JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL

Patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem on Tuesday strongly condemned a settler assault on the Christian town of Taybeh in the central West Bank, calling it part of a disturbing pattern of violence aimed at intimidating Palestinian communities.

In a joint statement, the church leaders said several vehicles were set ablaze and racist graffiti was sprayed during the attack, describing it as “an unambiguous act of intimidation directed at a peaceful and faithful community rooted in the land of Christ.”

They noted that masked settlers, some armed and others on horseback, had recently raided the town, threatening residents and even reaching the walls of the historic Church of St. George.

The statement criticized Israeli police for reducing the incident to mere property damage, saying such omissions “distort the truth and fail to address violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including the right to religious freedom and the protection of cultural heritage.”

The church leaders also denounced “reactionary disinformation campaigns” by settler-affiliated groups, warning that such narratives sought to discredit victims and deflect international scrutiny.

They urged the Israeli government to hold perpetrators accountable, ensure consistent protection for the people of Taybeh, and uphold its obligations under international law.

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, a group of illegal settlers raided Taybeh early Monday, torching two vehicles and spray-painting racist slogans on the wall of a Palestinian home. Israeli forces later entered the town with several military vehicles following the assault.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, saying it reflected “disregard for international reactions” to earlier settler assaults on the town, including attacks on its cemetery and the historic Church of St. George earlier this month. The ministry urged “firm international measures” to compel Israel to end settler violence and bring those responsible to justice.

Last month, illegal settlers also set up a new outpost on the ruins of Palestinian homes demolished after violent attacks in Taybeh last year.

Following the July 7 assault on the town’s cemetery and church, patriarchs, church heads, and diplomats from over 20 Arab and foreign countries visited Taybeh in solidarity with its residents.

Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, at least 1,009 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.