‘Nobody sees us’ – people of the West Bank talk to Catholic bishops on latest Holy Land visit

Gaza remains a ‘catastrophic humanitarian crisis’, say bishops of the Holy Land Coordination who visited Israel this week

In their final communiqué, the bishops from the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land described this week’s pilgrimage to Israel as one to a land where people “are suffering trauma”.

They began with a visit to Bedouin communities living on the margins in the West Bank who shared their experiences of a life on the periphery, “being observed but often not encountered, their movement heavily restricted by rapidly expanding settlements encircling them on the surrounding hills”.

The group heard stories about Israeli settler attacks and “continual violence and intimidation”, theft of livestock and demolition of property, leaving many unable to sleep at night for fear of further violence. “When we asked them who sees their struggles and their cry to live in peace with their neighbours, they replied, Nobody sees us.”

They also visited Taybeh, the only completely Christian town in Palestine who told them of “endless attacks from extremist settlers, uprooting of their olive trees, the seizure of their land and intimidatory acts that make their daily life unbearable, driving many into mass emigration”.

In the twelve months since their last visit, the bishops say, the “Land of Promise is being diminished and challenged. Gaza remains a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The people of the West Bank we encountered are demoralised and fearful. The courageous Israeli voices which speak out for human and civil rights are increasingly threatened; advocating for marginalised voices is a costly solidarity. We fear that soon, they too will be silenced.”

The bishops state that as Christians, it is their calling and duty to give a voice to the voiceless, and to bear witness to their dignity, “so that the world may know their suffering and be moved to advocate for justice and compassion”.

They also affirm Israel’s right to exist and for Israelis to live in peace and security but call for these same rights to be upheld for all those “rooted in this land” and argue for meaningful negotiations toward a two-state solution.

“We were deeply moved by the faith and steadfastness of local Christians and also by people of other faiths who work to sustain the hope of their communities,” the group says in its communiqué.

“The people of the Holy Land cry out for our help and prayers; they long for an end to their suffering. Stand with them. Recognise their plea for dignity. Help foster genuine dialogue between communities. Heed the call of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to come on pilgrimage as a sign of our love, support and solidarity with them.”

The group was moderated by the Bishop of Plymouth Nicholas Hudson, and members included Bishop of Rimini Nicolo Anselmi, Archbishop of Paderborn Udo Bentz. Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan, president of Justice and Peace Scotland, and Westminster Auxiliary James Curry as well as others from around the world.

The Holy Land Co-ordination is an annual pastoral and ecclesial meeting of bishops from Europe and North America, rooted in prayer, reflection, advocacy and listening.

Archbishop Nolan said, “We come to a country which is traumatised… All sides, whether it’s the Israeli side or the Palestinian side, have been traumatised by years of conflict, and even more so by the atrocities of the 7 October attacks and then by the Gaza war. It’s very difficult for people, when they’re suffering themselves, to see the pain of the other side.

“This  land is for everyone who lives here and that has to be accepted by all sides.

“[In the West Bank], we went to visit some Bedouins who are under great pressure… there are Israeli settlers who are causing so much harassment by their violent actions, destroying people’s livelihoods. There’s a campaign to try and disrupt the lives of “Palestinians on their land, to encourage them to go away and to disappear. It seems to be left completely unhindered by the authorities.

“Life here will not improve until the occupation comes to an end. At the heart of the problem is this: the Palestinians live under a military occupation in the West Bank and in Gaza… we do need them to be given a state of their own.

“There are many impressive people here working for justice and peace, and they’re the people that give us hope. Everyone wants peace… if only everyone could realise that the only way to peace is through justice.”

Among those the group met were Rabbis for Human Rights, who epresenting the voice of Jewish tradition in the field of human rights, bringing together more than 170 rabbis and students from all denominations and putting pressure on policymakers to safeguard human rights for all, including Palestinians in the territories.

They also met the Parents Circle – Families Forum, a group of Israeli and Palestinian parents who have all lost children to the conflict and advocate together for reconciliation and justice.

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