On
February 15, after over three years of harassment and abuse from
Israeli authorities since he was 16 years old, Shadi Khoury (Sabeel
co-founder Samia Khoury’s grandson) was sentenced to 32 months in prison
and a fine equivalent to $3,836 His family then submitted an appeal
against the conviction and sentence, along with a request to freeze the
order for Shadi to report to prison. On Sunday March 29, 2026, The
Supreme Court decided to suspend the implementation of that order and
scheduled a hearing on April 16 to review Shadi's case. On April 16, the
hearing was postponed yet again. The hearing will now be held on
Monday, May 11th at 9 AM Jerusalem time. While Shadi was able to spend
Easter with his family, the postponements continue to keep him in the
limbo he has faced across more than 40 court hearings. His family
continues to hold onto hope and is grateful for everyone who has
supported them during this difficult time.
God
of Justice, we pray for Shadi and his family as they endure the
injustice of the Israeli court system. We pray for justice, healing, and
freedom for the thousands of other young Palestinians suffering under
military occupation and apartheid. Lord, embolden us to dismantle all
structures of dehumanization and build a world of dignity and peace in
their place.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
One Palestinian man was killed and
four others seriously wounded, including a 12 year old child, during an
Israeli military raid in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Nablus
on Sunday, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported. Nayef Firas Ziad
Samaro, the man who was senselessly murdered, was only 26, and his body
was brought to the hospital where his wife was giving birth.
God
of the oppressed, we pray for the family of Nayef Samaro as they
grieve. Lord, make your presence known to the countless of other
families who are persecuted and executed by empire. As we cry out for
you amidst the stench of senseless death and evil, provide us with your
justice. Liberate us from oppression and from the structural sins of
military occupation.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
Last week, Israeli military intercepted 22
vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla near the Greek island of Crete and
detained their crews who were on the way to Gaza. 36 boats are still
sailing towards Gaza, which is under Israeli naval blockade. While most
activists were taken to Greece, Israeli forces kidnapped two
activists to detain them in Israel. Witnesses reported that the two
activists, Spanish citizen Saif Abukeshek and Brazilian citizen Thiago
Avila, were both tortured and abused on an Israeli military
vessel. Spain along with international human rights organizations are
calling for their release.
Holy
God, we lift up Saif and Thiago along with many people around the world
who have risked lives for the oppressed and marginalized. We pray for
their safety and freedom and that their sacrifice will continue to draw
attention to the inhumane illegal siege on the people of Gaza. Lord,
remind us of our fragility and mortality. In doing so, teach us to
preserve the precious gift of life by acting in solidarity with those
whose lives and dignity are at risk.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
Sabeel’s
Online Worship Services continue weekly every Thursday at 6
PM Jerusalem time. These worship services, a time to reflect on
scripture through Palestinian Christian eyes, started at the very
beginning of Sabeel’s ministry over 30 years ago and continue to this
day through local bible studies, weekly staff bible study, and for the
last five years, an online gathering that brings together friends of
Sabeel around the world. Register at tinyurl.com/sabeelworship.
Holy
God, we thank you for the hope and love of the Holy Spirit whenever
we gather together as one community. We continue to pray for Sabeel’s
staff and community as they continue this ministry. Help us to be agents
of your peace in this world.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
May
15th is Nakba Day, a day commemorating the mass displacement of
over 750,000 Palestinians and loss of over 75% of historical Palestine.
For the last 8 decades, Palestinians have experienced what they call the
“ongoing Nakba” (or catastrophe) – displacement and dispossession,
denial of rights., occupation, apartheid, and now genocide. To reflect
on ongoing Nakba, United Church of Christ is hosting a webinar on May 13th with
executive director Jonathan Kuttab. He will discuss with the current
reality in a context of regional war, genocide and occupation in
Palestine, and prospects for peace with justice. To register, visit this
link. (http://ucc.org/event/whats-next-rooted-in-faith-and-justice-a-vision-of-liberation-with-jonathan-kuttab/)
Liberator
Christ, for many years we have witnessed the ongoing Nakba in
Palestine and we continue to cry out for justice and deliverance. In the
midst of despair, give us active and steadfast hope like that of
the persistent widow who never ceases at the sight of injustice. We
continue to pray for the creativity and wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we
organize under one struggle for liberation and just peace.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
We
join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the people of
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
and Uzbekistan.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayers
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