A land rights conflict between the Catholic Church and Israel has intensified. Reports indicate that over 100 Israeli settlers invaded the West Bank village of Deir, which is currently under military protection.
As of the latest updates, the village, located east of Ramallah, is experiencing ongoing assaults, with a significant influx of settlers. The Vulnerable People Project (VPP) shared this information, based on real-time monitoring by field observers tracking the situation.
Footage released by VPP captured more than 20 men rushing down a hill towards the village. Additional videos showed scenes from inside a home as the men entered Delijalil.
The assaults reportedly began when settlers attacked a Palestinian vehicle, prompting the driver to attempt an escape, during which he inadvertently hit a settler with his car.
In reaction, Israeli forces blocked access to Deir Jalil, confining the residents indoors as tensions escalated, according to VPP. They reported that a large gathering of extremist settlers, known as the Hilltop Youth, along with Israeli troops, descended on the village. This led to break-ins at Palestinian homes, destruction of property, vandalism of vehicles, and even a house being set on fire, all while numerous settlers continued to arrive.
“As I speak, families in Deir Jalil are trapped behind military-locked gates, while settlers invade the village and set homes ablaze,” said VPP founder Jason Jones, referring to Taybeh, the last entirely Christian town in the West Bank, just a hill away.
Jones noted that there had been warnings about tightening restrictions around Taybeh and its surrounding areas and that these fears were now being realized in real time.
Earlier, Jones mentioned that Israeli military forces were suspected of attempting to cancel a Catholic Marian festival in Taybeh, which is adjacent to Deir Jalil. In the early hours, military vehicles entered Taybeh, prompting festival organizers to contact Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, who then negotiated with Israeli authorities to secure permission for the event.
Pizzaballa faced similar challenges in the lead-up to Easter, resulting in a delay of a celebratory mass and an apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Under Pizzaballa’s leadership, Catholic leaders in April lodged a formal complaint with local authorities, asserting that the encroachment of Israeli settlers on church property in the West Bank had crossed a significant boundary.
“With people confined to their homes and fires raging, every moment of delay could cost lives,” Jones emphasized. “The world cannot afford to wait and see what happens. Immediate action is required, involving observers, diplomats, and calls to top officials to prevent this attack from claiming lives and reaching the last Christian town in the West Bank.”
