8th October 2025

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder has told news agency Reuters that Israel has repeatedly rejected requests for transferring incubators from an evacuated hospital in North Gaza. He added that this has created a strain on hospitals in the southern region forcing newborn babies to share oxygen masks. Speaking of supplies now stuck at the damaged Al-Rantissi Children's Hospital in Gaza City, Elder said, "We've been trying to recover incubators from a hospital that was evacuated in the north, and we've had four missions denied simply to get those incubators." He added, "in one of the paediatric rooms, there were three babies and three mums on a single bed, one source of oxygen, and the mothers would rotate the oxygen 20 minutes to each child," he said. "This is the level of desperation mums have now got to." A US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to join peace plan talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Egypt today.

Loving God, we ask your forgiveness that the inhumanity shown by Hamas to the people of Israel on 7th October 2023 has resulted in the inhumanity shown by Israel to all people living in the Gaza strip. We thank you for all continuing to work in hospitals.  We pray for their safety.  Be alongside mothers and babies who need medical support and food to nourish their new, growing bodies, and to fight infection.  May the hearts of those making decisions in Israel be touched by compassion so that resources from one place may be moved to another.  May illness and the denial of medical care not be used as a weapon or revenge. POur out your Holy SPirit upon all engaged in talks in Egypt that a way may be found to bring an end to hostilities.  May hostages be return to their families swiftly and humanitarian aid be permitted to flood into Gaza.  Loving God, our prayer for Israel and Palestine is that your will be done there as it is in heaven. We ask this through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hundreds of hikers and climbers were stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley in the Himalayas following blizzards and unusually heavy snowfall in the region. On Sunday, Chinese authorities said about 350 people had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border. Rescuers have now guided all of the remaining trekkers near the east face of Everest in Tibet to safety, including hundreds of local guides and yak herders, authorities said, ending one of the largest search and rescue operations in the area’s history, 

I will praise you Lord with all my heart

Your works are great,

Your deeds, glorious and majestic.

Your righteousness endures forever.

You are gracious and compassionate.

You provide for all your people,

remembering your covenant forever.

You are always honest and fair.

Your laws can be trusted.

They are true and right

and will stand forever.

Holy and awesome is your name.

To you belongs eternal praise.

 Prayer based on Psalm 111