Around 10:30 pm, the IDF's official social media accounts announced its plan to enact a "humanitarian pauses" across humanitarian zones in Gaza to "improve the humanitarian response in Gaza" by carrying out aerial airdrops of aid, while also explicitly denying in the same post any claims of starvation in Gaza. Israel's first airdrop was carried out late night, fell on top of tents and injured around 11 people. At 8:40 am the next morning, the IDF published a map laying out supposedly safe areas where its "*tactical pause in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 to 20:00*" starting Sunday. In total contrast to these official announcements, the IDF continued bombing and shooting civilians across the Gaza Strip including in the areas that are supposed to be safe, namely Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Israel killed at least 20 aid seekers on Sunday, while simultaneously not restricting the flow of aid through land crossings. Not a single truck entered from the south, whereas no more than 10 entered from the north, where 7 aid seekers were killed. Israel also killed at least 16 people in areas inside its so-called “humanitarian pause” zone. **List of Israeli attacks on aid seekers:** - GHF Netzarim / Wadi Gaza: 13 killed, including 4 children and a woman -▪️North: aid seekers massacred at the Zikim Crossing: 7 killed including at least one child **List of Israeli massacres of people inside supposedly safe zones:** -▪️Al-Mawasi: 7 killed - Deir al-Balah: 4 killed in a tent strike - Al-Rimal: 5 killed, a mother and her four children

On Wednesday night, July 23, 2025, Israeli forces conducted a raid in the town of Al‑Khader, south of Bethlehem. They opened fire on a group of teenagers near the Al-Abbara area, adjacent to Settlement Road 60. Two Palestinian teenagers — Ahmad Ali As’ad Salah (15) and Mohammad Khaled Alian Issa (17) — were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem. The bodies of the two boys were reportedly held by Israeli forces for a time before being transferred to hospitals in Bethlehem. At least two others, including minors, were wounded and transferred to hospitals in Bethlehem. The Palestine Red Crescent Society confirmed that paramedics were denied access to reach the injured, potentially costing lives and contributing to severe injuries or loss of limbs. The village of Al-Khader has seen repeated raids and settler incursions in recent years. In April 2025, Israeli forces opened fire during a raid, injuring a young man. **Names of the martyrs:** 1) Ahmad Ali As’ad Ashira Salah, 15 2) Mohammad Khaled Aleyan Issa, 17 **Israeli army statement** In a statement, the army announced that its soldiers killed two Palestinians and wounded 2 others claiming that *“the force spotted a number of young men throwing Molotov cocktails on a central road in the area.”* It added that Israeli forces *“opened fire on them, killing two of them, and there were no casualties among our forces.”*

Ayman Odeh is a Palestinian citizen of Israel and a prominent left-wing politician. He leads the Hadash party and previously headed the Joint List, an alliance of Arab-majority parties in the Israeli Knesset. Known for advocating Jewish-Arab cooperation, social justice, and an end to the Israeli occupation, he is one of the most vocal Palestinian voices inside Israeli politics. Timeline of the threats against MK Odeh: **On November 2024** Odeh was expelled from the Knesset podium after calling PM Netanyahu a “serial killer of peace.” He had highlighted an airstrike that killed newborn twins and their mother. **On May 22, 2025** Odeh was again forcibly removed from the Knesset for his outspoken condemnation of the Gaza war. Times of Israel **On January 2025** During the ceasefire with Hamas and the otages exchange, Odeh tweeted, *“I am happy about the release of the [Israeli] hostages and [Palestinian] prisoners… From here, both peoples must be freed from the yoke of the occupation.”* This drew harsh criticism and set the stage for impeachment by various members of the Knesset. From June 24 to late June 2025, the Knesset House Committee voted 14–2 to initiate impeachment proceedings under the “Impeachment Law”. Far-right MK Ofir Katz called him a “routine supporter of terror” and said he “should rot in prison.” The motion passed with backing from all Jewish MKs, including the official opposition—a move criticized as racist and anti-democratic. The Purpose of the Impeachment Law, introduced in 2016 under the pretext of targeting incitement to racism or armed struggle, is to be used to suppress Arab MKs—while similar acts by Jewish MKs have not triggered impeachment attempts The move serves two purposes: to distract from growing public fatigue with the Gaza war and to discourage higher Arab voter turnout — by sending a message that voting for Arab representatives is ineffective. The Zionist opposition parties joined the impeachment push, effectively empowering Netanyahu’s strategy and alienating Arab citizens who might otherwise engage politically **On July 15, 2025** A full Knesset vote on his expulsion failed. 73 MKs voted in favor, 15 against, and many—including United Torah Judaism, Blue & White, and most of Yesh Atid—abstained. The required supermajority of 90 votes was not reached, so Odeh remained in office. **On July 19, 2025** While heading to an anti-war rally in Ness Ziona, Odeh’s car was surrounded by a far-right mob. Attackers smashed his windows, hurled stones and sticks, spat at him, and chanted “death to Arabs”, all as police allegedly stood by without intervening. After surviving the assault unharmed, Odeh declared on X: “Fascism will not pass. Kahanism will not pass. We will not let them prevail!” This attack came just days after the failed Knesset vote to expel him over his pro‑prisoner swap. It underscores the heightened hostility toward Odeh amid his vocal criticism of the Gaza war and support for equality in Israel-Palestine politics. The police reportedly did nothing raises urgent questions about complicity and the rising threat of fascist violence targeting Arab politicians in Israel. **MK Ayman Odeh statement on July 19:** *"A week ago, brave citizens who organize the weekly demonstration against the war and against the government invited me to speak tonight in the city of Ness Ziona. This morning, we were informed that fascist extremists had threatened to attack us if we showed up, but we decided not to back down. We decided that no one will silence our voices. I thank the organizers and the courageous protesters who didn’t give up, who didn’t stay silent, and who understood: we must not be afraid. And we must not let them win. That’s why I came tonight, without fear. I was attacked by dozens of thugs. They assaulted my staff and me with stones, sticks, and anything they could get their hands on. They surrounded our car, shattered the windows, and shouted “Death to Arabs” the entire time. All the while, Ben Gvir’s police stood by and did nothing. Not a single arrest. But even in the face of such terrible violence, we will not be silent. On the contrary: it only strengthens our resolve, and our will to fight. We do not surrender to fascism. We stand firm against it, Jews and Arabs together, and we will defeat it. The struggle is clear: Democracy or fascism. As we did tonight, I will stand tall in the face of fascists, with my head held high, and I will attend every protest across the country."*

On July 18, in Hammam al Malik, in the Jordan Valley, Israeli settlers killed 117 sheep belongin to a Palestinian Bedouins farmer in an overnight attack and stealing hundreds of others in an apparent effort to chase farmers off their land in the occupied West Bank. **According to "Jordan Valley Activists":** Last night, a herd of 350 sheep was stolen from Hammam al-Malik. The shepherds were detained by the army on the pretext that they had thrown stones and were released a few hours later. Some of the sheep were found in the area around Ein Shak and returned to their enclosure in the morning. Many sheep carcasses remained in the field—executed—and wounded sheep were evacuated by pickup trucks. According to the shepherds, 117 sheep are still missing. Many were shot to death. [source](https://x.com/Mistaclim/status/1946200631221317736)

On July 17, 2025, at exactly 9:00, Israeli strike targeted the sole Catholic church of the Gaza strip, the Holy Family Latin Church in the Latin Convent in the heart of Gaza City. By 10:00, A tank fired shell struck the church roof sending rubble crashing down on civilians gathered in the courtyard and in a charity tent providing mental health support Since October 7, 2023, the church represents a vital sanctuary for hundreds of displaced Palestinians. For the past two weeks, shelling and bombing around the church have been frequent. Numerous videos showing explosions heard or seen during mass were recorded from inside the church. **Gaza Civil Defense:** The Holy Family Church, targeted by the Israeli army, shelters about 400 displaced Christians who sought refuge there after their homes were destroyed (press statement) **Casualties:** At least eight people were wounded, two of them critically. Among the wounded is Father Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the Catholic community in the city, who was reportedly very close with the late Pope Francis, having spoken with him often during the war in Gaza. Suhail Abu Dawood, Catholic atlter server was also wounded in the attack and remains in critical condition. 