On the 8^th of December, Sabeel organized the monthly meeting of Palestinian Christian civil society organizations in Jerusalem which also included Christian clergy. This meeting was held in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem as an act of solidarity with the Armenian community, who are struggling to preserve the Christian presence in the Old City of Jerusalem and keep their precious lands from being sold.  

Divine creator, we are all overwhelmed with the immense struggles and suffering we are facing. Like Christ, we are weeping over the situation in Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine. Help us, O Lord, to do more than regret our circumstances, but to act with unity and zeal. Lord, we pray that the cries of the Armenian community in Jerusalem will be heard by you and that your justice will rain down, quenching our thirst for justice. 

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer    

Horrific videos and images have emerged of at least 100 Palestinian men detained by Israeli forces who were forced to be stripped to their underwear, blindfolded, and made to kneel on a street in northern Gaza. These Palestinian men were reportedly taking refuge in two schools affiliated with UNRWA and the images, which were widely circulated on social media, have been confirmed by the Israeli army.  

Crucified Christ, you were publicly humiliated and naked on the cross. You are familiar with the experience of many Palestinians who have been humiliated by imperial powers. Lord, restore the dignity of the oppressed. Redeem this world by ending all structures and systems of sin and bring about the restoration of relationships.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer   

Since October 7^th at least 266 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 3,365 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank. Settler attacks against Palestinians and their properties are on the rise, causing the displacement of 1000 Palestinian families, including 388 children. Furthermore, Israel has increased the incarceration of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem with no charge or trial, making them hostages. 

God of the oppressed, we do not have enough time to properly mourn as the suffering continues. The pressing realities of death and sin have crushed our spirits, broken our hearts, and changed the fabric of our being. O Lord, you seem to have forsaken us, where are you in these times? As we lament, we proclaim that, “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).  

On the 10th of December, Christians across the globe marked the second Sunday of Advent by lighting the candle of “Faith”. While the world is celebrating the Christmas season by decorating trees and holding Christmas parties, in Palestine, we are commemorating Christmas by foregoing the usual celebrations, waiting for God to deliver us from 75 years of settler colonial violence. Indeed, we are living out the reality of the Christmas story. 

Emmauel, your incarnation took place in our land 2000 years ago; like those in the nativity story, we await your saving presence. Lord, this year, help us to deeply understand the meaning of your incarnation, which promises liberation and justice for the oppressed. May we proclaim Mary’s prophetic words this Christmas, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1:52-53). 

Since the end of the temporary pause in fighting, the Israeli army has widened its attacks in southern and central Gaza, with some of the heaviest aggressions since the 7^th of October. Many homes sheltering displaced Palestinians have been bombed, refugee camps have been hit, and more people have been internally displaced, bringing the total number of those displaced to over 1.8 million. The weather is becoming colder, food, humanitarian aid, and shelters remain scarce, and the population density where the displaced are seeking refuge is high. Humanitarian professionals in Gaza are describing the situation as “Apocalyptic.”

Sovereign God, you are the creator and sustainer of this world. No prayer fully expresses our suffering, and no statement says all that can be said. As the suffering in Gaza is described as “Apocalyptic,” we hold on to the mystery of our faith that your justice and mercy will redeem all suffering, and all evil powers and agents will be accounted for. We acknowledge your presence in Gaza through our actions of solidarity and our work to end all forms of injustice around the globe.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

Hisham Awartani’s poem written in the 6^th grade

“Hope dwells in my heart

It shines like a light in darkness

[This] light cannot be smothered

It cannot be drowned out by tears and the screams of the wounded

It only grows in strength

This light can outshine hate

This light can outshine injustice

It outshines segregation and apartheid

As of Greek legend, Pandora opened a box

And when she did that, all the evil escaped

But luckily, Pandora closed the jar before hope could escape

And as long as hope stayed in that jar

Hope would never escape

So I ask you one thing, learn from that story

Learn to never give up hope

Learn to let hope give power

In the darkest of times

And let the light shine.”

On the 25^th of November, three young Palestinian men, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, were shot near a university campus in the US. According to the police, the young men were speaking Arabic and two of them were wearing keffiyehs when attacked. Several sources claim that biased media coverage and the political discourse in the US have led to an increase in anti-Arab and anti-Islam sentiments, making the shooting a hate crime.  

God of love, all Palestinians around the world suffer from hate on different scales. Lord, heal Awartani, Abdalhamid, and Ahmed. Restore them to full health and strengthen their families. We call for your justice towards the shooter and an end to the violent rhetoric and ideologies which motivated his crimes. Lord, replace all forms of hate and violence, whether through guns or through words, with actions of love and words of truth.  

Last week, several Palestinians, including two children, 8-year-old Adam Samer al-Ghoul and 15-year-old Basil Suleiman Abu al-Wafa were killed by Israeli forces in Jenin refugee camp. It is reported that the Israeli military during their raids prevented Palestinian ambulances from reaching the injured. Moreover, Israel arrested at least 133 Palestinians from East Jerusalem and the West Bank indefinitely with no charges, and there have been reports of settler attacks on Palestinian farmers and burning of olive trees. 

Almighty God, give assurance to the bereaved families that although their loved ones have passed from their sight, they have not passed from your love. Draw near to us as we mourn so that we may utter the words of the prophet Job, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5-6). Help us to see you in this nightmare. Console us through liberation, heal us through justice, humble the rulers of the world that are responsible for the loss of so many Palestinian lives.  

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

On the 29^th of November, the United Nations observed the “International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People”. Marches, sit-ins, protests and various other events took place as people from all around the world expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people. While governments in the West support the injustices committed by the State of Israel, many of their citizens regularly criticize their governments and protest on the streets in record breaking numbers.

God of the oppressed, for more than 75 years Palestinians have been robbed of their lands, homes, dignity, and lives due to the structures and systems of sin. We have been dehumanized to the point that our mere identity is a crime from birth. Lord, we thank you for the beautiful solidarity around the world from those who are advocating for justice and praying for mercy for our enemies since, “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him” (Proverbs 14:31).

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer     

On the 3^rd of December, Dar al-Kalima University organized an event titled “Hope from Bethlehem: Peace for Palestine A Christmas Solidarity Campaign with the People in Gaza”. Well-known artists from Palestine and abroad performed to encourage the call for an immediate ceasefire, an open and sustainable humanitarian corridor into Gaza, and a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel. As we enter the season of advent, many in the Western Church have marked the first Sunday by lighting the candle of “Hope”, and many in the eastern Church began their “Nativity Fast”. 

Emmauel, God with us, Advent in Palestine this year feels like a paradox. We meditate on the hope of the incarnation whilst we live in a hopeless reality where children are killed, lives lost become mere numbers and statistics, women have no safe place to give birth, and injustice is celebrated. Lord, this is your story. As we meditate on your incarnation, let it be a time of active waiting which feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, heals the sick, and struggles with the oppressed for their liberation. 

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer