West Bank Christian village attacked by Israeli settlers, gate imposed at entrance, Catholic apostolate reports

A group of Israeli settlers on Feb. 28 attacked Taybeh, a Christian-majority village about 10 miles from Jerusalem, the Vulnerable People Project (VPP), a Catholic apostolate, has reported. 

An incident report from the VPP provided to Zeale News states that at about 4 p.m. local time, the group began “throwing stones at homes, preventing residents from being in the streets, blocking access throughout the village, and obstructing roads with their cars, spreading fear and terrorizing the entire community.”

“They then escalated the attack by targeting Christian homes,” the VPP report continues. “One house was invaded, and two horses were stolen from the property. The Israeli army and police raided the village not to protect civilians, but to escort the settlers during their attack, which took place in front of them, and then escorted the settlers out of the village afterward. Residents describe the incident as a direct threat to the safety and security of the entire community.”

Palestinian Christian and human rights activist Ihab Hassan also reported via X Feb. 28 that Israeli settlers were attacking Taybeh. 

Following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran this weekend, Hassan posted that “the Israeli army and Israeli settlers are using the war to escalate their attacks across the West Bank, including against Christian communities.”

New gates have also been imposed in the West Bank, according to Hassan, who explained in a March 1 post that the Israeli army “installed an iron gate at the entrance of the village of Deir Jarir, just hours after installing another gate at the entrance of the village of Silwad. With this step, the Israeli army has effectively suffocated the Christian village of Taybeh.”

“Christian residents of Taybeh now face two iron gates blocking access to the main road out of the village, with long lines of cars forming as people wait for hours to leave,” he added, citing a local news outlet. 

The VPP reported similarly March 2, stating in a press release that eyewitness reports and on-site observers say Israeli forces imposed “a large iron gate” at Taybeh’s village entrance. 

“Shortly following the installation of the gate, clashes erupted between local residents and Israeli forces as villagers protested the blockade and sought unhindered access to their community,” the release continued. “Witnesses described scenes of heightened tension, with soldiers reportedly using crowd control measures against residents attempting to navigate around the newly placed barrier.” According to the VPP, several villagers were detained in the clashes. 

Jason Jones, VPP’s founder, denounced the blockade as “an assault on dignity, community, and basic human rights.” 

“To choke off movement and then respond to protest with force is unacceptable,” he said in the release. “The world cannot remain silent while entire communities are effectively corralled and restrained. We call on governments and international institutions to hold those in power accountable and to demand an end to these oppressive tactics.”

Taybeh suffered multiple attacks from Israeli settlers in 2025, according to previous reports by Zeale News. Nadim Khoury, a resident of Taybeh, told Zeale News in a June 30, 2025, report that when Israeli soldiers have arrived to respond to the violence, they typically protect the settlers.