Two violent assaults by illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers against Palestinian Christian families in Ein ‘Arik and Birzeit within the same week have prompted urgent warnings from church leaders, who say the attacks reflect a rapidly escalating pattern of impunity, intimidation, and danger facing communities west of Ramallah.
Statement by Father Firas Abedrabbo
Parish Priest – Annunciation Latin Parish, Ein ‘Arik
One of our parish members in the Christian community of Ein ‘Arik, Nazhat Shaheen, was subjected to a serious assault by a group of Israeli colonizers on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. He was accompanied by a friend and a Palestinian family heading to their land in the mountain opposite the town, west of Ramallah.
Suddenly, a group of Israeli colonizers appeared—some armed, others carrying clubs—and began forcing the Palestinians away from the area, telling them: “Go from here.” When one of the Palestinians replied, “This is my land,” the colonizers responded: “This is our land, not yours. Leave now.”
As the Palestinians withdrew, the colonizers physically attacked them, beating them with clubs. Nazhat Shaheen was struck hard on the back.
This assault is the second incident within roughly a week targeting a Christian family, following the recent attack in Birzeit, where the mother sustained a head injury, one son was abducted after defending her, and two others were kidnapped, severely beaten, and later dumped at the entrance of the town.
This latest attack is the first of its kind within the boundaries of our parish in Ein ‘Arik, clearly indicating a worsening and increasingly dangerous security situation.
It is worth noting that the attackers were young men between 17 and 22 or 23 years old—a group with whom dialogue or understanding is extremely difficult, if not impossible, as they appear deeply influenced by hatred, hostility, and extremist ideology.
As in previous incidents, no deterrent measures or meaningful intervention were taken to stop these attacks, particularly by the Israeli authorities, who continue to allow these colonizers to act with near-total impunity.
What happened is not an isolated incident, but part of a troubling pattern that threatens people’s safety, dignity, and their natural right to their land and to live in security.
Recently, another attack targeted a family in Birzeit near Ramallah when colonizers trespassed and damaged private lands. After being confronted by a local woman, they attacked and beat her and her family.
Statement by Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad
Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
“Four members of the family were injured, and the woman was hospitalized in intensive care with a severe head wound. When local youth, including the woman’s son, attempted to intervene to protect the victims, Israeli forces deployed tear gas and arrested three Palestinians, allowing the settler perpetrators to walk free.
“As Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, I strongly condemn this shameful attack.
“Our church has learned with deep pain that the woman who was assaulted and hospitalized, as well as her son, who was arrested for defending his mother, are the mother and brother of a teacher at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah.
“During the attack, colonizers also uprooted trees from lands belonging to families who are part of our church community in Ramallah. We stand in prayerful solidarity with the families, the school community, and all who are affected by this grave injustice against human life and our environment.
“We pray for the full and swift healing of the injured woman, and we call for the immediate release of her son.
“This attack was one of several this weekend by Israeli colonizers that left people injured and homes and lands damaged. These violations of Palestinian safety and human rights must end. We call for the protection of civilians, an end to the culture of impunity, and real accountability for those who commit and enable violence.
“As a church, we reaffirm our commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being, and we will continue to stand with the victims and to raise our voice against oppression.”
Statement by Rev. Munther Isaac
Evangelical Lutheran pastor and Director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, commenting on the Birzeit attack:
“I just returned from visiting the Im’eid fa
mily in the hospital and praying with them. The son is still under arrest. The family is deeply traumatized. They told us their story, and many painful details will stay with me. But one moment in particular has not left my mind.
“When the soldiers came to the house to arrest members of the family, one of the women, in an act of courage and defiance, refused to open the door. The soldiers broke the window, pointed a gun at her, and in that moment of fear she made the sign of the cross.
“One of the settlers who had come with the soldiers saw that she is a Christian and said to her: ‘Why are you here? Go to France.’
“This makes me furious. It fills me with rage.
“Coming from people who, in most cases, came from Europe, who are the very colonizers of this land, and who now dare to tell us that we are the ones who belong in Europe, the level of arrogance and historical distortion is simply outrageous.
“We are the people of this land. We did not come from somewhere else. We did not arrive yesterday. We are rooted here.
“And then comes the familiar line: ‘This land is ours, as written in the Torah.’
“This is Zionism. They uproot trees. They terrorize families. They assault women. They arrest sons. And they do it in the name of God.
“Really?
“Thank God, not all Jews agree. (Sadly, many Western Christians do—e.g., Huckabee.)
“I told the family how proud I am of them for defending their land and their dignity. These are their trees. These are their fields. These are their lives. They are rooted here, just as deeply as the olive trees they try to uproot.
“Please hold them in your prayers. We call for the immediate release of Eid.
“Lord, have mercy.”