2 are killed. **Names of the victims:** 1. Saad Salama (Rum Orthodox Christian) 2. Foumia Ayyad (Rum Orthodox Christian, the parish’s 60-year-old janitor) 3. Najwa Abu Daoud (Muslim woman in her 80s, who was receiving support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound) **Initial Press Release of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the church bombed by Israel:** *“Jerusalem/Gaza 17 July 2025 The Holy Family Church in Gaza has been struck by a raid this morning. There are several injuries in the place including the Parish Priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. Currently there are no fatalities confirmed. The Church sustained damage. The Patriarchate will provide additional details upon their confirmation.”* **IDF spin** According to Haaretz, the IDF stated it is *"aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review." The military added that it makes efforts "to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them."* Israel’s foreign ministry Gideon Sa'ar, stated that *“he expresses deep sorrow over the damage [to the church] and over any civilian casualty. (...) Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” the ministry said in a statement. “The IDF is examining this incident, the circumstances of which are still unclear, and the results of the investigation will be published transparently.”* Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday blamed “stray ammunition” and said his country was “investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.” **Cardinal Pizzaballa (the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem) second statement:** *“This morning, at approximately 10:20 a.m., the compound of the Holy Family in Gaza, belonging to the Latin Patriarchate, was struck by the Israeli army. As of this hour, three individuals lost their lives as a result of the injuries sustained and nine others were wounded, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition. The community’s parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, sustained light injuries. (...) The people in the Holy Family compound are people who found in the Church a sanctuary — hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away,” said the statement, adding that it “strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place. However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza.”* Sources close to the patriarchate’s chancery told The Pillar Thursday that some officials believe the strike could be a deliberate act of retaliation, after Christian leaders recently condemned Israeli settler attacks on a West Bank Christian town. ‘not sure’ Gaza parish strike was ‘mistake’. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has expressed doubts after the Israeli government said that tank fire on the Gaza parish was not deliberate. Later, in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily, Pizzaballa said a Catholic presence would remain in Gaza “whatever happens,” and expressed doubts about Israel’s comments that the strike was a mistake: *“We are not a target. They say it was an error. Even if everybody here believes it wasn’t,”*. **Weapon** Some reports talk about aerial bombing by drone, but eyewitnesses told The Associated Press that an IDF tank fired at the church. This was later confirmed by the IDF sources. The chunguskitten X account,@chunguskitten, member of the Gazan Christian community and photographer testify that *"Based on photos it looks like the Israeli tank operators were aiming for the cross, but missed hitting the roof leading to the debris to rain down and crush those sheltering inside. There is no reason for an Israeli tank shell to be aimed this high. Lord have mercy."* In an act of defiance, the church bells rang on the morning of July 18. **Visit by the Patriarchs Pizzaballa and Theophilos III** On Friday July 18, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem visited Gaza — a rare move due to Israel’s tight blockade, to “stand alongside those affected by recent events,” according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. They worked with humanitarian partners to secure access for hundreds of tons of food aid, first aid kits, and medical equipment, which will benefit both the Christian community and other families in Gaza as well. The Patriarchate ensured also the evacuation of individuals injured in the attack to medical institutions outside Gaza