Reflection from Palestine from a Palestinian Christian living near Bethlehem

"For nearly three days now, we’ve been living through the latest escalation in the Middle East, and the toll is already heavy. In Bethlehem, I find myself growing more anxious by the day, increasingly worried about our families, friends and loved ones. The uncertainty and distance make it even harder, knowing they are all facing their own risks while we try to cope with ours.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he entered a world of uncertainty and danger. There was no room in the inn, and Mary and Joseph had to place him in a humble manger, finding shelter in whatever space they could. They were vigilant, protecting him from a world that felt unstable and often unwelcoming. That first night was not comfortable; it was a night of care, concern and awareness of fragility.

Today, we in Bethlehem live in a painfully similar reality. Night after night, emergency alarms wake us from broken sleep. Children cry in fear, parents rush to gather them and neighbours come together to find the safest place in the building – often in stairwells, because there are no proper shelters. We sleep in our clothes, ready to run at a moment’s notice. The gates surrounding Bethlehem are closed by the Israel Defence Forces, limiting movement, and fear and anxiety press on every heart. Families who were already distressed before this escalation now bear an even heavier burden.

Like Mary and Joseph, we protect our children as best we can, sharing our limited spaces and resources, holding onto each other in moments of uncertainty. This reminds us that God is present even in these fearful times. Just as he watched over Jesus in Bethlehem, he watches over every family living in alarm and distress today, sustaining them with courage and hope.

Holy God, we lift before you the lives of those lost in this war and the families who are living in fear of violence. We lament a world where our children cannot live lives of dignity, but instead are forced to grow up under occupation, in a constant state of fear and death. May your Spirit embolden all who resist this occupation with truth and courage. Help keep us steadfast in our faith that your justice will soon come to the land and its people."

Prayer for the Middle East

God of love,
As we see and hear the news of the devastating violence wrought upon
and within the Middle East,
we hold your broken world before you in prayer,
We pray for lives lost, for people who mourn, and for those living in fear
We pray for people stranded and in need of safe routes and safe harbours.
We long for peace and pray that those who wage war might exchange weapons for words.
Help us to know how to pray, how to speak and how to act,
that we might remember our call to follow the Prince of Peace,
In whose name we pray,
Amen.