Israel: Gaza Strip blockade eased
Israel has announced it will ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip and allow more civilian goods to enter the Palestinian territory. It comes amid growing international pressure to end the embargo. An Israeli commando raid on an aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza last month was widely condemned. Israel and Egypt tightened the blockade after the Islamist Hamas movement took control of Gaza in 2007. The decision to ease the land blockade, agreed by Israel's security cabinet after a two-day meeting, will see the expansion of the number of products Israel will allow into Gaza via border crossing points. The naval blockade will remain in place. The only item singled out in an Israeli government statement is a plan to allow in construction materials for civilian projects, but only under international supervision. Pray: for an easing of the tensions between the Palestinians and Israelis, and that Gazans would have all they need to rebuild their communities. (Pr.12:20) More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10338199.stm
USA: Hamas leader’s Christian son faces deportation
Masab Hassan Yousef, the son of a prominent Hamas leader who became a Christian is facing a deportation hearing on June 30 in San Diego because the U.S. Government views him as ‘a threat to America’s national security.’ Yousef, 32, authored the globally circulated book ‘Son of Hamas’ in which he recalls embracing Christianity and working as a secret agent for Israeli intelligence for over a decade to halt ‘terrorist attacks throughout Israel.’ Israeli officials have not commented on the case. The book was published this year, resulting in television appearances on American network shows. Yousef sought political asylum in the US but was told last February he was ‘barred from a grant of asylum because there were ‘reasonable grounds’ for believing he was ‘a danger to the security of the United States.’ Pray: for God to protect Yousef and provide a safe haven for him to put down his roots. (Ps.121:3) More: http://www.worthynews.com/8288-hamas-leaders-christan-son-faces-deportation-from-u-s
Somalia: Family abuses girl for leaving Islam
The tiny, shaken Christian community in Gedo Region reports that a Muslim family shackles their 17 year old daughter to a tree by day and puts her in a small dark room at night because she converted to Christianity. Anonymous source said, ‘When the woman’s family found out that she converted to Christianity she was beaten badly but insisted on her new-found religion.’ Her parents took her to a doctor who prescribed medication for a ‘mental illness'. Traditionally Somalis believe the Quran cures the sick especially the mentally ill so Islamic scripture is continually recited to her twice a week. ‘The girl is very sick and undergoing intense suffering. There is little the community can do about her condition but I have advised our community leader to keep monitoring her condition, but not to meddle for their own safety.’ Pray: that the faith of this young lady would continue to uphold her and that God would release her from this oppression. (Heb.13:13)
Kenya: Blasts at Christian prayer rally
Church leaders in Kenya are holding the government responsible for two explosions at a constitution prayer rally in Nairobi where seven people died and nearly 100 were injured on 13 June. The church leaders have been campaigning for a ‘No’ vote against a proposed draft constitution and condemned the attack as an affront to the Christian faith. They sent their condolences to the families of those who had died. ‘Having been informed over and over that the passage of the new constitution is a government project, we are left with no doubt the the government, either directly or indirectly, had a hand in this attack. Who else in this country holds explosives?’ said the Rev. Peter Karanja, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya. ‘We therefore hold the government and the ‘Yes’ team responsible for the attack and the blood that was shed.’ said Karanja. Pray: against the enemy that seeks to de-stabilise and for the Christians to stand firm and not be intimidated. (Pr.18:17)
