from Rania Abushamala, Reposted from Anadolu Agency, April 23, 2026
The Endowment Department of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said Thursday it filed an official complaint with Israeli authorities regarding encroachments by occupiers on church-owned land in the Tayasir area in the West Bank governorate of Tubas.
In a statement, the department said the complaint details attacks against local residents and the land of the Latin Patriarchate across several locations.
In response to the complaint, Israeli authorities began a series of measures, including “pursuing those responsible and seizing heavy machinery used for land destruction and damage at the site,” the statement said.
During a meeting held on Wednesday (April 22) with representatives of the Israeli military authorities and the Civil Administration, the department described actions by Israeli occupiers as “a clear violation of Church properties,” and called for “the immediate removal of all damage caused, prevention of any future intrusions into these areas, and the provision of legal protection for the Patriarchate’s lands.”
It affirmed its support for local residents and stressed its commitment to “helping them remain steadfast, protect their dignity, and live in safety and stability.”
“Protecting Church endowment properties is a red line,” the department stressed, vowing to take “all legal and administrative steps needed to protect their sanctity, preserve their Church identity, defend their lawful rights, and continue supporting the local people.”
Israeli occupiers have escalated their assaults against Palestinians and their land across the occupied West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 16 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli occupiers in the West Bank since the start of 2026.
Figures released by the official Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission showed that Israeli forces and occupiers carried out a total of 1,819 attacks in March, including 1,322 by army forces and 497 by occupiers.
More than 1,150 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured in attacks by Israeli army forces and occupiers across the West Bank since October 2023, according to official Palestinian data.
Rania Abushamala is a reporter for Anadolu Agency.
Eight countries slam Israel’s violations of Islamic, Christian holy sites, including Al-Aqsa mosque
The foreign ministers of Türkiye and seven other countries on Thursday condemned “repeated Israeli violations of the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites by Israeli occupation authorities,” particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
In a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the ministers denounced continued incursions by Israeli occupiers and officials into the compound under police protection, as well as the raising of Israeli flags within its courtyards.
They said such actions constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law and international humanitarian law and represent an “unacceptable provocation to Muslims around the world and a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holy city.”
The ministers reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to alter the status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, stressing the need to preserve it. They also underscored the special role of the Hashemite custodianship in overseeing the sites.
The statement reiterated that the entire compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque, covering 144 dunams, is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, holds sole authority to administer the site and regulate entry.
“The Ministers further condemned the accelerating illegal settlement activity, including Israel’s decision to approve over 30 new settlements, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, including United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice,” the statement said.
It added that they further denounced escalating occupiers’ violence in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks targeting Palestinian schools and children, and called for accountability.
“They emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They categorically rejected any attempts to annex the Occupied Palestinian Territory or to displace the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
The ministers also stressed that such actions constitute “a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian State and on the implementation of the two-State solution, increase tensions, undermine peace efforts, and hinder ongoing initiatives aimed at de-escalation and the restoration of stability.”
“The Ministers reiterated their call for the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, and to put an end to its illegal practices,” the statement noted.
Calling on the international community to take “clear and decisive steps,” the ministers urged greater efforts to halt violations and advance a comprehensive political solution based on a two-state framework.
“The Ministers reiterated their unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination and to realize the independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the statement added.
Asiye Yilmaz is a reporter for Anadolu Agency.
Israeli soldier’s vandalism of Jesus statue ‘not unexpected’: Mideast Churches Council chief
By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan, Reposted from Anadolu Agency, April 25, 2026
Israel’s apology over desecration in Lebanon was meant to portray itself as committed to international law and human rights
Michel Abs, secretary-general of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), said the act of an Israeli soldier vandalizing a statue symbolizing Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon was not unexpected.
“We do not see this as unexpected or strange behavior, as the soldier in question belongs to a government that claims to be waging a holy war based on so-called sacred texts,” Abs said Thursday in a written response to Anadolu regarding the incident in the town of Deir Seryan, which remains under Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon.
“It is obvious that he feels animosity against Christian symbols, but it is not the first time that such incidents have happened. We wish with suspicion it is the last time,” he added further.
Abs stressed the importance of separating politics and religion, warning that the use of religion in politics, including in times of war, represents a dangerous trend with unpredictable consequences.
Commenting on reports that the Israeli government had apologized for the soldier’s actions, Abs said such a move was necessary for a government seeking to portray itself as committed to international humanitarian law and human rights, adding that while it may be “a smart move, but doesn’t counterbalance a past of atrocious actions.”
“War is the indicator of the craziness of mankind,” Abs said, adding that wars can be avoided by promoting a culture of peace and love worldwide through combating demonization and hate speech.
“For us Christ’s Love is the remedy to the ailing humankind,” he said in the statement.
Photos shared on social media showed an Israeli soldier using an axe to destroy a statue of Jesus in Deir Seryan, located 5-6 kilometers from the border in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli army confirmed the authenticity of the images and announced that an investigation had been launched.
No information has been provided regarding when the incident took place, while the soldier’s actions against the religious symbol have sparked widespread backlash.
Muhammet Ikbal Arslan is a reporter for Anadolu Agency.
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