April 9th marks the anniversary of the Deir Yassin massacre. On this day in 1948, Zionist militias attacked the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, killing 107 people and forcing survivors to flee. This horrific violence contributed to the displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians known as the Nakba – Catastrophe. Today, the legacy of Deir Yassin endures in ongoing dispossession, from massacres in Gaza to land seizures and settler pogroms in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Holy God, we remember the lives taken 77 years ago. We hold in our hearts all who carry the weight of this generational grief. As the legacy of the Nakba endures in ongoing forced dispossession today, we cry out for justice. Holy Spirit, move within us, so that our remembrance will stir a holy resolve to rise up to empire and oppression. Strengthen our efforts to build a future grounded in dignity, liberation, and peace for all.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer