Three prominent Church of England bishops have issued a powerful condemnation of the UK government's inaction regarding what they describe as Israel's accelerating de facto annexation of the West Bank. The bishops argue that British policy failures have directly contributed to a dangerous culture of impunity in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Bishops Witness Firsthand the Humanitarian Crisis
Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rachel Treweek, the Bishop of Gloucester, and Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich, recently visited Palestinian Christian communities across the West Bank. Their firsthand observations revealed communities living in what they describe as constant fear and torment, facing systematic pressures that threaten their very existence.
In a detailed letter to the Guardian, the bishops recount hearing from Palestinians who feel they "have no other choice but to leave [their homes] or to die standing." They describe families trapped in an unending nightmare where basic dignity has become impossible, livelihoods have been destroyed, and protection appears nonexistent.
UK Government's Legal Silence Criticised
The bishops express particular concern about the British government's failure to publish its legal response to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion from July 2024. That landmark ruling ordered Israel to end its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.
"This inaction has contributed to a culture of impunity which the Israeli government has used to accelerate its de facto annexation of the West Bank," the bishops state unequivocally. They identify multiple instruments enabling this process:
- Administrative changes that disadvantage Palestinian communities
- Continuous settlement expansion and growth
- Intensifying violence by Israeli troops and settler militia
- Localised systems of road closures and movement restrictions
- House demolitions and property destruction
- Tightening access to essential resources like water and electricity
- Deepening legal segregation and unequal governance systems
Escalating Violence and Systematic Pressure
The bishops' concerns align with recent United Nations findings about escalating violence in the West Bank. Since October 2023, attacks by rightwing settlers have increased dramatically, resulting in deaths, property destruction, forced displacements, and community fragmentation.
A UN report last month concluded that Israel's laws, policies, and practices have created an "asphyxiating impact" on Palestinian communities. The bishops witnessed this reality directly, contrasting their experiences with what they describe as disconnected international discussions about Gaza's reconstruction.
"While world leaders met in Davos to debate futuristic plans for the reconstruction of Gaza, which are largely disconnected from reality, we visited and listened to Palestinian Christian communities across the West Bank as to their lived reality," they write.
Call for International Action and Legal Compliance
The bishops make a direct appeal to the international community to uphold its obligations under international law to protect Palestinians. They specifically call on the British government to:
- Immediately publish its response to the ICJ ruling
- Take necessary measures to avoid rendering aid or assistance that maintains Israel's illegal presence in occupied Palestinian territory
- Address what they see as an intentional strategy to force Palestinians from their homes
"The situation in the West Bank is a tragedy foretold," the bishops conclude. "Before it is too late, we must stand up and do the right thing." Their intervention represents one of the most significant religious critiques of UK foreign policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years, highlighting growing concern within establishment institutions about Britain's role in addressing human rights violations in occupied territories.
