Voices from the Holy Land: Symposium in Budapest calls for action for Christians in Palestine
Christian leaders, diplomats and scholars gathered in Budapest this week to shed light on the increasingly precarious situation of Christians in Palestine, as the Palestinian Embassy in Hungary hosted a high-level symposium examining the pressures facing the community — from attacks on holy sites to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Hungary held a symposium at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre to discuss the situation of Christians in Palestine, with the participation of Rev. Prof. Mitri Raheb, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Mother Agapia, and Ambassador Amira Hanania, alongside a wide diplomatic and public audience.
Ambassador Fadi ElHusseini opened the session and introduced the speakers who presented a comprehensive picture of the challenges facing Palestinian Christians. Rev. Raheb highlighted the ongoing pressures, including attacks on holy sites and discriminatory policies that have contributed to the shrinking Christian presence in the Holy Land, while Ambassador Hanania emphasised the deep historical roots of Palestinian Christians and drew attention to the severe humanitarian consequences of the occupation, particularly in Gaza, urging international action.
Moreover, Mother Agapia spoke of the social cohesion she witnessed in Palestinian society, reaffirming that the conflict is political rather than religious and stressing the importance of global solidarity and economic measures. And finally, Rev. Isaac addressed the moral dimension of the crisis, describing the events in Gaza as unjustifiable and calling for a principled stand in defence of justice and human dignity.
Ambassador Fadi ElHusseini concluded by affirming the resilience of the Palestinian people and their determination to pursue freedom. The following day, Budapest hosted the premiere of the documentary “Via Dolorosa – The Way of Suffering”, produced by Ambassador Amira Hanania in cooperation with the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine and the Council of Churches in Hungary. The film was screened at Corvin Mozi Cinema, with Hungarian subtitles translated by local supporters of the Palestinian cause.
