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Prince Charles visited Bethlehem and Ramallah on Friday, the 24th of January, to host a small ecumenical service in a chapel of the Nativity Church and meet with Mahmoud Abbas. Prince Charles spoke of his “dearest wish that the future will bring freedom, justice and equality to all Palestinians.”

• Lord, we pray that the visit of Prince Charles will mark a time of renewed hope for the Palestinian people. We pray that many international leaders will call for an end to the occupation and to renew peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer

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The Israeli human rights organisation Bimkom revealed that the Israeli Civil Authority in the West Bank only granted 3% of the Palestinian applications for construction permits in Area C for the period 2016-18. Further data shows that 2000 demolition orders were issued in Area C for ‘violations’ by Palestinians for lack of permits for construction during the same period.

• Oh Lord, we cry out to you, ‘not to forget the afflicted’, ‘incline your ear to the oppressed’, Psalm 10:18. How can the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank continue on this path of home demolition and oppression? We pray that the Israeli authorities will change and seek to serve the whole population in a just and equitable way. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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On Wednesday, the 22nd of January, the Israeli army delivered orders stating that they will annex 1,250 acres of Palestinian land, south of Nablus in the northern area of the West Bank. This annexation will further affect Palestinians from the villages of Tal, Madama and Burin. In September 2019 the army annexed Palestinian land in the area to enable the illegal Jewish settlement of Yitzhar to expand.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the Palestinians in the West Bank as they see their land stolen and are then vulnerable to Jewish settler attacks and intimidation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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Thirty-four Catholic bishops from Europe, North America and South Africa have called on their governments to respect international law in Israel and to recognise the state of Palestine. They recently undertook a five-day tour of the occupied territories and recognised the worsening situation in Gaza, East Jerusalem and Ramallah.

• Lord, we thank you for the concerns raised by the Catholic bishops. We pray that their governments will listen and respond by bringing pressure to bear on Israel to cease the building of illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank and to dismantle the occupation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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Ekrima Sabri, an imam and the former grand mufti of Palestine was barred from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on the grounds of incitement in his recent sermon. He has been giving Friday sermons at the Al-Aqsa Mosque since 1973. He is a notable Jerusalemite and has protested against the daily incursions of Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa compound. Last week 343 settlers, under the protection of the Israeli security forces, entered the compound against agreed protocol.

• Dear Lord, we pray for calm and mutual respect for worshippers of different faiths in Jerusalem. We pray that the Israeli authorities respect the guardianship agreement and protocols it has with Jordan, the country which oversees the Muslim and Christian holy sites in the city of Jerusalem. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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On Tuesday, the 21st of January the Israeli army killed three Palestinian young men, Mohammed Mandeel, Salem an-Na’ami and Mahmoud Sa’id, all eighteen years of age, near the perimeter fence in Central Gaza. The army alleges that they breached the fence and hurled explosive devices. They were ordered to remove their clothes before they were shot.Lord, we pray for the families and friends who grieve the loss of Mohammed, Salem and Mahmoud. We pray for an end to the siege of Gaza and for a ceasefire and an end to violence and bloodshed at the border. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer

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The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza is warning that three hospitals may be forced to close because there isn’t enough fuel to power generators vital to the supply of electricity. The generators have to be used to cover the twelve hours’ lack of electricity supply from the Israeli companies.

• Oh Lord, the Palestinians living in the occupied territories, especially Gaza, are being forced to survive day-to-day with diminishing supplies of clean water and electricity, in a land blessed with sufficient supplies for all. We pray for an end to this unjust denial of vital resources by the Israeli authorities, when they have more than enough for their whole population. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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The Kumi Now initiative focuses on the work of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA). The organisation supports the work of Sabeel, Jerusalem and seeks justice and peace in Palestine through non-violent advocacy and education.

• Dear Lord, we thank you for the work of FOSNA and their commitment to reveal how the Israeli authorities continue to defy international law and abuse Palestinian human rights. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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• Dear Lord Jesus, we pray for the family and friends of Father George Shahwan as they mourn his recent loss. He was an old friend and supporter of Sabeel and we thank you for his service as priest to the Greek Orthodox Church of St Mary’s, Beit Jala. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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Ahmad Zahran has been held under Israeli administrative detention since March 2019. He has suffered deteriorating health after undergoing 113 days of hunger strike in protest against his detention order. On Monday, the 13th of January, he called his family to inform them that he had reached an agreement with the prison administration and that he would be released on the 25th of February.

• Dear Lord, it seems so harsh that Palestinian political prisoners have to starve themselves to the point of death to receive release from the detention orders that can keep them incarcerated for years, on secret evidence, without charge or trial. We pray for an end to this inhumane imprisonment for 450 Palestinians who are currently held on administrative detention orders. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.