Christian Palestinians

Sister Nabila Saleh at the entrance to the Rosary Sisters School in Gaza City after it was moderately damaged by Israeli airstrikes, May 12, 2021. (Holy Family Catholic Parish)

An ode to my school, destroyed by Israel

The school where I taught in Gaza City was my second home. Now it lies in ruins, some of my beloved students are dead, and I am terrified for the rest.

By Ruwaida Kamal Amer February 21, 2024

The ruins of the Great Omari Mosque, the largest and oldest mosque in northern Gaza. (Omar El Qattaa)

The obliteration of Gaza’s multi-civilizational treasures

Israel’s war has brought ruin to thousands of years of rich heritage in Gaza, with Palestinian experts decrying the destruction as a cultural genocide.

By Ibtisam Mahdi February 17, 2024

A photo taken near the ruins of the shrine of Saint Barbara in the West Bank village of Aboud. (Bukvoed/CC-BY-4.0)

For Netanyahu and Trump, Palestinian Christians are only pawns for political gain

We are an integral part of the Palestinian people, yet we are virtually invisible for those in the White House who claim to care about Christianity. By Fr. Emmanuelle Awwad When Israel barred Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting Palestine last week, it was a clear attempt to keep the congresswomen from witnessing…

By +972 Magazine August 23, 2019

Latest

Women Behind the Wall is a podcast which explores what life is like for Christian Palestinian women living under occupation.

This Palestinian Life: Uncovering the stories of women behind the wall

A podcast highlighting stories of Christian Palestinian women aims to inform new audiences on how occupation impacts their personal lives. A mother in the West Bank struggling to explain to her child, on reaching a checkpoint, that no, they have not yet arrived at the zoo. A grandmother in Beit Sahour who wishes to join…

By Henriette Chacar August 29, 2018

A youth sits near a cross overlooking the surrounding countryside in the displaced Palestinian village of Iqrit in northern Israel, April 21, 2014. Iqrit's original inhabitants were forcibly evacuated in the Nakba of 1948. Though the Israeli high court granted the residents, who are Palestinian citizens of Israel, the right to return to their homes in 1951, the military destroyed the village and has since prevented their return. Only the village's church and cemetery remained intact, and are still used by village residents while they campaign for a full return.

WATCH: The Palestinian youth realizing their dream of return

For three years, a group of young Palestinian citizens of Israel has been meeting in order to imagine and plan their return to the destroyed villages from which their parents and grandparents were expelled. The project they initiated, “Udna” (“Return”), aims to give the younger generation an awareness of the Nakba, and to create actual…

By Social TV January 20, 2016

Father Paolo from Beit Jala's Catholic church carries a piece of a checkpoint, during a Muslim-Christian protest against the planned route of the separation barrier, Beit Jala, West Bank, August 23, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

WATCH: Christian, Muslim Palestinians protest separation wall route

Days after the army uprooted Palestinian-owned olive trees to pave the route of the separation barrier in Beit Jala, Christians and Muslims from the town hold a joint protest to try and put a stop to the plan. By Oren Ziv Hundreds of Muslim and Christian Palestinians protested Sunday morning in the West Bank town…

By Activestills August 23, 2015

Students and activists face an Israeli policeman during an action in front of the Hebrew university marking he three year anniversary of the launch of the Israeli large scale military attack against Gaza Strip called Operation "Cast Lead" and calling for the end of the blockade, East Jerusalem, Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

Hebrew U. threatens Palestinian students with expulsion over political activities

Twelve Palestinian students are facing possible expulsion from Jerusalem’s Hebrew University for participating in an ‘illegal’ political protest. In the past, the university only took steps against particular student groups. Now, it’s switching gears and targeting individual students. Near the end of September, 12 Palestinian students received a notice from the Hebrew University administration, stating…

By Rami Younis October 24, 2014

Clashes erupted between hundreds of Palestinians and the Israeli army during a demonstration in Solidarity with the Gaza Strip at Huwwara military checkpoint, Nablus, West Bank in the early morning of July 24, 2014. (photo: Activestills)

Is the West Bank ripe for an intifada?

Media and politicians have been quick to claim that Palestinian protests against Operation Protective Edge mark the beginning of a third intifada. But in Beit Sahour, the town that was the heart of the First Intifada, some are skeptical that today’s demonstrations will turn into tomorrow’s revolution. Some ten thousand Palestinians marched from Ramallah on…

By Mya Guarnieri Jaradat July 27, 2014

Still from X-Project. (YouTube screenshot)

WATCH: Palestinian short film tackles emotional impact of conscription

A just-released short film, titled “Project-X,” tackles a politically charged issue — conscription by the Israeli military — through an emotional appeal to Palestinian youth. “We wanted this time to make a different kind of video,” said Nadim Nashif, director of Baladna — the Association for Arab Youth, which co-sponsored production of the film. “We…

By Samer Badawi June 10, 2014

Israeli settlers march into the Old City of Jerusalem during the 'Jerusalem Day' march, East Jerusalem, May 8, 2013. Earlier that day, police forces ordered Palestinian shops and stands inside the Old City to close at 15:00. In previous years, Israeli settlers had vandalized and destroyed many Palestinian shops that remained open during the march. (Photo by: Yotam Ronen/ Activestills.org)

Left Jabs: Getting ready for Independence Day, and more

Short, polarizing comments about the news. ————- Celebrate Israel Former heads of Shin Bet and Mossad say Israel could, without question, stop the runaway settler attacks on Palestinians if it wanted to, it just doesn’t want to. On Tuesday, why shouldn’t we celebrate Israeli Independence Day? This is a great country if you’re Jewish.…

By Larry Derfner May 4, 2014

With the Israeli settlement Gilo visible on a nearby hillside, Palestinians hold a prayer service as a nonviolent witness against the Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank town of Beit Jala, February 8, 2013. (Photo by Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: In fight against the wall, does Cremisan have a prayer?

After more than two years of vigils by Palestinian Christians that gained widespread international attention, the Israeli High Court issued a preliminary order questioning the path of the separation barrier that would further divide West Bank land, cutting off the Cremisan monastery and a valley of olive groves. Photos and text by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org…

By Activestills February 5, 2014

Illustrative photo: Graffiti of a Palestinian girl in Bethlehem (Anne Paq/Activestills.org)

‘They’re all named Mohammad nowadays’

Mya Guarnieri confronts discrimination, identity politics — and the occupation — as she searches for an apartment in Bethlehem. Read her previous post, ‘Reflections on one state from the West Bank.’ Not knowing much about my background, the elderly landlord who doesn’t rent to Jews called and asked me to come sign a lease. Despite my reservations,…

By Mya Guarnieri Jaradat September 28, 2013