“And make the cry of the poor reach Him, so that He heard the cry of the afflicted” – Job 34:28

We would like to update you on the situation on the ground, on our work to date and on an Easter Campaign we are launching this year. The world has been following the small community of Christians who live in Gaza, sheltering at two historic churches, and the Ahli Hospital compound – the only Christian hospital in Gaza. This small community has suffered along with the rest of Gaza, with displacement, loss of property, bombardment, with sniper attacks and with lack of food, fuel and medical care. There is a real danger that this Christian presence could be lost, either through the war directly, or through evacuation.

Christian communities in the West Bank have been deeply affected by the conflict as well. The struggle of Christians now is more grave than the COVID-19 pandemic because the entire economy has been crippled by the war. The majority of the Holy Land Christians haven’t had a single source of income since October 7th, 2023, when the borders were closed. More than 80% of Christians work in the tourism and service sector such as hotels, shops and restaurants, which have been closed since the beginning of the war in October 2023. Other Christians work in construction in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel – these Christians are no longer working because they can’t get governmental permits to enter Jerusalem. Those who work in government positions, such as teachers, have also had their salaries frozen.

Imagine a Christian family of 7 people, with one parent used to work in construction in Jerusalem and the other one as a public school teacher, with 5 children – how do they eat when they have zero source of income?

We need your absolutely critical support now more than any other year because this is the worst time for the Holy Land than we have ever witnessed. In fact, this is the first year ever that Christmas celebrations did not happen in Bethlehem, even the Christmas tree was not lit up as a sign of mourning, and as a way to also try to prevent Christians from celebrating their faith and the birth of the Son of the Lord, the one and only savior Jesus Christ. Mobility across cities have been highly restricted, meaning people working in offices outside their residential cities lost their jobs. Schools went into lockdowns because of the general fear of political violence, including settler attacks.

Our Work So Far

The Holy Land Christians Society continues to provide development and humanitarian support to the Christians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, but we need to do more, and much more. Currently, we are doing the following programs:

Provided essential medical services in Northern Gaza through the only Christian hospital there, the Ahli Hospital. It remained committed to staying open and caring for all individuals in need through financial support for medicine, medical supplies, and fuel to power the hospital's generator, which was crucial due to electricity shortages. The hospital treated 300 to 400 wounded individuals seeking medical assistance directly benefited from the provision of medicine, surgical, orthopedic, and ICU supplies. Families of patients found shelter on the hospital grounds, receiving food, lodging, and psychosocial support. In addition, 90 staff members received salaries for November, ensuring financial stability during a critical period. Furthermore, 50 families, totaling approximately 350 members, received $100 for food and water.
Provided humanitarian aid to Christians in Gaza and Bethlehem. In Gaza, the relief was provided through a food distributor with warehouses in Gaza. In Bethlehem, the relief was provided through direct deliveries of food packages to the families in need. This emergency humanitarian response was provided in December 2023 and January 2024.
Equipped a Catholic School with IT equipment to increase participation and motivation within classrooms by adapting a computerized interactive learning system for 235 students, to improve their cognitive and scientific levels by diversifying learning methods within the classrooms. This project has been completed this month – February 2024.
Contributed to a new church hall to accommodate and welcome Christians during Sunday mass and other religious ceremonies. It is critical to plant the Christian presence that is diminishing as many Christians have migrated to the U.S. and elsewhere since October 2023.
Contributed to establishing a child-friendly safe space to be accessible by the Christian children in the community towards early childhood social development and integration.
Resourced training and equipping an organization of individuals with intellectual disabilities with the skills, knowledge and equipment to learn how to recycle glass and wood and turn them into beautifully handmade products. After finishing their learning and training, they are now beginning to produce samples of recycled products in hopes of mentally and financially empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through recycling, while promoting a sustainable environment. During these difficult times, those individuals are forgotten about by the local community. This program is currently in progress.
Funded healing war trauma with art therapy and psychosocial interventions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. This program’s goal is to empower Palestinian children and youth to process and heal the psychological trauma caused by the war on Gaza. This program is currently in progress and includes group counselling sessions, basic psychosocial and coping skills training, psychosocial activities, awareness-raising, publication of psychology and mental health guides, and data collection and research.
Provided a 30-week intensive English learning and training program for 120 youth, with the focus on youth employment. This program is currently in progress.

You are the hope for these Christians through your faith and prayers and support. In the book of Sirach – chapter 4, it says:

“Do not grieve the hungry, nor anger the needy. Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor delay giving to the needy. A beggar’s request do not reject; do not turn your face away from the poor.”

The Christians of the Holy Land are not beggars but they are poor, they are needy, hungry and isolated. They might feel anger for their suffering, but you can provide them with the relief with your faith and support.

Humanitarian Support - Easter Campaign

By Holy Land Christians Society

Humanitarian Support - Easter Campaign

The Christians in the Holy Land need to hear from their brothers and sisters around the globe that we care about their lives now, and in the future.