English May 24-2018

Sabeel Wave of Prayer
May 24^th , 2018 

A massacre occurred in Palestine on Monday, the 14th of May. Sixty one Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces in one day, as reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health. Among those who died were eight children.
Over the period of two days of protest, 2771 Palestinians were injured by the Israeli forces, including 225 children and 86 women, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The people of Gaza have reached an unbearable level of hardship and despair, on top of which, came the moving of the US embassy to Jerusalem which coincided with the 70^th anniversary of Al Nakba. 

·         Lord, we confess that we feel overwhelmed with anger. We pray that your Spirit will work in our hearts to help us continue working for justice and to persevere in our efforts to call for peace and reconciliation. Dear God, we ask that you would grant your mercy and comfort to those grieving for their loved ones. Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer

During the last momentous week, Palestinians have been forced to witness the removal of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the day before the seventieth anniversary of the Nakba. Many Christians have spoken out in protest over the bloodshed suffered by those protesting in Gaza . The Catholic Church in the Holy Land tolled church bells to mourn for all the Palestinians who died. Many international and local churches have published statements expressing their outrage at the provocative embassy move and the carnage in Gaza. In church services across the world believers have prayed earnestly for those who suffer in Palestine and others have taken their protest to demonstrations in the streets.

·         Lord, we give thanks for the prophetic voices for justice and peace around the world. May their prayers continue to echo throughout the houses of worship, until the land we call the Holy Land is once again a safe place for all who call it home. Lord in your mercy…

The United Nations'  Human Rights Council has voted to send a team of international war crimes investigators to probe the deadly shootings of Gaza protesters by Israeli forces. The resolution was adopted by twenty nine votes with only two members of the Council voting against it, namely the USA and Australia.

·         Lord, we place our trust in your righteousness and divine justice. Please help the Palestinians to keep faith in the international community as they attempt to support them. We pray that the Israeli officials who made the decisions and the soldiers who followed the orders to kill the peaceful demonstrators will be held to account for their actions. We pray that international laws would be respected in Palestine and Israel. Lord in your mercy…

An Israeli soccer team, Beitar Jerusalem, wants to add ‘Trump’ to it’s name to honor the US President’s decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. It is the only Israeli team which has never signed an Arab player. The fans are notorious for adopting the slogan ‘Death to Arabs’ and for singing anti-Arab chants.

·         Lord, may the people of conscience remain firm in their support for the values of equality, human rights and justice. We give thanks for people around the world and especially for Israelis who are prepared to challenge the discriminatory policies of their government. Lord in your mercy…

The Bethlehem Bible College is hosting its fifth ‘Christ at the Checkpoint Conference’ in Bethlehem next week, with hundreds of international and local participants. This conference calls on Evangelical Christians to stand in solidarity with Palestinian Christians, and to work together to bring an end to the occupation.

·         God, we lift this conference up to you, and ask that you would send your Spirit to be with each and every one of the participants gathered there. Grant them attentive ears to hear, and tender hearts open to the witness of their brothers and sisters living in Palestine. Lord, in your mercy…

·         Lord, we join the World Council of Churches in praying for the islands in the Western Indian Ocean : Comoros, Madagascar,  the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Lord in your mercy…