YONATAN HAMBOURGER: How Christians fare under Muslim sovereignty

Over the past 10 months, there have been many victims of the war Hamas launched on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

First and foremost are the 1,200 people who were brutally murdered and the more than 200 who were taken hostage during Hamas’s invasion. The innocent people of Gaza also have suffered immensely, living under the oppressive rule of the terror organization they voted into power nearly 20 years ago. These civilians are now forced to endure the consequences of the decisions made by their leaders residing in Qatar and Iran, whose actions have led to continued bloodshed and suffering. The displaced communities of Israel’s north, forced to flee their homes for almost a full year due to Hezbollah’s provocations and non-stop rocket attacks, and the ravaged communities of the south also are still suffering.

But another group of overlooked victims in his ongoing conflict are the Christian communities in the Palestinian territories and, more broadly, throughout the Middle East. The plight of Christians in these regions is often overshadowed by the broader narrative of the conflict, yet it is a story that needs to be told.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christianity and once a city with a strong Christian presence, has seen its Christian population dwindle significantly since the Palestinian Authority took control in 1995 following the Oslo Accords. Christians, who once formed the majority in Bethlehem, are now a small and shrinking minority. Economic hardship, political instability, and rising antagonism have driven many Christians to leave, seeking safety and stability elsewhere, especially in Israel.

This is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern across the Middle East and other Muslim-majority areas, where Christian communities have faced relentless persecution and displacement. Lebanon, once a beacon of liberalism with a majority Christian population, has seen its Christian communities decimated by civil war and sectarian violence, forcing many to flee the country.

According to C.U.F.I., “Christians living in Lebanon consider themselves second-class citizens and live in fear of persecution.” Iraq’s ancient Christian population, targeted by ISIS in the 2010s, has been nearly wiped out, with towns like Qaraqosh and Bartella emptied of their inhabitants. Syria’s civil war has devastated cities like Aleppo, where Christians have been caught in the deadly crossfire.

Afghanistan’s few remaining Christians are forced to practice their faith in secret under the oppressive rule of the Taliban, while in Somalia, Al-Shabaab’s terror campaign has made the country one of the most dangerous places for Christians, where even the suspicion of apostasy can lead to death.

The situation for Christians in Gaza and the West Bank is particularly dire. In Gaza, Christians are brutally repressed, living under the thumb of Hamas, which imposes strict Islamic rule and leaves no room for religious minorities. In the West Bank, Christians are treated as second-class citizens under the Palestinian Authority, facing discrimination and marginalization in a society where their rights are mostly ignored.

In stark contrast to these harsh realities, C.U.F.I. says, “Israel is the safest place for Christians in the Middle East … the only state in the Middle East where Christians and their holy sites are protected. Since the Arab Spring, there has overall been an exodus of Christians from the Middle East due to violence, oppression, and threats of extermination. … However, the number of Christians in Israel has grown over the past few decades. Israel continues to be a safe haven for minorities in the Middle East that wish to live their lives without oppression.”

This stark contrast between Israel and its neighbors highlights the broader principle that when minorities are treated with dignity and respect, societies can thrive. Israel’s treatment of its Arab citizens, including Christians, stands in sharp contrast to the repression and violence faced by Christians in many parts of the Middle East.

Why is Israel so hospitable to all people, regardless of their race or religion?

It’s because the Torah’s teachings on kindness and justice are simple and clear and provide a powerful moral framework that contrasts sharply with the persecution faced by Christians in many Muslim-majority countries. The Torah commands Jews to care for the stranger and the vulnerable, a principle that has guided Jewish law and tradition for millennia. Leviticus 19:34 instructs, “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

This message of empathy and justice is a central theme in Jewish thought and provides a moral guide for how we should treat others.

Working to ease the plight of Christians in Muslim-majority countries is not just about recording their mistreatments; it is a moral responsibility for us to acknowledge and fix. We must advocate for the protection of these vulnerable communities and demand that the international community holds accountable those responsible for their suffering, instead of building imaginary oppressors and false divides.

As we witness these injustices, we must remember that compassion and justice are not just ideals to strive for but commands that must be followed. In the face of persecution, let us commit to these timeless principles, ensuring that every human being, regardless of their faith, is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.