Palestine

In Hebron H2 and South Hebron Hills, the Israeli government selects specific days and hours when they allow owners to access their lands. This year, due to the lack of coordination between the Palestinian and Israeli governments, many farmers will not have access to their land to report any violations. Also, because of Covid-19 restrictions, local volunteers may be unable to gather with the families to harvest their olives on the selected days. Settler harassment has increased this year, and landowners are worried about the violence that might occur with the lack of protective presence and observers.

We seek fullness of life, freedom from oppressive structures, and liberating and loving relationships with each other, our earth and the divine.

Please pray for the families and communities living in the South Hebron Hills who have faced intense soldier and settler violence against their people, their crops, and their flocks since Israel announced its annexation plans. 

We give thanks for the children in our lives who take brave steps in troublesome times, who gift us with their refreshing insights, and who boldly imagine a new world.

Pray that the Palestinians of the Old City in Al Khalil/Hebron might find comfort during this holy month of Ramdan. This week they were reminded once again of the apartheid system they live under when Israeli soldiers sealed off a neighborhood so Hebron settlers could celebrate Israeli Independence Day.

Our #CPTJusticeJourney began at the start of Lent, on February 26th. Since then much has changed as communities across the world respond to the spread of the Coronavirus. While Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) have suspended physical accompaniment across programs, we continue to seek out ways to be present, adapting to online strategies of advocacy and accompaniment in response to our partners’ needs.

Please hold the people of Palestine in your hearts and minds.  In particular, we ask you to remember the following young lives so cruelly and unnecessarily cut short by in February:  Salah Zakarneh, age 17 years, killed by a bullet through his chest from a Palestinian Authority Security Forces’ gun in the village of Qabatiya near Nablus, and Mohammad Salman Toameh Al-Hadad age 16 years, also killed by a bullet through his chest, but from an Israeli soldier’s gun, in the city of Hebron. Please remember their families as they mourn and begin to grieve for the loss of their sons and brothers.