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.