Lebanon (MNN) — A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began at midnight, Beirut time. But will Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, abide by that agreement?
Whatever Hezbollah’s response, Israel and Lebanon still took a significant step this week, with their first direct diplomatic talks in decades. Fadi Sharaiha with the MENA Leadership Center says the US-hosted talks on Tuesday were good news for the Lebanese people.
“Hezbollah is kidnapping the country, and Iran is kidnapping Hezbollah, which means that Iran is in control of what’s happening in Lebanon,” says Sharaiha. “So what the US is trying to do also is to take away this card from Iran and give it back to the government of Lebanon.”
This temporary ceasefire could bring much-needed relief. Since March 2, nearly 2,200 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah. Before moving past those numbers, remember that each person had a name and a family they left behind.
Refugee child in Lebanon. (Photo courtesy of Ahmad Bader/Unsplash)
“Those are parents, children, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, daughters,” Sharaiha says. “We need to remind ourselves that people who are dying are created in God’s image.”
Many victims were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, unknowingly near someone from Hezbollah.
“One story is like, one delivery boy was part of Hezbollah. He was delivering something, and he was having a meal or something in one of the apartments of the building. Then, Israel bombed the whole building, and they [other people] were collateral damage,” says Sharaiha.
He urges Christians not to accept news about war and bombings as normal, but instead to respond through prayer.
“We are called as a Church for peace. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ We should be also calling for justice,” he says. “We know that we are here to glorify God, to enjoy God, and also to reach out to people who are lost for the kingdom of God.
“God is sitting on the throne, and God’s hand is on the hearts of the kings and the presidents and the prime ministers. So please pray that the Lord will move their hearts for peace.”
As Israel and Lebanon continue diplomatic talks, remember that for Christians, the deeper battle is spiritual and is fought through prayer.
“You are moving the hand of God in the region,” says Sharaiha. “Pray for us and pray for the different churches and ministries that are doing so much good in the region, trying to build peace and also build the capacity of those ministries in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Header photo is a stock photo taken in Lebanon courtesy of Nathan McBride via Unsplash.
