Stop Israel’s takeover of the Palestinian village of Sebastia

Israel is trying to take over an ancient Palestinian village and its sacred religious sites—including the tomb of St. John the Baptist.

Sebastia is a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank and is home to about 4,000 residents. In addition to the tomb, the village hosts an ancient acropolis, a Byzantine church, and a historic mosque revered by both Christians and Muslims.

In November 2025, the Israeli military ordered the seizure of 1,800 dunams (about 445 acres) of Palestinian land in Sebastia. The order is part of Israel’s plan to take over the West Bank.

Israel plans to place this land under military control and connect Sebastia to a nearby illegal Israeli settlement. That would force out Palestinian families, shut down local businesses, and destroy agricultural land with 20,000 olive trees.

As a Quaker organization, we oppose violence in all its forms. That includes the forcible displacement of Palestinians from their homes and communities.

Tell Congress: Urge the State Department to stop Israel’s illegal seizure of Sebastia.