where they will receive care. Praying for the safety of the visit, the Patriarchate called for the suspension of military activities. “The Latin Patriarchate said it remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza,” it said. “They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned.” Pope Francis called Pizzaballa and Theophilos to express support, stating he was "deeply saddened" by the attack but did not assign blame to Israel. **On July 18, Joint oecumenic statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem:** - Express their solidarity with people sheltering in the Gaza Catholic Parish :“In unyielding unity, we strongly denounce this crime,” “Houses of worship are sacred spaces that should be kept safe. They are also protected under international law. Targeting a church that houses approximately 600 refugees, including children with special needs, is a violation of these laws. It is also an affront to human dignity, a trampling upon the sanctity of human life, and the desecration of a holy site.” - Assuring the community in Gaza of their prayers and calling upon the international community to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that leads to an end to the war: “We also implore them to guarantee the protection of all religious and humanitarian sites,” **More details on the Catholic parish of Gaza** The parish includes a school which provides a Christian education to children in Gaza, and it works closely with the nearby religious congregations of the Missionaries of Charity, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, and the Rosary Sisters. The Missionaries of Charity care for the elderly and disabled, and the Rosary Sisters operate a school. The community is served by priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word. **Israeli attacks on the worship places (Muslim and Chrstian)** Since October 7, 2023, three churches in Gaza have been significantly damaged, alongside between 815 and over 1,000 mosques completely destroyed, with an additional 151 mosques partially damaged, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Awqaf and UNESCO assessments. That’s not even taking in consideration the churches and mosques of Lebanon that were attacked/desecrated by Israeli forces. The churches are: ➤ *Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church* – one of the oldest churches in the world, struck on October 19, 2023, during an Israeli airstrike that hit near the compound sheltering displaced civilians, killing at least 18 people. ➤ *Holy Family Catholic Church(Latin Parish of Gaza) and the Latin Monastery Church (Deir al-Latin)* – targeted on December 16, 2023; two Christian women were killed by Israeli sniper fire while sheltering inside. The attack was condemned by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and bombed in July 2025 by Israeli forces in the Old City of Gaza. The church’s priest, Gabriele Romanelli, was injured in the strike, and two worshippers were killed. ➤ *The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which includes a church*, is the only Christian hospital in the Gaza Strip. It has about 80 beds and provides critical medical services, including surgery, outpatient care, and trauma treatment. The hospital is overseen by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.In October 2023, it was targeted by an Israeli missile, killing hundreds of people who were sheltering in its yard. On Palm Sunday in April 2025, a missile strike again severely damaged the hospital. In June 2025, an eighth attack injured medical staff and displaced civilians. On July 8, 2024, the hospital was forcibly evacuated under orders from the Israeli military, and all patients and staff were removed.

**On July 15**, Israeli settlers and militias harassed a local farmer, physically threatening him and the activists in the village of Beit Hasan, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. According to Jordan Valley Activists: 'On the morning of Tuesday 15.7.25 Moshe Sharvit from the illegal outpost "Neva Tirzah Farm" brought his herd of cattle as every day to the cultivated fields of the farmers of the town of Beit Hassan in areas B, (Palestinian civilian control and Israeli security according to the Oslo Accords). P. and other farmers tried to remove the invading herd and in response fired a baton into the air several shots in his gun. That evening, Sharvit returned to the field accompanied by the army. P. was there with his brother and parents. Sharvit accused P. of throwing stones at him and the army ordered the family to leave the place. When they had just begun to move away, Moshe Sharvit entered