The latest Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) report highlights that religious freedom in Palestine is under severe threat, with Gaza and the West Bank experiencing unprecedented challenges due to war, movement restrictions, and rising settler attacks. The 2025 global survey, covering 196 countries, identifies Palestine as one of the regions most affected by violations of religious rights.
Gaza’s Religious Life Near Collapse
According to ACN, Gaza’s Christian and Muslim communities have suffered devastating losses. Nearly 80% of mosques have been destroyed, several churches were damaged, and clergy have been killed or detained. The report notes that religious life in Gaza has nearly collapsed, with communities struggling to maintain worship and spiritual practices amidst ongoing military operations.
Movement restrictions, infrastructure destruction, and limited access to religious institutions have left residents increasingly isolated. ACN emphasizes that restoring religious freedom in Palestine requires urgent humanitarian support, protection of civilians, and the rebuilding of sacred sites.
West Bank Faces Rising Threats and Shrinking Access
In the West Bank, religious communities are also under pressure. Settler attacks, vandalism of mosques, and restrictive measures impede access to Jerusalem’s holy sites. While legal frameworks like the Holy See–Palestine accord provide formal protections, the report stresses that these agreements are insufficient against the realities of military closures and occupation.
Christian communities, in particular, have been affected by the collapse of tourism, bans on employment, and dwindling economic opportunities. These factors accelerate demographic decline and threaten the continuity of long-established religious traditions in the West Bank.
Fragmented Governance Worsens the Crisis
The ACN report highlights how divided governance between the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and Israeli authorities creates inconsistent protections for religious communities. The fragmentation leads to unequal enforcement of legal guarantees under the Basic Law, leaving populations vulnerable to intimidation and violence.
This political complexity compounds the difficulties in securing safe access to holy sites and maintaining religious institutions. Communities often face bureaucratic obstacles that prevent reconstruction of places of worship and hinder humanitarian interventions.
Global Perspective on Religious Freedom
ACN’s biennial report finds that over half the world’s population lives under serious violations of religious freedom, with Palestine standing out due to the combined effects of armed conflict, movement restrictions, and governance fragmentation. The findings underscore the importance of international attention, highlighting the humanitarian and moral dimensions of protecting religious rights in conflict zones.
Path Forward to Restore Religious Freedom
The report concludes that meaningful improvements in religious freedom in Palestine depend on several critical steps:
- Protecting civilians from military operations and settler violence.
- Restoring access to sacred places, including mosques, churches, and holy sites in Jerusalem.
- Rebuilding damaged religious infrastructure to allow communities to resume worship.
- Supporting economic recovery for communities reliant on tourism and local religious institutions.
ACN emphasizes that safeguarding religious freedom is not only a matter of faith but also a crucial step in maintaining social cohesion and community resilience amid ongoing crises.
Conclusion
The 2025 ACN report paints a stark picture of religious life in Palestine, showing how war, occupation, and fragmented authority have crippled spiritual practices and community stability. Immediate action is essential to rebuild infrastructure, ensure access to holy sites, and protect the rights of both Christian and Muslim communities. Restoring religious freedom in Palestine is critical for the long-term survival of these communities and for fostering social stability in the region.
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