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Taybeh, a small hilltop town in the heart of the West Bank, is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. After increasing attacks from Israeli settlers it now feels itself under siege and is fighting for its very existence.The town’s ancient Greek name was Ephraim where, according to the gospels, Jesus hid with his disciples from the Jewish religious hierarchy, the Sanhedrin, before making his final fateful trip to Jerusalem.A church was built here in the fifth century, and the entirely Christian community survived the crusaders, conquest by Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub or Saladin, the Ottoman empire, the British empire, and three Arab-Israeli wars, but its inhabitants say its long-term future is in question.There are four substantial Israeli settlements around Taybeh, and countless unofficial outposts have also sprung up on the steep hills overlooking the Jordan valley. They have been set up by messianic Jews who send their young people, the “hilltop youth”, to harass and intimidate local Palestinians in the surrounding countryside.The relentless land grabs and intimidation is a pattern repeated up and down the West Bank in a campaign the UN has called ethnic cleansing, which has been driven by hardline members of the ruling coalition, the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, and the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.“First they kicked the Bedouin out in the last three years and put up their caravans and bring their cows and sheep. They are using the land without any permission from the owners and from ourselves,” said Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, the parish priest of Christ the Redeemer church.Over the past year, the pressure has been turned up further. In July last year, settlers set fire to the grounds of the fifth–century Byzantine church, St Peter’s. Since then, bands of hilltop youth have raided the town four times, setting fire to cars, slashing tires and smashing windows.The church, part of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, supports small business ventures to provide jobs and builds affordable housing, but the community is still haemorrhaging. Fifteen families have left in the past two years, leaving the current population at about 1,100.After the attack on St Peter’s church in July, the US ambassador, Mike Huckabee, visited the town to condemn what he called “an act of terror” and to appeal for prosecutions.No prosecutions have been reported, and Huckabee has not spoken out over any of the subsequent attacks on Taybeh. A Southern Baptist minister, the ambassador is a fervent supporter of Israel’s territorial claims to the West Bank and beyond, which he argues are divinely ordained.In the West Bank however, the Christian population has shrunk from 5% of the total population in 1967 to roughly 1% today, about 45,000 people.The fierce religious nationalism that the Israeli government has cultivated in recent years has largely been directed at Palestinian Muslims but there has been a rising tide of anti-Christian incidents.Jad Isaac, the director general of the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem, which tracks the Israeli takeover of land and resources on the West Bank, said: “When Netanyahu says we are the only country which is taking care of the Christians, he’s a liar. He said that in Palestinian Christian communities in the West Bank “the strategy is to make life intolerable”.

On April 4, 2026, Lebanese Christians marked Good Friday, a significant day in the Christian calendar, under challenging circumstances. The observance comes as the region faces escalating Israeli attacks, adding to the complexity and tension in the Middle East.The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, with ongoing concerns about regional stability and the impact of external conflicts on local communities. As Christians in Lebanon and around the world reflect on the significance of Good Friday, the events unfolding in the region underscore the delicate balance between religious observance and geopolitical realities.

Palestinian Christians in Gaza are observing Good Friday, a day of solemn reflection and prayer, as they navigate the complexities of their lives in a conflict-ridden area.The Good Friday celebrations in Gaza are a testament to the resilience and faith of the Palestinian Christian community, who continue to practice their traditions despite the difficulties they face.

The situation for Christians in the Holy Land has been a topic of increasing concern. The region, considered sacred by Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, has seen a significant shift in its Christian population over the years.Historically, the Holy Land has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for Christians worldwide. However, recent trends indicate a decline in the number of Christians residing in the area, raising questions about the future of Christian presence in the region.The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a major factor contributing to this decline, with many Christians facing challenges related to displacement, economic instability, and religious tensions.Efforts to address these challenges and ensure the protection of Christian minorities in the Holy Land are underway. International organizations and religious leaders have been advocating for the rights of Christians and other religious minorities in the region, emphasizing the importance of preserving the cultural and religious diversity of the Holy Land.

On Palm Sunday, Israeli police restricted access to Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre, a site considered holy by Christians worldwide. A priest was prevented from entering the site, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.The Holy Sepulchre, located in Jerusalem's Old City, is a key pilgrimage site for Christians, marking the place of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is a significant event in the Christian calendar.The incident has raised concerns about religious freedoms and access to holy sites in Jerusalem, a city considered sacred by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Israeli police's actions have been criticized by some as an infringement on religious rights, while others may view it as a security measure to maintain order in the sensitive area.

On Palm Sunday, Christians in Lebanon gathered in churches to commemorate Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but the celebrations were overshadowed by the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The Maronite Catholic church near Dahiyeh in Beirut's southern suburbs was filled to capacity, despite being close to a largely deserted district due to Israeli evacuation orders and ongoing air strikes.In the coastal city of Tyre, church bells tolled and choral music filled the air as residents sought solace in preserving their sacred traditions amid the devastation. Worshippers prayed earnestly for peace, aware of Lebanon's history of sectarian tensions rooted in the 1975-1990 civil war between Christians and Muslims.Mahia Jamus, a 20-year-old university student in Beirut, expressed concern that no one is safe from the conflict's effects. "There's no bombing here right now, but no one is safe from this—not the Christians, not anyone," she said. "No one is spared from its effects."In Tyre, Roseth Katra, 41, emphasized the importance of preserving traditions despite the surrounding devastation. "Amid the wars, the tragedies, and the destruction happening around us, we remain on our land," she said. "Today is Palm Sunday, and we are celebrating."The conflict has resulted in at least 1,238 people killed and over 3,500 wounded in Israeli attacks since March 2, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health. Israeli troops have launched a ground invasion advancing towards the Litani River, while Hezbollah has claimed dozens of operations against Israeli forces.