Pray for Peace in Palestine and Israel

The situation in Palestine and Israel is deplorable. Unabated violence has made several homeless, many injured and dead.

We pledge our prayers for the Peace in Palestine and Israel, and plead with all concerned – Governments and Agencies alike – to do all that is in their power to stop violence, save lives and de-escalate further damage to the people of Palestine and Israel, and in the region.

As the National Council of Churches in India, we unambiguously condemn violence in all its guises and the loss of innocent lives on both sides especially the attack and killing of more than 2,500 civilian lives from 6th of October, 2023. We decry violence as it perpetuates suffering and pain, and we remember that every life is a precious creation of God. We mourn for every lost life. We speak comfort to all bereaved.

We cannot turn a blind eye to the long and painful history of oppression and the forceful occupation of Palestinian land. Over many decades Palestinians have borne the weight of dispossession, displacement, and the denial of their fundamental human rights, injuring over 152,560 Palestinians and over 6307 Israelis since 1948. In our hearts, we know that “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20).

We invite all constituents and their units to earnestly lift this concern to God in Prayer. Pray for the immediate cessation of the conflict.

While we pray for the immediate cessation of conflict and healing, we also pray for the long-awaited Justice for the people of Palestine.

May God bring healing in the land.

The Call: A Lament of the Suffering 

Psalm 23 Inspired by the Kairos document

Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary, NCCI