[Emergency Prayer] Israel&Palestine War 20

1) Increase in applications for Israeli civilian firearms licenses

According to Israeli Ministry of National Security, there have been 180,500 applications to acquire private weapons since the Hamas attack. This is a significant increase compared to 19,000 cases in 2021 and 42,000 cases in 2022. Hundreds of people come to a shooting club in Tel Aviv these days to take the courses needed to get a firearms license. After the Israeli government announced a relaxation of gun laws, eligible individuals without criminal records or health problems can now obtain a firearms license within a week. One Jewish person said, "Buying a gun is not an easy decision, but I think if it can make Israelis feel safer, this is what I should do. I live in a Kibbutz, and we decided to get guns and form a vigilante group." However, some are raising concerns about gun misuse. Moran Maimoni, head of the Abraham Initiative, said: "People have seen people who know how to use guns protect their lives in this terrible terrorist attack, so I understand that people want to arm themselves. But the police should pay attention to which organization is being armed and who is being armed.”

2) Next generation of Palestine

There is a next generation that is indirectly affected by the news of the ongoing war. In particular, horrific photos and videos of the Gaza Strip are being shared through social media, making people sad and angry as if they had experienced it themselves. Sometimes, middle and high school students walk through the city center and streets in the morning, raising their voices to protest the deaths in Gaza and join in the sorrow. Not long ago, a video of children in a refugee camp was uploaded, showing them playing and imitating the actions of adults carrying the dead and protesting while walking through the city center. No one is telling them that it is not right. On the contrary, it is truly sad to see adults seeing this and asking for revenge. There are youth participating in a Palestinian worship group. There is a lack of proper understanding of the history of Israel and Palestine, and there is a lot of anger and nationalism towards Israel due to biased information provided by the media. “I wouldn’t mind dying if freedom could come to this land. My family originally lived in City B of Israel, but we moved here because of them. I have never seen the sea in my life. I join the protests every night to travel freely on this land.” Another youth is very religious. She is a friend who would go into her room and recite Islamic prayers. However, when she started going to church services, she started to sing hymns together and showed enthusiasm. However, after the war broke out, she continued to come to our gatherings, but she could not sing along, saying that she felt like she was betraying her people by coming here and worshiping.

[Prayer Topics]

1. Many people purchase guns and rely on their own strength and weapons to survive, but we can never be saved through our righteousness. May they let go of everything they have tried to live by and be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus.

2. Please renew the next generation of Palestinians who have lost their dreams and hopes. May they stand before the Word of the Lord and rise up as a holy generation that can discern right from wrong and overcome the evil one.

3. May the Lord alone be exalted in Israel and Palestine. Please allow every city, village, and family to praise Yeshua. Raise them up as the last disciples who will shout, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” and prepare the way for the coming King.

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. (Hosea 14:1-4)

Israel and Palestine return to the Lord! May they become a people who return to Yeshua with the Word, may they abandon all unrighteousness, and offer sacrifices of praise.

May they never again rely on themselves or be double-minded, but only place their in Yeshua the Savior.

Lord, would you love Israel and Palestine with joy. Please wipe away all their tears and fill them with the kingdom of God so that there will be no more death, pain, and sorrow. Let your people arise in worship, and may they advance towards all nations!