Israel: the Religious Freedom Data Center documents more than 80 attacks against Christians in three months

Ongoing story : USA-Iran Agreement: Signed Protocol, Hormuz Opened Then Closed Again, Christians Await· Part 11/11

A new report from the Religious Freedom Data Center quantifies the acceleration: more than 80 attacks against Christians documented between April and June 2026 in Jerusalem, nearly double compared to the first quarter. Spitting, physical assaults, threats, anti-Christian graffiti.

The Fact

We reported last month the joint call of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem for the protection of the Christian presence in the Holy Land. A new report, published by the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) and relayed by Vatican News in Portuguese as well as by Infovaticana on July 8, 2026, quantifies the acceleration: more than 80 attacks against Christians documented between April and June 2026 in Jerusalem, almost double compared to the first quarter. The report details spitting on priests, physical assaults, threats, and anti-Christian graffiti on ecclesiastical properties, incidents sometimes perpetrated by minors, sometimes encouraged by the parents themselves according to the Vatican News summary.

Our Analysis

Open Doors places Israel in an increasing area of concern for 2026. Christians represented about 20% of the population of Mandatory Palestine in 1948; they are now less than 2% of the combined Israeli and Palestinian population. The gap between the tourist narrative and the reality experienced by Arab Christian faithful is immense. This deterioration adds to the structural silence of Western chancelleries on the dossier of Eastern Christians, even though the USA-Iran protocol of June 19 contained no protection clause. A measured academic report, a verifiable primary source, must force diplomacies to come out of the comfortable blur.

To Reflect On

Pray for the Patriarchates of Jerusalem, support the Œuvre d'Orient and the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. "If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget" (Psalm 137, 5). The faith of our brothers in the Holy Land is our faith; their endurance is our shame when we remain silent.

christians israel violence religion jerusalem discrimination holy land religious freedom

Article produced by artificial intelligence, reviewed under human editorial control.

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Pierre-Antoine VasseurGrand reporter, Église universelle & persécutions

Grand reporter, il suit l'Église universelle et les chrétiens persécutés à travers le monde.

Comments (5)

Clémence R. 08 Jul 2026 · 08:16

80 attaques en trois mois, c'est effectivement préoccupant. Mais qu'en est-il des mesures déjà en place ? Ont-elles été inefficaces ou simplement insuffisantes ?

CurioBretagne 08 Jul 2026 · 08:04

80 attaques en trois mois, c'est alarmant. Mais il faudrait aussi voir les chiffres des années précédentes pour avoir une vraie perspective.

le_veilleur 08 Jul 2026 · 08:01

80 attaques en trois mois, c'est une escalade inquiétante. J'espère que les autorités prendront des mesures concrètes pour protéger les chrétiens.

le_sceptique 08 Jul 2026 · 10:36

80 attaques en trois mois, c'est effectivement inquiétant, mais il faudrait aussi des chiffres sur les attaques contre d'autres communautés.

passionné_eco 08 Jul 2026 · 08:00

80 attaques en trois mois, c'est inacceptable. La foi chrétienne appelle à la paix et à la solidarité, pas à la violence. Où sont les leaders religieux pour condamner ces actes ?