The town, located east of Ramallah, has seen grazing by occupiers’ livestock on Palestinian farmland, repeated assaults, and limited protection, in mounting pressure to force them off their land.
Residents said shepherds now move freely across fields once planted with wheat, almonds and grapes, while Palestinian landowners are blocked from reaching their property amid continued attacks.
Despite the situation, residents said they remain committed to staying, describing the daily presence of occupiers’ livestock on their land as an attempt to impose control.
Meanwhile, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine warned in February that such attacks threaten the Christian presence in the territory and urged international churches to act.
In a message to churches worldwide, the committee said the attacks “threaten their historic presence in their land.”
Khaldoun Hanna, acting mayor of Taibe, said the town of about 1,500 residents faces a “serious escalation” by Israeli occupiers.
“Israeli attacks do not distinguish between Muslim and Christian. Everyone is targeted, and there is a green light from the far-right for occupiers to do whatever they want,” Hanna said.
On the motives behind the attacks, Hanna said, “They want to empty the land of its people, but this will not happen.”
Residents said Taibe, the only entirely Christian Palestinian town in the West Bank, is facing increasing threats to its historical character, once associated with safety.
They said recent incidents included the burning of parts of the historic Church of St. George, assaults on homes and vehicles, and racist graffiti.
About 750,000 Israeli occupiers live in settlements across the occupied West Bank, including around 250,000 in East Al-Quds, with Palestinians saying these communities are a source of daily attacks aimed at forced displacement.
Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Israeli forces and occupiers have intensified operations across the West Bank, including arrests, killings, property destruction, home demolitions and displacement.
Those actions have killed at least 1,132 Palestinians and injured about 11,700, in addition to the detention of roughly 22,000 people, according to official Palestinian data.