Palestinian Christians grapple with a question – stay and preserve a millennia-old presence in the Holy Land, or leave in search of safety, freedom, and opportunity for their children?
Newsroom (27/08/2025, Gaudium Press ) In the shadow of the ancient Church of the Nativity, where tradition holds that Jesus Christ was born, Shahinda Nassar grapples with a question that haunts many Palestinian Christians: stay and preserve a millennia-old presence in the Holy Land, or leave in search of safety, freedom, and opportunity for her children? As an administrator at Bethlehem University and mother of three, Nassar embodies the quiet resilience of a community caught between faith, heritage, and the harsh realities of occupation.
“We’re not free. We are occupied. And this is something that people do not think about,” Nassar told this reporter in a recent interview, her voice steady but laced with exhaustion. Her daughter, Sally, has been pressing her to emigrate, yearning for a life unmarred by checkpoints, restrictions, and uncertainty. “We’re trying our best, but we can’t control the circumstances and the situation here in Palestine,” Nassar added. “Can I protect my children? No, I can’t. So, what else can I offer them if I can’t offer them protection as a mother, as a parent?”
Nassar’s testimonial comes at a time when the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas war, which erupted in October 2023, has spilled far beyond Gaza’s borders, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in the West Bank. United Nations reports describe a deliberate “displacement strategy” combining military operations, economic pressures, and settler violence, rendering daily life untenable for many Palestinians. Roadblocks transform short commutes into grueling hours-long journeys, settler attacks occur with apparent impunity, home demolitions loom over neighborhoods, and arbitrary arrests—often in the dead of night—disrupt families. High unemployment, restricted access to resources, and a lack of basic rights compound the strain, pushing emigration rates higher among the West Bank’s dwindling Christian population.
For Nassar, the pain is acutely personal. “It’s really hard on me, and we really don’t know what to do other than just live our lives day by day, endure this instability, unpredictability, in this Holy Land that’s supposed to be holy,” she said. She recounts the frustration of being denied permits to visit Jerusalem during Holy Week, a sacred time for Christians. “How come I can’t go to Jerusalem when it’s the Holy Week? How come I need even to ask for a permit? It doesn’t make any sense to me. It really makes our life very difficult here. And I really feel the pain that the young people, like my children, like Sally, is feeling, that it’s hard to live here and they want more opportunities.”
Bethlehem, once a bustling hub of pilgrimage and tourism, now feels eerily subdued. The war has halted visitor inflows, crippling local economies dependent on Christian-owned businesses. Nassar fears that departure would accelerate the erosion of Christian heritage: “If her family leaves, not only does Bethlehem lose more of its Christian presence, but the Christian-owned properties in the city will get sold and resold, and, with time, the property no longer belongs to a Christian family.” This concern echoes a broader trend; the Christian population in the West Bank has plummeted from around 20% in the mid-20th century to less than 2% today, driven by emigration amid ongoing conflict and economic hardship.
The Vatican has long voiced alarm over the plight of Palestinian Christians, viewing their presence as integral to the Holy Land’s spiritual fabric. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been outspoken about the region’s descent into violence. In a recent address, he described the conflict as having “reached unprecedented levels of violence and hatred,” urging the faithful to remain steadfast. “We must not allow despair to overcome us,” he said, emphasizing the need for “compassion and closeness to all those who are suffering, regardless of their background.” He acknowledged the specific challenges faced by Christians in the West Bank, calling for “a renewed commitment to dialogue and reconciliation to heal the wounds of this land.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, has similarly decried the deteriorating conditions, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution to ensure peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. In a recent interview, Parolin reiterated that “the solution — the recognition of two states, living side by side, independently but also in cooperation and security” is essential, warning that Israeli settlements in the West Bank “certainly does not help, from a practical standpoint, the realization of the Palestinian State.” Addressing the broader conflict, he condemned the October 2023 attack on Israel as “inhuman” while insisting that legitimate defense must respect proportionality and avoid endangering civilian lives in Gaza and beyond. Parolin stressed the indispensable role of Christians in the region: “Christians are an essential part of the land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again. No one can imagine Palestine or Israel without a Christian presence, which has been there from the beginning and will be there forever.” He advocated for an “inclusive approach to peace,” rooted in a “diplomacy of hope” that prioritizes dialogue, patience, and trust-building over unilateral actions. “Everyone can contribute to peace, but solutions must never be pursued through unilateral impositions that risk trampling on the rights of entire peoples,” he warned, adding that authentic peace requires “courage, justice, and forgiveness.”
Pope Leo XIV has consistently highlighted the suffering in the Holy Land as a pressing concern. In a recent address, he called the conflict “a tragedy that continues to tear apart the land of Jesus,” urging the international community to prioritize peace efforts. “The Holy Land is a place of encounter, not of conflict,” he said, encouraging Catholics worldwide to “pray and work for justice, so that all peoples in this region may live in dignity.” Reflecting on the role of Christians, he noted: “Their presence is a sign of hope, a living testimony to the Gospel in the land where it was first proclaimed.” He also emphasized adherence to humanitarian law, protecting civilians, and prohibiting collective punishment or forced displacement.
These Vatican voices underscore a consistent plea for justice and dialogue, even as the ground reality in the West Bank grows more precarious. For Nassar, the Vatican’s calls resonate deeply, yet the daily grind persists. “We’re trying our best,” she reiterated, her words a testament to the endurance of Palestinian Christians who cling to their roots in a land of profound spiritual significance.
As emigration continues, the question remains: Can the international community, including the Church, stem the tide and foster a future where families like Nassar’s no longer face such impossible choices? In Bethlehem, the birthplace of hope, the answer feels increasingly urgent.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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