Christians in Jenin, located in the northern West Bank under Palestinian Authority control, are experiencing difficult conditions that have worsened following the recent Israeli military escalation in the area.

Father Amer Jibran, the pastor of the Redeemer Church in Jenin, explained that moving around the city has become dangerous, significantly affecting residents' daily lives. He said, In recent days, it has become difficult for people to go out, whether to schools, universities, work, or even to meet their daily needs. Several essential services, like healthcare, have been postponed due to difficulty accessing them."

Regarding the future of Christians in Jenin, Father Amer indicated that the situation is unstable, especially with the increasing checkpoints hindering movement between cities and villages. He confirmed that several homes have recently been destroyed. He emphasized the importance of resilience in these challenging circumstances: "We need to face the harsh reality rather than escape from it, and we must confront these challenges together." He explained that hope and resilience should be the foundation for everything the Christian community does in the area.

Challenges and Difficulties:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by subsequent crises, the economic situation in Jenin has become noticeably more challenging. Many people have lost their jobs, and families have remained unemployed for long periods. Despite these difficulties, Father Amer believes that the solution lies in solidarity and cooperation between young people and families.

He confirmed that the church could play an important role in improving the economic situation in the region by providing development projects focusing on education and vocational training that help youth overcome difficulties. He pointed out that the church and local and international supporting institutions could be pivotal in providing support to the local community through small projects and workshops that enhance job opportunities and improve the economic situation.

Presence of Christians in Jenin:

Father Amer mentioned that there are around 80 Catholic Christian families in Jenin, in addition to 20 other families in the Birqin area, where the majority belong to the Orthodox Church. Despite the difficult conditions, Father Amer seeks to support and maintain these families, stressing the importance of investing in the Christian presence instead of fleeing from challenges and working to enhance coexistence among different groups.