Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Occupied Palestinian Territories: Christians

Thursday 22 May 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mary Glindon questioned the minister about the mistreatment and torture of Palestinian detainees, including children, by the Israeli military.
  • James Asser inquired about the restrictions on Palestinian Christians' worship rights during Easter and urged the Church of England to take action.
  • Sir Edward Leigh raised concerns over the Israeli authorities imposing property tax on Church properties used for religious purposes, which he described as an existential crisis for the Church.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Religion & Faith
Context

Reports of mistreatment and torture in Israeli detention centers, including UNICEF's 2013 report on children's abuse.

Question

Thousands of Palestinians, including children, are detained by the Israeli military. Reports of mistreatment and torture date back to UNICEF’s 2013 report on children in Israeli military detention. Last year, the UN special rapporteurs highlighted the escalating use of torture against Palestinian detainees with people raped, electrocuted, waterboarded, suspended from ceilings, tied to beds, blindfolded and made to wear nappies. What can the Church do to help end this appalling cruelty?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

The Church unequivocally condemns all forms of violence and torture, and I know I speak for many when I say impunity for abuse against Palestinian detainees must end. But there is a hard limit on what the Church can do while the Israeli military continues to oppress Palestinians in the west bank and Gaza. We need an end to the occupation, a return of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees without charge, an immediate ceasefire and all essential aid allowed into Gaza.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions by the Church to address mistreatment are not detailed

How: We Need An End To The Occupation

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Q2 James Asser Lab West Ham and Beckton
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

Increasing settler violence in the West Bank restricted Palestinian Christians from worshipping over Easter.

Question

We have seen increasing settler violence in the west bank, and Palestinian Christians were restricted and prevented from worshipping over Easter. I ask my hon. Friend to use her good offices to encourage the Church of England to do all it can, including working with other Churches and across faiths to protect the rights of the Palestinian people and ensure freedom of worship across all faiths in the face of increased harassment and violence.

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

We can all agree that the mass atrocities in Gaza and the attacks on civilians in the west bank have been repeatedly raised at Church Commissioner questions—indeed, by my hon. Friend on previous occasions. I have written to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on this issue. I can assure my hon. Friend that bishops of the Church of England have regularly visited Palestine to hear from Christians on the ground, but it is clear that to see an end to military and settler attacks on Palestinian worshippers, we need to see an end to occupation. The Church was deeply concerned that worshippers were restricted from worshipping during the Easter period.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions by the Church of England are not detailed

How: We Need To See An End To Occupation

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Q3 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Religion & Faith
Context

The Israeli authorities are now levying Arnona property tax on Church-owned religious properties used for worship.

Question

This week I met Rana Musa of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Under the traditional status quo, the Israeli authorities levied arnona—the property tax—only on Church-owned business properties, but they are now levying it on Church properties used for religious purposes. That is an existential crisis for the Christian churches in Jerusalem. It is part of a pattern of intolerable pressure that has resulted in a reduction of the Christian population in the west bank to just 45,000 people. That must stop. I beg the Church of England, the Catholic Church, all Christians in this country and everybody else to shout at the top of their voices that Christians in the Holy Land deserve to be treated with respect.

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

I thank the Father of the House for his question. He makes a truly important point: everybody should have the freedom to worship and nobody should be allowed to prevent that with impunity. As he rightly says, it is up to us—the Church of England, the Catholic Church and all people of faith—to use our voices for the voiceless. People should not be prevented from worshipping.

Not addressed: No specific actions or commitments mentioned

How: We Need To Speak Out

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Q4 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

Open Doors reported that three quarters of houses belonging to Christians in Gaza have been damaged or totally destroyed.

Question

Open Doors reported earlier this year that about three quarters of houses belonging to Christians in Gaza have been damaged or totally destroyed. Given that that is true for people of all faiths in Gaza, does the hon. Lady accept that it is incumbent on the Church, the Government and all of us to support them?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

The hon. Member raises another crucial point. This is not just for the Church; everybody has a responsibility to support the efforts to bring about a ceasefire and peace in the region and to allow aid in unimpeded. As we all know, aid has been prevented from getting into Gaza. We need it to be allowed in.

Not addressed: No specific actions or commitments mentioned

How: Everybody Has A Responsibility

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