them with the ATV in front of the army and P. was seriously injured and needed treatment. While in the clinic, P. received a call that the army had arrested his father, mother and brother and that he had to come so that they would be released. When he arrived at the scene at 20:00, he was taken together with his parents and brother to the Hamra checkpoint (Hasam Bekaot). P tells about the arrest: *"They sat us on the ground and took the phones from us. They tied our eyes, and hands behind our backs. Soldiers guarded us. Later in the arrest, when they saw that our eyes were closing, they beat us on the back or poured cold water on our heads. They also stabbed us in the head and neck with pins. We were humiliated. When my mother asked to go to the bathroom, the soldier shouted at her: "Quiet! Casual you whore."* At 5:30 a.m. the next day, P. and his family were released, after over 9 hours of detention. That evening soldiers came to his house and warned him not to cause any problems. Since then he is afraid to go out to work in the field again. He is in great debt and without completing the work in the field he will not be able to repay them.' [source](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1947650352397877534.html) **On July 16,** vehicles belonging to journalists—including a CNN reporter—and the International Committee of the Red Cross were assaulted and partially damaged in the morning by the same Israeli settler militias. On a road near the village of Beit Hasan, Israeli settler militias arriving with ATVs, were filmed harassing and chasing journalists and an International Red Cross crew. They damaged their vehicles and stole their equipment. Jeremy Diamond, an US journalist of CCN, was on the road to cover the US-Palestinian Saif Musallat's assassination beaten to death by Israeli settlers. **IFJ Statement:** *@CNN's correspondent @JDiamond1 and his crew were attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank while on assignment. We condemn this assault and the rise in attacks on Palestinian and foreign journalists. This is unacceptable!*

Israeli settlers launched a large-scale arson attack on the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah On July 14, 2025, during the evening, Israeli settlers set fire to a vehicle salvage yard in Burqa village, owned by Mohamed Saber. The attack destroyed dozens of vehicles and spread to nearby brushland. Israeli forces arrived at the scene and obstructed Palestinian firefighting teams from extinguishing the fire. The settlers reportedly withdrew to the illegal outpost of Tzur Harel. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of settler violence in Burqa village, which has experienced repeated attacks on homes, agricultural land, and religious sites. Local authorities and residents have condemned these acts and called for accountability.

On July 11,2025, Friday evening, dozen of settlers invaded Sinjil, near Ramallah in West Bank and attacked with rocks and batons the local residents, triggering confrontations. These confrontations occur daily and have intensified since Israel nearly sealed off the town of Sinjil with various barriers and fences in the early months of 2025. Sinjil is surrounded by illegal settlements and outposts and has been cut off from nearby Palestinian hamlets. Moreover, attacks and pogroms by settlers have been taking place on a daily basis for weeks. This is part of a broader intensification of ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli military and settlers are rapidly displacing, killing, and erasing Palestinian communities. At least 40 Palestinians were injured, many suffering head injuries, during the assault.The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed multiple emergency treatments and hospital transfers. Including them, a least 10 other Palestinians sustained injuries and fractures as settlers attacked them in Khirbet al-Tal, on Jabal al-Batin, south of Sinjil in Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate. The activist Ayyed Ghafari reported that dozens of settlers assaulted residents who were attempting, along with international solidarity activists, to reach Khirbet al-Tal to remove a colonial outpost there. The attack resulted in the injury of 10 Palestinians from the villages and towns of Sinjil, al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya, Abwein, and Jiljilya, north of Ramallah. Ghafari also noted that a settler ran over one of the activists and that settlers attacked two ambulances, smashing their windows. Settlers blocked medical teams from reaching wounded individuals trapped in surrounding forest areas. **Two Palestinians