[Today’s Prayer] Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire and hostage exchange

The four-day ceasefire does not seem likely to lead to a long-term ceasefire... Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war after ceasefire ends.

Israel and Hamas, the armed group that rules the Palestinian Gaza Strip, agreed to a brief four-day ceasefire 46 days after the outbreak of war.

On the 22nd (local time), the AP news agency reported, "Israel's war cabinet agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Hamas," and "agreed to exchange hostages held in the Gaza Strip with Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons."

The news agency said, "According to the agreement, 50 of the 240 hostages Hamas is holding in the Gaza Strip will be released during the four days, and the temporary ceasefire will be extended by one day for every 10 hostages released," the Israeli government said. “We are pursuing the release of women and children hostages as a priority,” he said.

According to the news agency, Hamas agreed to release 50 Israeli women and children in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians detained in Israel, and that the agreement also included allowing humanitarian aid to the entire Gaza Strip.

(Omitted)

However, it is clear that the ceasefire period will only last four days and that Israel will continue its military attacks on the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire.

In fact, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he would resume the offensive against Hamas when the four-day ceasefire ends.

Source: Pressian

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:9-10)

Father God who loves all nations,

We hear of the news that Israel and Palestine have agreed to a short ceasefire after 46 days of war, but the condition of the ceasefire is the release of hostages, and Israel said to continue military attacks on the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire.

In the midst of this situation, we see that the souls in that land continue to tremble in fear of death.

Lord, please have mercy on them and protect them.

Moreover, we pray that Jesus, the King of Peace, who broke down the dividing wall of hostility between Israel and Palestine with his own flesh, will now come to them.

Please help them to turn back from the years of blaming and resenting each other, and may they forgive one another and become one in the Lord by relying on the love of Jesus, who is our example of long-suffering.

May Israel and Palestine rise together as a church of faith that loves the Lord and together prepare the way for the final coming of Jesus.

May Jesus alone be exalted for pouring out upon Israel and Palestine the power of all consuming love that covers the multitude of sins!