Israel seizes church land in East Jerusalem, Palestinian Authority says
The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it described as the Israeli seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan.
In a statement posted on X, the ministry said Israeli authorities took control of the land on June 15, expelled the Patriarchate's representative, confiscated equipment, uprooted trees and enclosed the site with walls and gates.
The ministry described the move as a "grave assault on church properties" and a "gross violation of the legal and historical status quo in occupied Jerusalem".
It said the measures "do not create any legal rights for the occupation and do not alter the prevailing legal and historical status in East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian land", adding that all annexation, confiscation and seizure measures are "null and void under international law".
The ministry called on the international community to act urgently to halt what it described as violations against Christian and Islamic holy sites and to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
الخارجية // استيلاء الاحتلال على أرض تعود ملكيتها لبطريركية الروم الأرثوذكس في القدس اعتداء خطير على الأملاك الكنسية وانتهاكا جسيما للوضع القانوني والتاريخي القائم في القدس المحتلة
تدين وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين بأشد العبارات إقدام سلطات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على الاستيلاء على أرض… pic.twitter.com/WJr5v76C4P
— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) June 19, 2026