Lebanon (MNN) — For the first time in decades, civilian representatives from Lebanon and Israel sat down together in Naqoura — not generals or UN mediators, but diplomats. They discussed a ceasefire, potential trade, and the future of both countries. The meeting was a historic moment for two nations technically still at war.
For some Lebanese believers working on the ground, the shift brings a glimmer of hope.
Nuna with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says, “This is unprecedented…. It has been a long, long time since we (Lebanese government) had any communication with Israel at all.”
Beirut, Lebanon (Photo courtesy of Maxime Guy/Unsplash)
Unprecedented — and controversial. The pushback from Hezbollah came fast and strong.
“All the Hezbollah people are in the streets and saying we will not allow this. It’s something that is now creating even a bigger division between the government and between the Hezbollah people, because the government is moving forward towards having peace talks and talking about the future of both nations,” Nuna explains.
“Hezbollah, of course, now is saying, ‘Oh, you’re bypassing us, and you’re saying we don’t need the resistance anymore…and we want to push you aside.’ So all the Hezbollah people are in the streets of Lebanon today, revolting.”
The Naqoura talks may mark the beginning of a new chapter. But for many in Lebanon, the moment is uncertain and possibly dangerous.
(Photo courtesy of TM Lebanon)
TM Lebanon and other local ministries are bracing for hardship. Nuna says, “As Christian NGOs, we have been meeting together to do a preemptive plan in case we have a new wave of displaced people, which we expect, and a new wave of attacks and new wave of bombing in the southern part of Beirut and people needing to leave homes.”
Yet, she adds, “We have become more united as Christian NGOs working together and thinking together and planning together instead of just reacting…. I think this is beautiful to see unity between the different NGOs working in different sectors and in different places, but still uniting in one goal — which is to show Christ.”
Please pray for peace, for the protection of civilians, and for wisdom for leaders on all sides.
To learn more, visit the Triumphant Mercy Lebanon website.
For TM Lebanon, it all comes down to a desire for Gospel transformation. “We want this new Middle East. We want to see God exalted. We want to see the name of Jesus exalted in the Middle East. We want to see the change.”
Header image of Lebanon and Israel flags, generated with OpenArt.ai.