were found killed** several hours after being lynched by the settlers : *Muhammad Shalabi* (or Mohammad Rizq Shelby), 23, from Mazraa northeast of Ramallah was found brutally beaten by illegal Israeli settlers and shot in the chest in the Tel area of Sinjil. Shalabi was missing earlier today and found hours later by a search party of local youth who found him. According to the ministry of health, the 23 year old bled to death for hours. *Seif al-Din Muslat*, 23, a US-Palestinian, who had travelled from his home in Florida to visit family in Tampa, Palestine, were also beaten to death by club in his head. His cousin Fatima, currently outside of Palestine but in close communication since the attack, recounted that when armed colonizers approached, Musallet and others attempted to get help but access was obstructed. Even after emergency responders arrived, the colonizers held up the ambulance for nearly two hours. One person is still missing, according to local sources. **US State Department statement:** “We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank”. The official declined to comment further “out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones” of the reported victim. **Names of the martyrs:** Mohammad Rizq Shelby, 23 years old. Saif al-Din Kamel Abdel Karim Muslat, 23 years old, a U.S. citizen. **Israeli Military Response:** In response to the unrest, the Israeli military deployed two additional battalions to the occupied West Bank. In those hours, Israelis and the army were carrying out large scale attacks on the towns. **Related events on Tiktokgenocide:** April 21, 2025 : [One killed in a Pogrom in Sinjil by Israeli settlers and soldiers](https://tiktokgenocide.com/event/1896)

The funeral of Master Sergeant (Res.) Abraham Azulay, 27, an Israeli settler from the illegal Shaked outpost in the hills of Itamar and a member of the Uriah force operating in Khan Younis, took place at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Azulay was killed on July 9 while operating an engineering vehicle during a wide-scale demolition mission in Khan Younis which included the demolition of Palestinian homes, just three months after his wedding. He is the son of Yitzhak and Yifat Azulay from the settlement of Elazar in Gush Etzion. Hundreds of family members and friends were attending his funeral. Azoulay is the third casualty from Itamar since the outbreak of the war He was among the many residents of Itamar who came to assist the IDF in Gaza with heavy engineering equipment in the Uriah force funded by an Leberbom, a leader of extremist settlers advocating for ethnic cleansing in West Bank and Gaza strip. **An extremist settler involved in an ethnic cleansing ideology** As a teenager, he moved to Yitzhar — a settlement in the occupied West Bank known for its extremist ideology and hostility toward Palestinians. There, he reportedly founded a construction company that operated under a "Hebrew Labor" policy, employing only Jewish workers. More recently, he relocated to Havat Shaked (Shaked Farm), an unauthorized outpost built on privately owned Palestinian land. The broader context surrounding his life and death highlights disturbing policies and ideologies that continue to shape the occupation. For example, public broadcaster Kan has reported on other "Hebrew Work" businesses from Yitzhar — a term referring to employment practices that exclude Palestinian workers. In Yitzhar itself, residents have installed signage barring Arabs from entering the settlement, including for critical services. In one incident, a Palestinian medical worker was reportedly denied entry while attempting to conduct COVID-19 testing. **Excerpt of eulogies published in the Israeli press (Israel National News):** Rabbi David Dudkevitch, the rabbi of the Itamar community, eulogized the fallen soldier: "How beloved you were. All your life, you and your friends were soldiers without uniforms, from morning until night, emissaries of the nation. From the righteous war, you left your home, your wife, and went to ascend to the altar of our father Abraham." Rabbi Chaim Ben-Shushan also delivered a eulogy: "Abraham, a hero, a man of war, quiet, modest, and graceful. God-fearing, we learned Torah together, diligent. A hero and a righteous man. You went out to conquer the land and settle it. You went out to erase the seed of Amalek from the world." A friend of his eulogized and shouted a message to the government: "Our people are scarred from this strip of land, we’ve been carrying scars for too many years from such a small, foul place. Remove everyone from there, end this story, and return governance to the people."

