December 12th 2024
Israel continues to kill and starve civilians in Gaza. Among the casualties during Israel’s attacks last week in North Gaza was Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun, a beloved Palestinian chef and the founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Chef Almadhoun was known for feeding the hungry. In the presence of famine and starvation, he crafted new dishes that served over 3,000 people and patients daily near the Kamal Adwan Hospital. Prior to his death by an Israeli sniper, he was reported saying, “We will keep serving our community, remembering that when all else has failed the Palestinians, the land did not.”
Oh Lord, we witness death everywhere. Like the Psalmist, our souls are in deep anguish, and we cry out “how long, Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:3) Divine Creator, who multiplies loaves and fishes (Mark 6:41), we ask you to hear the cries of the people of Gaza and sustain them in the face of mass starvation and genocide. We pray for all souls killed in Gaza. Among those lost, we remember Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun, a servant of his people who fed the hungry and nurtured hope. Holy Spirit, strengthen those who remain, comfort those who grieve, and restore the land and its people to peace.
Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer
Last week, Amnesty International released a detailed report confirming that Israel’s actions meet the legal threshold for genocide. While many scholars, activists, and citizens across the world have already used this term to describe Israel’s war on Gaza, Amnesty International became the first major human rights organization to accuse Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza.
Lord, in witnessing the endless suffering of Gaza, we echo the words of the Psalmist: “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17). You are the God of the oppressed and the weak. We seek your intervention in the face of injustice. Lord, let those who perpetrate these crimes be held accountable. We ask for an end to the killing, an end to the suffering, and for the restoration of dignity and peace for all people.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Israel plans to confiscate more than 23,000 dunams (around 5,900 acres) in the occupied West Bank and declare it as “state” territory with the aim of illegal settlement expansion. The move is being described as the largest Israeli land grab since the Oslo Accords in 1993. Several settlements will be expanded and linked together as part of the land grab.
O Lord, We pray for the protection of the land and all its people. We seek your intervention, righteousness, and justice for those who are oppressed. Lord, we cry out for an end to the Israeli occupation and for the cessation of the ongoing theft of Palestinian land. May justice, rooted in the principles of human dignity and international law, prevail.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
On 5th December, Birzeit University students Layan Naser and Layan Kayyad were released from Israeli prison after Israeli forces abducted them from their homes in the West Bank and incarcerated them for 8 months without charge or trial. They were targeted for their organizing activities at Birzeit University, which included organizing nature walks and visiting students recently released from prison.
God of Justice, you shatter chains and bring captives to freedom. We give thanks for the release of Layan Naser and Layan Kayyad. We hold steadfast to your divine timing, knowing the days of captivity will not last and that your light will break every darkness. O Emmanuel, as we await this day, we ask you to abide with the weary and the oppressed. We lift up in prayer all those imprisoned and held hostage, including the 3,428 Palestinian administrative detainees in Israel and the 101 Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
This Advent season, Friends of Sabeel throughout the world continue to hold steadfast in their solidarity and commitment to leading the church towards just peace. For example, last week, Friends of Sabeel Germany and the Kairos Palestine Solidarity Network Germany issued a prophetic letter to the EKD Synod, urging stronger advocacy for justice and peace. They called for acknowledgment of the suffering in Gaza and beyond, a ceasefire, and efforts to end the occupation, highlighting the church’s role in standing with those striving for equality and peace.
Gracious God, we give thanks for the steadfast witness of those who stand in solidarity with the oppressed. We lift up the prophetic letter from Friends of Sabeel Germany and the Kairos Palestine Solidarity Network, calling the church to act with courage and compassion. As we await the coming of the Prince of Peace, we pray that the church is called upon to speak out boldly and clearly and to act. May the light of Christ shine brightly, leading us all toward a future where peace reigns and every person is treated with dignity and respect.
Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer
We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer