WEST BANK — Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury, concluded a five-day pastoral visit to the West Bank by issuing a joint letter with Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem Hosam Naoum on Thursday. The letter called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and a viable two-state solution.

The joint letter urged Anglicans to press politicians "to take all necessary measures to establish a credible path towards ending the occupation." Mullally and Naoum stated that this path "must lead to a viable two-state solution enabling Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, dignity and security." They also added that "Jerusalem's status should be determined through negotiation as a shared capital." The document expressed fear for "the long-term future of the indigenous Christian Palestinian presence in the Holy Land that stretches back to the time when our Lord walked this land." It detailed conditions in the West Bank, stating that "unchecked settler violence, forced displacement, systemic discrimination and expanding checkpoints have left the Palestinian population impoverished, desperate and powerless to enact change," and added, "Annexation is already taking place in all but name."

During her visit, Mullally planted an olive tree with the family of Daoud Nassar, a Palestinian Christian whose family has been involved in efforts to retain their land in the West Bank since 1991. Mullally described the Nassar family as an example of "Christian resistance to injustice." She observed that "when many Palestinian Christians are leaving, olive trees are a symbol of their deep roots in this land." Lambeth Palace stated that the visit aimed to encourage Palestinian Christians.

The archbishops also addressed the situation in Gaza, noting that "Meanwhile, the profound suffering in Gaza continues" and that its health system was in a state of "catastrophic collapse." They asserted that "The international community must not look away; it bears a moral responsibility to relieve this agony and help rebuild Gaza's society." Mullally stated that events in the Middle East were "symptomatic of a deeper political and spiritual crisis – an abandonment of international law and an increasing recurrence of military force."

As part of her visit, Mullally met Layan Nasir, a 26-year-old Palestinian Anglican community worker who had been freed after being detained by the Israeli military. She also met the parents of Natalie Abu Dayeh, a Christian student held without charge. Mullally preached at St Peter's church in Birzeit, telling worshippers she would use her role as archbishop to seek "the peace you desire and the freedom you deserve." In her sermon, she referenced the Gospel of Matthew, noting, "In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is speaking to a community living in fear: his own people living in an occupied land and under foreign rule … I can only imagine how these words may sound to you today."

The Church of England's General Synod is scheduled to debate a motion next month regarding investment policies in the region. Guli Francis-Dehqani, the bishop of Chelmsford, stated that this debate would focus on "justice and human dignity for everyone."