A new study revealed on Tuesday that the proportion of Christians living in occupied Jerusalem has plummeted over the past century. The share fell from 25 percent down to just 1.56 percent.
The research indicated that the city was home to roughly 15,300 Christians by the end of 2023. Out of that total, approximately 13,100 individuals were Palestinians.
The study attributed the steep demographic decline to a combination of Israeli policies, continuous economic and social pressures, ongoing emigration, and low rates of population growth.
Israeli residency policies directed at Palestinians in Jerusalem also contributed heavily to reducing the overall Palestinian presence. Authorities have revoked residency permits using the restrictive centre of life criterion, according to the report.
Researchers documented persistent attempts to seize control of church endowments and properties. These holdings account for about 28 percent of endowment land in occupied East Jerusalem. They are often targeted through long-term leases and financial pressure.
The report detailed frequent assaults targeting Christian clergy, monks, and worshippers. Incidents included physical and verbal attacks, spitting, vandalism of property, and the desecration of cemeteries and religious symbols.
The study also pointed to severe Israeli restrictions limiting access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Authorities imposed strict caps on participation in major religious events, including Holy Saturday and Easter celebrations.
The authors of the study warned that these systematic policies actively threaten the traditional Arab and pluralistic character of Jerusalem. They called for urgent legal and diplomatic interventions to safeguard Christian holy sites, church properties, and the remaining Palestinian Christian population.
These developments unfold alongside broader Israeli military operations and violence across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023.
Official Palestinian figures show that more than 1,220 Palestinians have been killed during this ongoing period of violence. Another 13,350 people have sustained injuries, and over 26,000 individuals have been detained.
