News from Gaza: Mass Exodus of Foreign Nationals and Injured to Egypt

Here’s the gist of what’s happening with a prayer…

As Israeli ground forces intensify their campaign in northern Gaza, a devastating blow was dealt to a refugee camp, leading to a stark refusal by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire. In this climate of conflict, casualties mount on both sides with thousands dead and injured, overwhelming Gaza’s medical facilities. Meanwhile, the U.S. political debate over funding Israel ensues amidst a rise in hate crimes related to the conflict. Amidst the turmoil, hundreds, including foreign nationals and the critically wounded, flee to Egypt through the Rafah crossing, seeking refuge from the unrelenting violence.

O Lord of all nations, we lift our hearts to you in a time of anguish and despair for those suffering in Gaza and Israel. We ask for Your protection over the innocent, Your strength for the wounded, and Your solace for the grieving families caught in the throes of conflict. Grant wisdom to the leaders and decision-makers, that they may find paths to peace and reconciliation. Comfort those who flee, seeking safety, and instill in us all a spirit of compassion and the resolve to uphold the dignity and sanctity of every human life. Through Your grace and mercy, may healing and hope rise from the ashes of destruction. Amen.

News from Gaza: Mass Exodus of Foreign Nationals and Injured to Egypt

RAFAH, the Gaza Strip —The conundrum of warfare mingles with the stench of blood and burnt rubble as Israel's ground forces make further inroads into northern Gaza. Yesterday, the narrative turned another somber page as a refugee camp was decimated—identified by Israel as a Hamas "stronghold"—and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu resolutely rebuffed the call for a humanitarian ceasefire. 

Escalating Casualties
According to Palestinian officials, Israeli airstrikes have claimed nearly 8,800 lives and left another 22,000 injured. Hospitals in Gaza are saturated beyond their operational capacity. Concurrently, the Israeli government states that since October 7, Hamas attacks have resulted in approximately 1,400 fatalities on their side. 

U.S. Funding and International Sentiment
Back in the United States, House Republicans are countering the Biden administration's $100 billion request for international aid, which includes Ukraine, by proposing a standalone bill that would reallocate $14.3 billion from the IRS to Israel. 

Notably, the ongoing conflict has fueled antisemitism and Islamophobia globally, reaching its most abhorrent expression in a recent arrest at Cornell University involving hate speech and violent threats against Jewish students. 

Exodus at Rafah
Amid the chaos, the Rafah border crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt provided a glimmer of respite. Hundreds of foreign nationals and critically injured individuals crossed from Gaza into Egypt, escaping the war-torn region. These departures were facilitated by the Hamas-run Gaza border authority, which released a list of nearly 500 foreign nationals from eight countries, most associated with NGOs, eligible for exit.

Yet, the exodus is bittersweet for many. Jamila Muhaisen, a 24-year-old Bulgarian, encapsulates the sentiment: "It's not the greatest feeling... I have family here. I have friends here. It's not OK to just leave a burning city."

Who Gets to Leave?
The question of who gets to leave is equally complicated. A majority of those on the approved list are Jordanians, with several from Austria, Australia, and Japan. Nearly 60 are associated with aid organizations like the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. American citizens and other foreign passport holders remain trapped, their fate uncertain.

Reflection
We find ourselves asking: Who is our neighbor in these troubling times? Is it the Israeli citizen living in fear of rockets, or the Palestinian child caught in the crossfire, or the humanitarian aid worker risking life for others? 

The gospel teaches us that all of them are our neighbors. While governments maneuver and battle lines are drawn, let us not forget the essence of Jesus' teaching—to extend love, hospitality, and, yes, even refuge to those most in need, irrespective of which side of the border they find themselves on is a Biblical imperative.

There’s a somewhat poetic and Biblical irony of this picture as well. Egypt has become a refuge and asylum for people. In the gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with Jesus as a place of shelter from danger. It was a poetic shift, as the Jews once fled to Israel from Egypt. This event in the gospels represented a grand opening of borders, abstracting a shift in how we view the world. The presence of God no longer resides in a specific location but wherever the presence of Christ resides.

Thank you for joining us today on PRAY NEWS. It is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you will proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a force for good.