Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned attacks on Christians in Nigeria, adding his voice to growing international pressure following similar warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a Christmas message issued Wednesday, Netanyahu described violence against Christian communities in Nigeria as “unacceptable” and demanded its immediate cessation. He emphasized that attacks targeting Christians or followers of any religion cannot be tolerated, calling religious freedom a fundamental human right.
The Israeli leader highlighted what he characterized as militant displacement and violent assaults against Nigerian Christians, urging an end to such acts. Netanyahu positioned Israel as a sanctuary for religious freedom in the Middle East, asserting it remains the only country in the region where Christians can worship openly without fear.
Netanyahu drew comparisons between Israel and neighboring countries, noting that while Israel’s Christian population has grown, Christian communities in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Palestinian-controlled territories have declined significantly. He pointed to Bethlehem as an example, stating its Christian population dropped from approximately 80 percent to 20 percent after coming under Palestinian Authority administration.
“From Jerusalem, I send warm greetings to our Christian friends around the world,” Netanyahu stated. “Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is thriving, where Christians can practise their faith with full rights and in total freedom, and where pilgrims are welcomed and cherished.”
He pledged Israel’s continued support for persecuted Christians throughout the region, reiterating that violence based on religious affiliation “cannot and must not be tolerated.”
Addressing Nigeria directly, Netanyahu condemned what he described as militant attacks on Christians, insisting “such violence must end, and it must end now.” He concluded his message by sending Christmas blessings to Christians worldwide and reaffirming Israel’s commitment to defending religious freedom.
Netanyahu’s statement follows escalating rhetoric from Washington. Weeks earlier, President Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from killings. In a post on Truth Social, Trump threatened to suspend all U.S. aid to Nigeria if the violence continues.
Trump claimed he had directed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, including potential military intervention against what he termed “Islamic terrorists.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go in ‘guns-a-blazing’ to wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote, urging Nigerian authorities to take swift action.
The statements from both leaders mark a notable increase in international attention to religious violence in Nigeria, though the Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to either leader’s remarks.
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