Middle East (MNN) — The United States labels Muslim Brotherhood cells in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as “terrorist” groups, leading to sanctions and other financial restrictions.
The U.S. decision follows similar designations by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The Kingdom of Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood in mid-2025.
The Trump administration says the Muslim Brotherhood’s support for Hamas played a leading role in the designation.
“Their (Muslim Brotherhood’s) push has historically been, ‘If we were just good Muslims and follow the way correctly, then God would bless us by giving back the land of Palestine,’” Samuel with Redemptive Stories says, explaining the connection.
“As long as there continues to be fighting and frustration between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, then there will continue to be a push for the [Muslim] Brotherhood or people like them.”
Ministry impact
While the Muslim Brotherhood’s new label won’t significantly affect everyday life in the Middle East, Samuel says, “The importance is to remember that political decisions in every part of the world have consequences on ministry.”
He adds, “The ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine has ripple effects that hit every part of the lives of Arabs and Muslims across the region” – meaning that the people believers minister to are greatly affected by events in Gaza and the West Bank.
Representative AI photo of Palestinian Christian created by ChatGPT.
Samuel urges Christians in the West to follow the news through a Kingdom lens, focusing on more than just political outcomes.
“Unblinding support for Israel has implications on the Gospel in our part of the world,” he says.
“Every story has two sides. We need to consider how decisions made on one side can affect believers in Palestine and around our region.”
How to help
As you learn about current events and how they affect both Israeli and Palestinian Christians, let that knowledge inform your intercession.
“Pray for our brothers and sisters who are there, standing strong in the midst of ongoing strife, to communicate hope with their neighbors,” Samuel says.
Pray for peace in the Middle East, so that political decisions won’t distract people from the Gospel.
“We should long for peace that would create space for people to begin to dream about a future with the Lord, and create opportunities for the Gospel to go forth,” Samuel says.
“People are often continuously distracted by the political affairs, which don’t give them space to imagine a relationship with God and what that might be for them.”
Header image depicts the Muslim Brotherhood flag. (Wikimedia Commons/public domain)
