OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, Atallah Hanna, has warned of escalating Israeli attacks targeting Christians in Jerusalem, describing them as “systematic and racist” and part of efforts to alter the city’s identity.
In remarks published by Al-Jazeera on Tuesday, Hanna said the assaults go beyond isolated incidents, reflecting a broader policy aimed at weakening the Palestinian presence, both Muslim and Christian, in the city.
His comments followed a widely circulated video showing the assault on a French nun in Jerusalem’s Old City, which he described as “brutal,” noting it was part of a long pattern of violations since 1967, including verbal abuse, spitting, and physical attacks on clergy and religious sites.
Hanna said such practices are fueled by political rhetoric and contribute to a steady decline in the Christian population due to mounting social, economic, and movement restrictions.
He stressed that Palestinians, regardless of religion, face the same conditions, adding, “We are one people, and all our holy sites are under threat.”
He called for stronger international church engagement and protection for religious sites, while emphasizing Palestinian unity as essential to confronting ongoing challenges.
