The Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank was once again targeted by extremist Israeli settlers in a nighttime attack, despite recent high-level visits meant to deter such violence.
Newsroom (28/07/2025, Gaudium Press )The Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, the only entirely Christian community in the region, was targeted in a brazen nighttime attack by extremist Israeli settlers on July 27-28, 2025, despite recent high-level diplomatic efforts to curb such violence. Local leaders and international observers are now demanding impartial investigations, citing a pattern of inadequate official responses and growing concerns over accountability.
Attack Shatters Calm
At approximately 2:20 a.m., a group of settlers infiltrated Taybeh, hurling stones at homes, attempting to set one residence ablaze, scrawling threatening Hebrew graffiti on walls, and torching three vehicles, including those owned by a local journalist and a municipal council member. When young Palestinians emerged to defend their homes, livestock, and families, the assailants fled. Israeli soldiers, responsible for civilian protection, arrived over an hour later, raising questions about their effectiveness in preventing such attacks.
The assault follows a July 14 visit by heads of Christian Churches and a subsequent trip by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, both intended to signal international support for Taybeh’s vulnerable community. Yet, the violence persists, with local leaders pointing to a group known as the “Hilltop Youth,” led by extremist religious figure Neria ben Pazi, as the perpetrators. Previous attacks by this group targeted Taybeh’s farmland and livestock, but the latest incident marks a troubling shift toward direct assaults on residents.
Broader Campaign of Displacement
While fueled by religious fanaticism, the attacks are not solely anti-Christian. They form part of a broader campaign against Palestinian communities, including nearby Muslim villages, with the apparent aim of displacing Palestinians from their land. The majority of Christian communities in the Holy Land are Palestinian, making them equally vulnerable to this violence.
A controversial Israeli police report recently exonerated settlers, even claiming they assisted villagers in extinguishing fires—an assertion that remains unsubstantiated and widely disputed. Last night’s attack also appears to carry a retaliatory undertone against recent U.S. condemnations of settler aggression, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
International and Local Outcry
German Ambassador Steffen Seibert condemned the violence, stating, “Whether targeting a Christian village or a Muslim community, these extremist settlers may claim divine mandate, but they are criminals, strangers to any authentic faith.” Moderate Israeli voices have echoed these concerns, questioning the credibility of official investigations that fail to hold perpetrators accountable.
Taybeh’s Christian community, known for its peaceful witness, has consistently refrained from retaliatory violence despite provocation, often under the passive watch of Israeli military forces. Local leaders are now calling for an independent, third-party investigation to ensure impartiality, as trust in Israeli authorities wanes.
A Call for Justice
The repeated targeting of Taybeh underscores a broader crisis in the occupied West Bank, where small Christian communities face escalating threats. Their steadfast commitment to nonviolence stands in stark contrast to the aggression they endure, amplifying their plea for justice and international intervention. As the cycle of violence continues, the need for credible, transparent investigations grows ever more urgent.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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