A year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israeli territory, a delegation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) assessed the devastating impact on the region’s youth. The ongoing violence has left young Christians feeling lost and hopeless.
“Young Christians in the Holy Land feel lost and have no hope of ever returning to normality,” ACN reported.
Raffi Ghattas, a 27-year-old journalist, expressed the dilemma faced by many young people: “I want to leave, but I can’t afford a house of my own, so I can’t afford to get married.” Cultural norms dictate that young people live with their parents until marriage, exacerbating the sense of entrapment.
Dima Khoury, an official at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, highlighted the dire consequences: “Without hope, people try to leave. Many do not have children and do not marry.” The economic struggles, compounded by scarce job opportunities and nonexistent tourism, have led to a crisis.
Before the war, 180,000 Palestinians held permits to work in Israel, but these were cancelled, with only 10,000 recently renewed.
Fr. Louis, a young priest leading a youth group in the West Bank, shared the challenges they face: “Where there is a settlement, there is a checkpoint and therefore a cause of conflict… This is difficult and dangerous for the young people.”
Despite these obstacles, the youth group prioritizes promoting their connection to their land and faith. Fr Louis emphasized: “Our first priority is to teach young people to develop a sense of belonging to their land… We urge young people not to emigrate because Jesus lived and died here.”
The ACN delegation’s findings paint a bleak picture of a generation struggling to find hope amidst conflict and uncertainty.