**On June 25-26**, Israeli settlers attacked homes and lit a fire at the eastern entrance of the Christian West Bank village of Taybeh, as they rampaged through the neighboring village of Kafr Malik. “These days, we are living under the fire, barbarism and brutality of the settlers … and under the direct protection of the Israeli occupation army,” Father Bashar Basiel, priest at Christ the Redeemer Parish, wrote in a post he sent out to journalists. “We will win with hope. We are Palestinian Christians. We resist with our faith.” According to aybeh resident Nadim Khoury, owner of the well-known Taybeh Brewery and Winery, settler violence has grown in severity over the past year: settlers encroaching on Taybeh agricultural land with their sheep and cows, preventing farmers from reaching their crops: “Settlers have been coming to Taybeh property and grazing their sheep and cows on the wheat and barley crops the people of Taybeh have planted. No one is stopping them". “We can’t do anything. Everybody is afraid and panicked but don’t know what to do. Taybeh depends on its agriculture and olive trees. People don’t know what to do or who to complain to if the government is with them, what can we do?” Palestinian shepherds and Israel activists maintain that soldiers and police who are deployed to such incidents rarely do anything to stop the settlers and in fact seem to be supporting them, noting that the situation has gotten worse since the war as attention is placed on Gaza. **On July 7**, in the Christian village of Taybeh, West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to the ancient Church of the ST Georges and the Christian cemetery which dates back to the 5th century AD and is one of the oldest churches in Palestine. The quick intervention of the residents and firefighting teams prevented a disaster that could have engulfed the church completely. However, this incident was not isolated but part of daily attacks that have become familiar to the residents of Taybeh, according to the statement. Christian families from the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank shared photos of Israeli settlers storming their property, herding their cows through their land—and. **On July 8, Statement by the Priests of the Churches of Taybeh – Ramallah / Palestine** *Regarding the Repeated Attacks by Settlers on Land, Holy Sites, and Property - July 8, 2025* *We, the priests of the three churches of Taybeh – the Greek Orthodox Church, the Latin Church, and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church – raise our voices on behalf of the people of our town and our parishioners to strongly condemn the ongoing and grave series of attacks targeting Taybeh. These assaults threaten the security and stability of our town and aim at undermining the dignity of its residents and the sanctity of its sacred land.* *On Monday, July 7, 2025, settlers deliberately set fire near the town’s cemetery and the historic Church of Saint George (Al-Khadr), dating back to the 5th century – one of the oldest religious landmarks in Palestine. Were it not for the vigilance of local residents and the swift intervention of firefighting teams, the damage could have been far more catastrophic.* *In a scene that has become provocatively routine, settlers continue to graze their cattle in Taybeh’s agricultural lands, including family-owned fields and areas near residential homes, without deterrence or intervention from the authorities. These violations go beyond provocation; they cause direct harm to olive trees – a vital source of livelihood for the people of Taybeh – and prevent farmers from accessing and cultivating their land.* *The eastern area of Taybeh, which comprises more than half of the town’s territory and includes the bulk of its agricultural activity, has effectively become an open target for illegal settlement outposts that expand quietly under military protection. These outposts serve as a base for further assaults on the land and its people.* *As priests, we bear a pastoral and moral responsibility toward our community. We cannot remain silent in the face of these relentless attacks that threaten our very existence on this land. Taybeh – known in the Gospel as “Ephraim,” the place to which Jesus withdrew before His Passion (John 11:54) – is the last remaining entirely Christian town in the West Bank. Its wholly Christian population represents a unique presence in the region, a living testimony that dates back to the time of Christ. This enduring spiritual and cultural legacy, preserved faithfully by the people of Taybeh across generations, is now at serious risk of erosion and displacement due to the systematic targeting of land, sacred places, and the local community.* *We call upon local and international actors – especially consuls, ambassadors, and church representatives around the world – to take the following actions:* *Launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the incidents of arson and the ongoing assaults on property, agricultural land, and holy sites.* *Apply diplomatic pressure on the occupying authorities to halt settler actions and prevent them from entering or grazing in Taybeh’s lands.* *Dispatch international and church delegations to conduct field visits, document the damages, and bear witness to the deteriorating reality on the ground.* *Support the people of Taybeh through economic and agricultural initiatives, and strengthen their resilience with effective legal accompaniment.* *We believe that the Holy Land cannot remain alive without its indigenous people. Forcibly removing farmers from their land, threatening their churches, and encircling their towns is a wound to the living heart of this nation. Yet we remain steadfast in our shared faith and hope that truth and justice will ultimately prevail.* Fr. Daoud Khoury Fr. Jack Noble Alhed Fr. Bashar Fawadleh* (Stamped and signed by the Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, and Latin Churches of Taybeh) **On July 1st, Statement of the Consulat général de France à Jérusalem** "Solidarity visit by Consul General @NKassianides to the residents of #KafrMalek and #Taybeh, victims of violent settler attacks. Heart-wrenching testimonies about the night of terror they endured. The Consul General offered condolences to the families of the 3 Palestinians killed. These intolerable attacks must stop immediately."