“Blessed is Palestine whose God is the Lord!”
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.(Psalm 33:12,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Middle East
Population | 5.24 million (including 1.5 million in Israel, 6 million in Arab countries such as Jordan, and additional populations in the Americas and other regions; approximately 13 million Palestinians worldwide)
Area | 6,220㎢ – West Bank: 5,655㎢ (3.05 million people), Gaza Strip: 360㎢ (2.05 million people)
Capital City | Ramallah (administrative capital, 34,000 people)
People Groups | Total 19 Groups, Palestinians 89.3%, Jews 7.8%
Unreached People Groups | 8 (98.9% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Arabic, English
Total Languages | 17
Bible Translations | Completed 9, New Testament 3, Partial 4
Religion | Christian 1.2% (Protestant 0.05%, Orthodox 0.8%), Islam 86.6%, Judaism 9.4%, other 1.9%
Evangelicals | 0.1% (4,900people)
》 About Palestine
Palestine has been under the rule of various powers since the 15th century BC and became part of the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. During World War I, British forces occupied the region, bringing it under British control. At that time, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, promising to support the establishment of a Jewish homeland, and the McMahon Correspondence, which promised independence to the Arabs. In 1948, the Jewish leadership declared the establishment of the State of Israel. Immediately afterward, seven Arab countries, including Egypt, launched a war against Israel. Israel won and came to control about 80% of Palestinian territory. This marked the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed. In 1987, the First Intifada (popular uprising) erupted, during which the militant group Hamas also emerged. In 1988, the PLO declared Palestinian independence in Algiers. The 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the PLO led to official recognition of the Palestinian Authority. In response, Israel began constructing a barrier in 2002—a wall 800 kilometers long and eight meters high—across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party has served as the head of the Palestinian Authority since 2005. In 2012, Palestine was granted observer state status at the United Nations. Although Fatah and Hamas agreed in 2014 to form a unity government, elections have yet to be held.
Palestine’s economy is constrained by limited natural resources and dense population in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As of 2015, agriculture and fisheries made up only 3.3% of GDP, while manufacturing and mining accounted for 13.0%, reflecting a decline in those sectors. In contrast, the service sector grew to 19.8%. Key infrastructure—such as electricity, water, and telecommunications—is almost entirely dependent on Israel. Frequent clashes with Israel and an unfavorable investment climate have deterred foreign investors. The Palestinian Authority depends heavily on international aid to finance its operations. However, with aid declining in recent years, the economic situation has worsened. The COVID-19 pandemic further compounded the crisis, leading to a sharp economic downturn.
Palestine’s GDP per capita is approximately $2,500
》 Scripture Focus
| Psalm 33:12-20(NIV) 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a sudden attack on Israel in the early morning of October 7, 2023, resulting in more than 300 deaths and over 2,000 injuries. Israel immediately carried out a massive retaliatory strike, leading to more than 10,000 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and about 1.9 million displaced people. Although international mediation has reduced the level of violence, the war, which has continued for more than two years, has not yet reached a formal and complete end. As a result of this conflict, infrastructure such as factories, shops, hospitals, and schools has been widely destroyed, and the economy has collapsed. Recovery and reconstruction are expected to require significant time and resources. Many Palestinians are holding Hamas responsible for the suffering caused by the war and have taken part in protests against the group. In response, Hamas has persecuted opponents and Christians. Let us pray that God, who watches over all the inhabitants of the earth, would have mercy on Palestine, deliver its people from death, and sustain those who are starving.
2. Let us pray for God’s wisdom to govern the territorial conflict with Israel. There are hundreds of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, and more than 1.5 million Palestinians live within Israel. Both sides strongly assert their territorial claims and insist that Jerusalem is their sole capital, carrying deep anger over past injustices. Hatred toward Israel is often incited and taught within Palestinian society. Let us pray that the schemes of Satan, which seek to kill and destroy, would be broken, and that true leaders who genuinely seek the good of the nation and its people would be raised up. May Palestine come to receive and fear the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, and become a nation that serves the one and only God who alone is able to save.
3. Palestinian Christians make up about 1.2 percent of the population, and among them, evangelicals are estimated to number around 5,000. They face a double burden, suffering persecution from fellow Palestinian Muslims and oppression under Israeli control. While laws in the West Bank offer some protection for religious freedom, in the Gaza Strip such freedom is severely restricted due to the influence of Hamas, leaving Christians under constant threat of terror and violence from Islamic extremists. Those who convert to Christianity often struggle to attend church because of the pain and fear caused by persecution, leading many to emigrate and leaving only a small Christian presence behind. Even in the midst of war, there are Christians who fear God, care for those in need, and continue to share the gospel. Let us pray that through believers who revere the Lord and hope in His steadfast love, many will come to know that God is our help, our shield, and our Savior.
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