Bethlehem, globally recognized as the birthplace of Christianity, has been increasingly targeted by Israeli settler expansion. Since October 7, 2024, the displacement of Palestinian Christians from the city has accelerated in parallel with Israel’s ongoing genocidal war in Gaza. As the violence escalates, Bethlehem’s Christian community faces an intensifying threat to its presence in the historic city.
As part of the Palestinian Literature Festival (PalFest), the Balasan Initiative for Human Rights (BIHR) participated in a critical panel discussion moderated by writer Zena Agha. The conversation featured director and founder of BIHR Adv. Dalia Qumsieh from and Mays Nassar from the organization Kairos Palestine, both of whom are Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem. They provided on-the-ground insights into the dire situation facing their community, emphasizing the need to challenge the common narrative that frames the occupation solely as a religious clash between Judaism and Islam.
Dalia and Mays point to the problematic influence of Christian Zionism, particularly in the United States, where it plays a significant role in shaping foreign policy that supports Israeli occupation. They emphasize that Christianity and Zionism are fundamentally incompatible, calling on international Christian communities to confront this issue and stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
The panel also highlights an emerging sense of unity among Palestinians, with increasing collaboration between Christians and Muslims, across different regions. This growing solidarity is creating new opportunities for collective resistance and transformative political action, despite the challenging circumstances.
The event underscored the need for greater global attention to the ongoing dispossession of Palestinian Christians and the broader implications of settler expansion in Bethlehem.