Church of England backs Palestinian Christians despite backlash

The Church of England's General Synod has voted to express solidarity with Palestinian Christians and engage with their experiences as outlined in the Kairos Palestine and Kairos Palestine II documents. This decision, reached on Monday, aims to support "their fellow Palestinians in non-violent resistance to the ongoing occupation" and reaffirm inter-faith dialogue. The Kairos documents, particularly the 2025 Kairos Palestine II, describe the experiences of Christians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, calling for an end to Israeli occupation and labeling Israel a "colonial, settler, and exclusionary entity."

"If the language is challenging, it comes from a place of deep trauma," said Ven Stewart Fyfe, addressing criticism of the documents' strong language.

The motion faced backlash from Jewish counterparts and some Christian groups, who argued the documents contained falsehoods and extreme rhetoric. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, emphasized the importance of listening to difficult narratives, stating, "We must listen to those things that are hard to hear, and take the risk of engaging across divides." The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine welcomed the decision, highlighting its significance due to the Church of England's influence.