Day 16

FEBRUARY | 2024

Israel

PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY

Negotiations over the Israel-Hamas war are zeroing in on a ceasefire deal of one to two months in exchange for all remaining Israeli hostages being held captive in Gaza. The continued barrier to progress in the discussions is a disagreement over how to end the Gaza war permanently. Hamas officials have so far refused to come to an agreement that does not include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the release of more Palestinian prisoners.

Pray against all the selfish intentions that prolong the Israel-Hamas war (The Holy Bible, Psalm 34:14).

Pray that Hamas will engage in the negotiations and agree to the two-state solution. May peaceful resolutions be reached soon, in Jesus’s Mighty Name (The Holy Bible, Matthew 5:9).

MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY

On October 7, 2023, more than 3,000 rockets fired by Hamas (a militant group in the Palestinian territory) rained on southern Israeli towns. In a subsequent assault by land and sea, Hamas killed over 1000 Israelis, 22 American citizens, and several other foreign tourists. In addition, several hundred Israeli citizens and tourists are held hostage by Hamas to try and soften an Israeli response. As in the past, the terrorist organization badly underestimated the resolve of their Jewish opponent. After a fierce missile and aerial attack that killed nearly a thousand Palestinians in Gaza and more than 50 casualties in the West Bank, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) mobilized thousands of reserves for a ground war. With a Unified Government for the War on Hamas leading the charge, Israel aims to erase the terrorist organization from existence. The attack caught Israeli intelligence agencies by surprise. Ironically, the attacks happened because Israeli troops relocated from the south to protect settlements in the West Bank in recent months.

CHIEF OF STATE
President Isaac Herzog
HEAD OF GOV.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu
POPULATION
9,043,387
CHRISTIANS
1.9%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
0.2%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Judaism
PERSECUTION RANKING
Not Ranked
REFUGEES
45,284
LIFE EXPECTANCY
83.54 yrs
LITERACY RATE
97.8%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
20%