Christian Population in Palestinian Authority and Hamas-Controlled Areas Declines, According to Jerusalem Center

The Christian population in areas under Palestinian Authority and Hamas control has experienced a consistent decline in recent years. This demographic shift is attributed to anti-Christian violence, the failure of Palestinian security mechanisms, and international apathy that permits such suppression, according to a report by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs.

Historical data indicates that Christians constituted 11% of the population in the geographic area of Israel at the end of the Ottoman period and the beginning of the British Mandate in 1922, when the total population was 70,429. By 1946, at the end of the Mandate, the total population had grown to 145,063, but Christians represented only 8% of that total, a decrease driven by higher relative immigration rates of Jews and Muslims.

In 1949, the Christian population in Judea and Samaria, which was under Jordanian rule and renamed the West Bank, stood at 51,053. This number fell to 45,855 according to a Jordanian census conducted in 1961. Following Israel’s control of the region in 1967, the Christian population further decreased to 42,719, representing 6% of the total population at that time.

The first Palestinian Authority census in 1997 recorded 40,055 Palestinian Christians, who made up 1.5% of the total Palestinian population. A subsequent census in 2007 noted a slight increase in the absolute number of Christians to 42,565, but their proportion of the total population dropped to 1.2%.

The report highlights a specific incident from April 2002, where a Greek Orthodox priest was held hostage by Palestinians who had taken shelter in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The priest held a sign reading “Please help,” illustrating the vulnerability of Christian communities in the region.

The persistent decline in the Christian population raises questions about the safety and stability of religious minorities in the Holy Land. The data suggests that structural failures and violence have contributed to the shrinking presence of Christians in areas under Palestinian governance.

This demographic trend underscores the need for accountability and care for vulnerable communities, reflecting the biblical call to pursue peace and justice among neighbors. As stated in Romans 12:18, there is an imperative to live at peace with all people when it is possible, a principle that challenges communities to protect the dignity and safety of all faith groups.

Source: Read the original report