The Vulnerable People Project (VPP), a humanitarian aid agency, reported that the Israeli military stormed the Christian village of Taybeh of the West Bank and attempted to disrupt preparations for a festival honoring the Blessed Mother.
VPP provided footage of the IDF apparently storming a village brewery and blocking the owner from entering the compound.
Catholics for Catholics received additional information that Fr. Bashar, a local priest, began preparations for the festival early the morning of Friday, May 29, anticipating potential interference from radical settlers. Instead, the issue came from the Israeli military.
Around 8:00 AM, an Israeli military vehicle entered the area and ordered that the festival organizers stop what they were doing and leave. Soldiers then reportedly deployed a stun grenade. A second military vehicle arrived approximately 30 minutes later and repeated the same order.
The event organizers and locals then reported seeing increased military surveillance in the area which included drones and a helicopter flying above.
Additional reports indicate that only after Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, intervened was the festival able to proceed.
BREAKING: Israeli Military Disrupts Preparations for Catholic Festival honoring the Blessed Mother in the West Bank 🙏
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) May 29, 2026
West Bank — May 29, 2026 — The Vulnerable People Project (VPP), which supports and advocates for vulnerable Christian communities throughout the Holy Land,… pic.twitter.com/nFkseLSW3Y
“The Christian communities of the West Bank have the right to gather, worship, and celebrate their faith without fear of harassment or intimidation,” said Jason Jones, President of the Vulnerable People Project. “We are monitoring the situation closely and stand in solidarity with the faithful who seek only to practice their religion in peace.”
John Yep, President of Catholics for Catholics, issued the following statement:
“Our ‘greatest ally’ continues to buy off our politicians, drag us into wars, engage in genocide with our tax dollars, all the while attacking our Christian communities in the Holy Land. Enough is enough! When will our country put an end to this? Christians in America thank @JasonJonesVPP and the Vulnerable People Project for continuing to be a voice for our Christian brethren in the Holy Land.”
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