There have been multiple reported incidents involving Christians and Christian holy places in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including isolated acts of harassment as well as historical events dating back to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
In October 2023 and early 2024, videos circulated showing individuals spitting on or near Christian worshippers in Jerusalem’s Old City. Some of those involved were arrested by police, and the incidents sparked condemnation from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other religious leaders. There were also statements from fringe activists claiming such acts were a “tradition,” remarks that were widely criticized by mainstream figures. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, several Palestinian Christian villages were depopulated and destroyed. For example, the predominantly Christian village of Iqrit was evacuated and its buildings demolished despite a later court ruling allowing villagers to return, and the village of Al‑Bassa was captured and its residents displaced. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The Eilabun village massacre on October 30, 1948, involved the killing of Arab Christian villagers by Israeli forces during the 1948 conflict; most of the displaced were later allowed to return as part of an agreement. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Christian leaders have also reported increasing attacks on Christian sites in the West Bank by settler groups, including arson near cemeteries and ancient churches, and have called for investigations into the lack of police response to such incidents. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Historical and demographic studies show that the proportion of Palestinian Christians in historic Palestine declined significantly after the 1948 conflict and subsequent population movements; some reports attribute this to displacement and changing political and economic conditions rather than a single cause. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
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