Christians in Lebanon are “holding onto prayer”, as Israel says it will not enter ceasefire talks with Hezbollah.
Next week, Israeli ambassadors will meet in Washington to begin formal negotiations with the Lebanese government.
The country’s US ambassador, Yechiel Leiter, said: “Israel agreed to begin formal peace negotiations… [but] refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, which continues to attack Israel and is the main obstacle to peace between the two countries.”
In the last week, over 300 people were killed in ten minutes of intense attacks on Beirut. The IDF insists it is targeting Hezbollah.
“It has been over a month of unfortunate escalation that has been ongoing,” Habib Khattar, World Vision’s Response Manager in Beirut, told Premier Christian News. “It is a heavy and painful moment. There is fear, uncertainty and deep exhaustion.”
He added that many are internally displaced in the country, which is majority-Muslim, but retains a strong Christian population: “Children are sleeping in places that are not meant to be homes.”
“At the same time, there is something very strong; it’s faith,” Kattar noted. “People are turning to God, not only for protection, but for peace, for strength and for hope. In the middle of everything, as Christians, we believe that even in darkness, God is present.”