A visiting delegation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) found that the fragile peace in Gaza has not improved conditions for Palestinian Christians in the West Bank.
Travel restrictions, economic hardship, and heightened security measures have made daily life increasingly difficult.
ACN reported that 85 young Palestinian Christians traveling to Rome for the Jubilee of the Youth faced significant obstacles.
What was once a short drive to Ben Gurion Airport had turned into an overnight bus journey to Jordan, adding both time and expense to their trip.
“This is the new normal in the Palestinian territories in the Holy Land,” said Father Louis Salman, pastoral chaplain for youth in the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem.
Travel restrictions leave communities feeling isolated, job prospects are scarce, and violence adds to the trauma. “Honestly? For us, in the West Bank, the ceasefire has made the situation even worse,” he said.
“Since the ceasefire, they have closed even more roads, made traveling even more difficult. The road from Jifna to Zababdeh used to take around two hours. Now, it takes four,” he added.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, confirmed these worsening conditions. “Absolutely, things in West Bank are worse,” he said.
The prelate added, “When the ceasefire started in Gaza, they started operations in the West Bank, with hundreds of checkpoints, and operations in Jenin.”
Sami El-Yousef, CEO of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, pointed to increased land annexation and the displacement of around 16,000 people from Jenin refugee camps.
“The West Bank is now completely fragmented with 185 gates and over 900 checkpoints, but because of what has been going on in Gaza, none of this gets much international attention,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the Church has expanded its services, including providing food for Gaza. “Until today, people talk about how the Church stood up for them,” El-Yousef said.
Father Salman remains committed to offering young Christians hope. “Unfortunately, today, there is no hope. But we always want to bring them hope, a hope that does not come from politics, but from Jesus.”
