As part of an official tour across Europe, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine delegation met with key political, diplomatic, and religious figures in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The purpose of the visit is to garner international support for the Palestinian cause and raise awareness about the ongoing suffering of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The delegation included Ambassador Amira Hanania, member of the Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine and its representative in Europe, Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb, founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, Reverend Dr. Fadi Diab from the Episcopal Church, and Father Sandro Tomasevic, advisor to the Custody of the Holy Land. The delegation was joined by Ambassador of Palestine to Hungary Dr. Fadi El-Husseini and diplomat Yuad Jaradat.
Several high-profile meetings took place during the visit, including one with Mr. Márk Aurél Érszegi Special Advisor for Religious and Diplomatic Affairs at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conversation focused on the ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinians and their Muslim and Christian holy sites. The delegation emphasized the urgent need to end Israel’s systematic violations and uphold the internationally recognized rights of the Palestinian people.
The delegation also held talks with Reverend Dr. Vilmos Fischl, Secretary General of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Hungary. The discussion revolved around strengthening cooperation between religious institutions in Palestine and Hungary. Both parties reaffirmed the important role churches play in advocating for Palestinian rights and promoting the cause of just peace that includes an end to the Israeli occupation.
In a meeting with Mr. Daniel Solymari, Director of International Relations at the Sovereign Order of Malta in Budapest, the delegation discussed the critical need for humanitarian and diplomatic collaboration to support the Palestinian people amid escalating challenges. Both parties stressed the importance of bolstering international support for Palestinian institutions, including religious entities, and advocated for convening an international conference to address these pressing issues.
Following the meetings, the delegation participated in a working lunch and briefing hosted by the Palestinian Embassy in Budapest. The event was attended by ambassadors from Arab, Asian, African, Latin American, and European nations, as well as representatives from civil society and Hungarian academic institutions. During the briefing, The delegation presented a detailed account of the hardships faced by the Palestinian people under occupation, with a particular focus on the situation of Palestinian Christians and the destruction of Christian schools, hospitals, and buildings in Gaza during Israel’s genocide.
Members of the delegation who spoke during the event called for a unified international stance to end Israeli aggression and secure global solidarity in support of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights to freedom, independence, and lasting peace.
The delegation’s visit to Hungary will continue through next Monday, with additional meetings and prayers planned. The visit is part of broader efforts to draw attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians -, and to build stronger international alliances to confront the Israeli occupation and advocate for Palestinian rights on the global stage.
