EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis).  The Christian leaders in the Holy Land did what they were supposed to do – take Trump’s statement at face value and oppose it.  Words have significance, and in the case of this statement, they are very significant. However, since he made this statement, President Trump took away its “teeth” and declared that no American troops would be allowed on the ground anywhere in the Middle East.  He also met with Jordan’s King Abdullah and had contacts with Egypt, declaring once more that Arab countries should assume their responsibilities and take care of the big problem called “Hamas”.  In the end, the lines of a possible solution have started emerging: Gaza may be rebuilt with help from Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries, at the same time as the political problem of Hamas is solved.  The specifics of this will be agreed shortly.

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source – lifesitenews.com

Christian leaders in the Holy Land rebuke Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians.

The brief but powerful statement expresses “sorrow” amid the “profound moral and humanitarian tragedy” unfolding in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military. 

It also notes that “we are compelled to speak against the grave threat of mass displacement, and injustice that strikes at the very heart of human dignity.” 

“The people of Gaza, families who have lived for generations in the land of their ancestors, must not be forced into exile, stripped of whatever is left of their homes, their heritage, and they right to remain in the land that forms the essence of their identity,” it reads. 

The document further calls for the release of “all captives from both sides” of the conflict while urging political leaders and the international community to bring the “catastrophe” to an immediate end. 

This is not the first time religious leaders in Jerusalem have combined to make an appeal to peace. In August 2024, they issued a joint letter calling for immediate discussions to “promote a just and lasting peace” via a “legitimate two-state solution.” They have also issued other similar statements.  

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem is a joint ecumenical association of clergy from various Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic churches in the Middle East. Catholic Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who serves as the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, is among its most prominent members.  

Pizzaballa, a rumored contender to succeed Pope Francis, has routinely spoken out against Israel’s war crimes and other anti-Christian attacks since October 2023 when the conflict began. He even offered himself in exchange for Israeli hostages. 

The statement in its entirety can be read below:

A HUMANITARIAN PLEA FROM THE CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM: DEFENDING THE DIGNITY AND PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF GAZA
Jerusalem, the Holy Land
February 14, 2025

As custodians of the Christian faith and conscience in this sacred land, we raise our voices in sorrow and steadfast resolve in the face of the ongoing suffering in Gaza. The devastation that has unfolded before the eyes of the world is a profound moral and humanitarian tragedy. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost, and entire communities stand in ruin, with the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and the sick – enduring unimaginable hardship.

Amid this anguish, we are compelled to speak against the grave threat of mass displacement, an injustice that strikes at the very heart of human dignity. The people of Gaza, families who have lived for generations in the land of their ancestors, must not be forced into exile, stripped of whatever is left of their homes, their heritage, and their right to remain in the land that forms the essence of their identity. As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to such suffering, for the Gospel commands us to uphold the dignity of every human being. The words of our Lord remind us: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed” (Isaiah 10:1-2).

In this critical moment, we acknowledge and support the position of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, President El-Sisi of Egypt, and others, whose firm and principled stance have remained clear and unwavering in rejecting any attempt to uproot the people of Gaza from their land. Their relentless efforts to provide humanitarian aid, appeal to the world’s conscience, and insist on the protection of civilians exemplify leadership at its highest level of responsibility.

In this same spirit, we also call for the release of all captives from both sides so that they can be safely reunited with their families. We additionally appeal to all people of faith, to governments, and to the international community to act swiftly and decisively to halt this catastrophe. Let there be no justification for the uprooting of a people who have already suffered beyond measure. Let the sanctity of human life and the moral obligation to protect the defenseless outweigh the forces of destruction and despair. We call for an immediate unfettered humanitarian access to those in desperate need. To abandon them now would be to abandon our shared humanity.

As we lift our prayers for those in mourning, for the wounded, and for those who remain steadfast in the land of their forefathers, we remember the promise of Scripture: “The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14). May the God of mercy strengthen the afflicted, soften the hearts of those who hold power, and bring forth a peace that upholds justice, preserves human dignity, and safeguards the presence of all people in the land to which they belong.

—The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem