Palestinians in Gaza protest against Hamas – how will the West respond?

On Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza took to the streets, calling for the end of Hamas. The demonstrations were called by a group calling itself “State of Palestine – Families and Clans of the Southern Governorates, Gaza Strip”. The Palestinians who are demonstrating have had enough of Hamas. They are calling for an end to the war with Israel and expressing mounting frustration over worsening living conditions. By demonstrating, they risk a violent response by Hamas, which has tortured and killed its opponents over recent months. Hamas has issued a statement accusing the protesters of being responsible for the collapse of negotiations with Israel. In the statement, Hamas vows to treat the protesters as collaborators with Israel – this is an open threat to kill protesters, just as Hamas has consistently used violence to suppress opposition.

There is much political unrest in Turkiye. Turkiye’s mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was about to become his party’s presidential candidate to rival President Erdogan, but was arrested in recent days on corruption charges. Protestors have taken to the streets, as Imamoglu’s arrest was likely politically motivated. Erdogan (who also was previously mayor of Instanbul) has been Turkiye’s prime minister and then president since 2003. He has become increasingly authoritarian, imposing his version of Islamic extremism. This includes calling for a new caliphate, and threatening to destroy Israel. This is very dangerous, as Turkiye is expanding its influence in Syria, where it is replacing Russia as the dominant power.

“Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are calling for the end of Hamas.”

The political divide within Israel seems to be deepening. This week the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) adopted a law implementing part of the current center/right government’s judicial reform program – a topic that has been the cause of major internal animosity within Israel in recent years. The fierce debate revolves around whether the judicial or political branch should have most power in Israel. Israel does not have a constitution.

Meanwhile, following the recent collapse of the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the Israeli army continues its heavy operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and over 50 hostages (only some of whom are alive) remain trapped in Hamas tunnels.

Let us pray this week more earnestly for the Peace of Jerusalem, and the coming of the Prince of Peace, who alone can establish true Shalom and turn the hearts and minds of all people towards His Kingdom.

‘We are starving and dying, enough is enough’: Gazans demand Hamas withdrawal
A Palestinian group urged a mass “march of anger” to protest against what it described as years of oppression and misrule by Hamas.
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Israel’s judicial selection law feted as overdue correction
Leftwing critics of the legislation said it compromises judges’ independence, whereas a prominent rightwing activist said it was too mild.
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Knesset votes to reform Judicial Selection Committee
The law replaces two spots on the committee with attorneys appointed by coalition and opposition, respectively, instead of members of the Israel Bar Association.
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Turkey’s expansionism in Syria creates new challenges for Israel
Turkey has replaced Russia as the dominant power in Syria.
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Iran Apparently Planning to Outwit or Outwait Trump, Not Relinquish Its Nuclear Programme
Iran’s refusal to accept US President Donald Trump’s demand that it completely dismantle its controversial nuclear programme, which Western intelligence officials are convinced is ultimately designed to build nuclear weapons, raises the very real risk of the US launching direct military action to destroy the programme.
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Who is Ploni Almoni? | The Book of RUTH with Johannes Gerloff #60
The biblical text does not tell us who is behind the figure of the so-called “Ploni Almoni”. Why is this person mentioned at all? Does it have any meaning from the prophetic perspective of the biblical text?