Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Week of April 29, 2019

On Friday, 26 April 2019, in excessive use of force against peaceful protesters on the 56th Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege, Israeli forces wounded 110 civilians, including 37 children, 3 women, 4 paramedics, and a journalist, in the eastern Gaza Strip.  Two of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

Lord, we pray for all those who were injured during the protests. We continue to pray that a just peace will be negotiated bringing peace and a right to return for the refugees of Gaza. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

This week’s Kumi Now initiative focuses on the work of the Palestinian Centre for Development and Freedom (MADA). Palestinian journalists face regular threats of censorship and violence. The Centre, based in Ramallah, works alongside journalists across the Palestinian Territories to promote and defend freedom of speech and expression through the media.

Lord, we thank you for the work of MADA and for the protection and encouragement it offers to those who seek to express the truth, no matter how disturbing it may be. Lord you direct us to think about ‘whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just’, (Phil 4:8) and to practice these things. We pray that the truth in Palestine may not be suppressed by the occupying Israeli authorities. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Labor Day will be a public holiday in Palestine on Wednesday, the 1st May. On a daily basis, Palestinian workers are forced to wait for hours at checkpoints throughout the West Bank in order to be allowed into Israel for work which is often poorly paid. Under Israel’s permit regime, Palestinians from the West Bank are only allowed to access East Jerusalem or Israel with a difficult to obtain Israeli-issued permit.

Lord, we pray for the Palestinians who have to endure overcrowded conditions and long waits so they can work and support their families. We pray for an end to this inhumane permit policy. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Lawmakers have called on the Israeli government to recognize the Armenian Genocide on its Annual Memorial Day (27th April). The Armenian Genocide started in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million Armenians. Thousands of Armenians fled to Arab countries and settled in various places, including Jerusalem. Thirty governments and parliaments have so far recognized this genocide. However, it is unlikely that Israel will follow them as they have a strong ally in Azerbaijan, who are in conflict with Armenia.

Lord, we pray for our Armenian Palestinian brothers and sisters living in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Palestine. We pray for them as they remember with sorrow the terrible genocide. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Osama Hajajeh, a 16-year-old Palestinian shepherd is in hospital with serious gunshot wounds to both his legs after he was shot by Israeli soldiers on Thursday, the 18th of April.

They shot him when he tried to stand up after they blindfolded him and handcuffed his hands behind his back. Other teenagers had been protesting about the roadblocks around their village, but Osama denied being one of the youngsters throwing stones at military vehicles.

Dear Lord, we pray that Osama will recover from his serious wounds and be able to walk again. We pray that the occupying Israeli military will cease their indiscriminate use of live fire against defenceless Palestinians. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Thursday 2nd May, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) will hold an online conversation titled “With Love as its Logic: Heeding the Call of Palestinian Christians.” The conversation is an opportunity to hear from Palestinian Christians as they discuss the current political climate in Palestine and the Kairos petition and call for action on May 15th, as well as marking the 10th anniversary of the Kairos Document. Contributors will include Muna Mashahwar (National Coalition of Christian Organisations in Palestine), Rifat Kassis (Kairos Palestine), and Omar Haramy (Sabeel Jerusalem), it will be facilitated by Tarek Abuata (FOSNA).  Register here.

Lord, we pray for this event that it would be a fruitful discussion to find ways forward to encourage Palestinians and for their friends around the world to show solidarity and support. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.