[Today’s Prayer] Gaza ceasefire negotiations continue in Cairo… “Significant progress”

There were reports that significant progress had been made in the release of additional hostages and ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip.

According to CNN, Times of Israel (TOI), and Egyptian media on the 8th (local time), a high-ranking Egyptian official made this announcement. Israel and Hamas have reached agreement in many areas where they had previously had differences.

As the war in the Gaza Strip has entered its sixth month since Hamas' Al-Aqsa flood raid in October last year, negotiations have been taking place in Cairo, Egypt since the previous day between the mediation agency, Hamas, and Israel over the release of additional hostages.

It is said that while the Hamas leadership was negotiating with Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, Israel was also conducting separate negotiations with these delegations, excluding Hamas. Hamas and Israel have been communicating indirectly through mediation country delegations. Egyptian media outlet Al Qahera quoted a source as saying, "Negotiations in Cairo are making great progress in bringing (each's) views closer together." “There was agreement between the parties in the different areas in which there had previously been disagreements,” he said.

According to reports, Hamas and Qatar are expected to leave Cairo after familiarizing themselves with the status of the negotiations so far and return within two days to negotiate the final terms of the agreement. It is said that negotiations will continue during this period.

Hamas has been demanding a complete cessation of war with Israel through indirect negotiations, and Israel has been demanding a temporary ceasefire. As these differences have not been resolved, no significant agreement has been concluded between the two sides since November of last year.

Israel's Channel 12 News said of the current negotiation situation, "This time it is different. This is the closest thing to an agreement since the past few months." However, the specific details of the agreement are not known.

As of now, publicly, it appears that differences of opinion between the two sides remain. On the 7th, the day before, Hamas presented conditions for an agreement including a complete cessation of attacks in the Gaza Strip, withdrawal of troops, return of Palestinian residents, restoration of Gaza, and exchange of prisoners.

Israel, on the other hand, dismisses these demands as ‘delusional.’ An Israeli official told local media outlet Ynet on this day, "I don't think an agreement will be reached anytime soon," and "(each person's) differences of opinion are still significant."

Meanwhile, Israel announced on this day that it was preparing to change its military posture along the Lebanon border from a defensive focus to an offensive one.

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Source: Newsis

“O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend.” (Psalm 15:1-3)

Negotiations are taking place in Cairo, Egypt, regarding the war between Israel and Hamas that has been ongoing for six months since October of last year, and we receive good news that significant progress is being made.

Although it appears that there are still differences of opinion between the two sides, it is reported that the current negotiation situation is the closest to an agreement since the past few months, so it is time for the global church to pray even more for the two nations.

May you help Israel and Palestine recover the heart of David, who sought to stay in Your tent and live on Your holy mountain, and help them make the best decisions during these negotiations.

Would you help them repent before the cross for their past sins of tearing down, committing evil, and slandering each other.

Above all, when the local churches, your body, take the lead and bow down before the gospel, may you stretch out your powerful right hand and bring peace to Israel and Palestine.

Now would you help Israel and Palestine shed the burden of pain from war and hatred toward each other and find peace.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, carrying all our burdens, fill both nations and may you send more people who will pray for the nations to receive the joy of salvation and serve them.

Therefore, whenever those who believe in the gospel of peace in Israel and Palestine step on this land, let the song of salvation flow to all nations, and may the day come quickly when they hear the trumpet sound of the Lord's return!