Ceasefire, Day 13

U.S. leaders are huddling in Israel to stabilize Gaza’s tottering truce.

On Sunday, Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza on Israel’s side of the ceasefire line; Israel responded with strikes across Gaza, killing dozens. Calm was restored by Monday, and Uncle Sam dispatched VP JD Vance alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and White House Advisor Jared Kushner (the peace plan’s architects) to shore up the ceasefire and push Israeli PM Netanyahu to start long-term peace negotiations.

Vance says Hamas is now 40 decentralized “cells,” and the truce will involve “fits and starts.” Hamas’s delegation in Egypt is reportedly in talks “to unify the Palestinian factions.”

President Trump warned that Hamas will be “eradicated” if they don’t “behave”; Israel and Hamas reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire.

RADIATE HOPE
War is a heavy burden that highlights our world’s need for restoration. Jesus came to bear that burden of sin, lighten our load, and restore our world. Pray that the Middle East would experience His restoration and glorify the Messiah Jesus. 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) (read full passage)