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Silwan church land seized
Israeli authorities carried out a June 15 raid on Church-owned land in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, forcibly removing the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s representative, confiscating equipment, uprooting trees, and erecting fencing around property registered in the Patriarchate’s name.
“Jerusalem (Fides News Agency) – The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the seizure of land adjacent to the Monastery of Saint Onuphrius in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, Jerusalem, by Israeli authorities on June 15 as an “unlawful and illegitimate seizure” that “sets a dangerous precedent”
The Patriarchate said the land is identified as Parcel 6 of Block 29985 and lies adjacent to the Monastery of Saint Onuphrius, while warning that the seizure “sets a dangerous precedent.”
UCA News reported that the Patriarchate condemned the action as “unlawful and illegitimate,” and said the disputed land is registered under its ownership and enclosed with fencing and gates after the operation.
In a separate statement, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine condemned the seizure as a “flagrant violation of international law,” saying it undermines respect for freedom of worship and preservation of the Christian presence in occupied East Jerusalem.
Condemnations and competing claims
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate said the June 15 operation relied on a municipal landscaping order issued on April 18, 2019, whose term expired in April 2024, and it argued that the order provides no legal basis for uprooting trees, removing the lawful caretaker, sealing off Church property, or denying access.
In its statement, the Patriarchate warned that the Silwan incident reflects “a wider pattern of escalating assaults aimed at weakening the indigenous Christian presence in the Holy Land,” and it cited 111 incidents targeting Christian clergy, nuns, worshippers, and church communities in 2024, including 35 attacks targeting churches, monasteries, and religious symbols.
The World Council of Churches strongly condemned the actions undertaken by Israeli authorities, saying that “the reported seizure and enclosure of Church-owned land constitute a serious violation of church rights.”
TRT World reported that the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs linked the incident to “a growing pattern of attacks against Muslim and Christian holy sites,” and it urged churches worldwide, the UN, international organisations, and human rights groups to take practical steps to protect church properties and hold those responsible accountable.
What’s at stake next
The Patriarchate said it has initiated legal proceedings to reclaim the property and defend its rights, framing the Silwan seizure as a threat to the “future of Christianity in the land of Christ’s birth” and warning that Christian presence is “placed at risk.”
Jason Jones, President of the Vulnerable People Project, said, “When Church property is seized and Christian institutions are pressured or displaced, the future of Christianity in the land of Christ’s birth is placed at risk,” and he called for the international community to defend Christian property rights.
WAFA reported that the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the June 15 seizure and demanded an immediate halt to arbitrary measures targeting church properties, restoration of the status quo ante, and “unrestricted access to Christian lands and holy sites without restrictions or interference.”
The Patriarchate also recalled earlier attacks on Christian sites in Gaza, including an Israeli strike on the compound of Saint Porphyrius Church on 19 October 2023 that killed 18 civilians, and a strike on the Holy Family Church on 17 July 2025 that killed three civilians and injured Father Gabriel Romanelli.
