11th November 2026

Heavy rain in Gaza is creating havoc among the devastation of conflict. On Sunday, four children and a woman were killed while two others were missing, after a sandbank collapsed onto their tent in the following heavy rain. Around 1.7 million people in Gaza are displaced, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most live in live in tents or makeshift shelters, or damaged buildings within the limits of the Israeli-controlled "yellow line". Humanitarian charities have warned that more than 940,000 people are now living in flood-prone areas amid fears for health and disease.  150,000 new shelters are already at the Gaza border awaiting Israeli approval to enter. Shelterbox, a charity working in humanitarian crisis zones, said its emergency tents have been waiting outside Gaza for almost two years.  Even the materials to make improvised shelters such as tarpaulins and wooden pallets have being restricted from entering Gaza. Oxfam is working to improve flood defences and pumping of water in Gaza but has said urgent access is needed for spare parts, engine oil, pipes and heavy machinery, in addition to shelter materials, to avoid more people being killed this winter.   Aid workers have warned that disease will spread rapidly unless families are quickly supplied with new shelters and ways to keep warm. The Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) head of parliamentary affairs, Joseph Willits said: “The predictable winter rains and floods have, as warned about, battered already devastated Palestinians, where disease and malnutrition is rife, and a basic tent blocked by Israel is a manmade and political scarcity. A lack of political action isn’t something a Palestinian family trying to shelter from Gaza’s floods can afford.” One woman, a the mother of a seven-month-old child, said she was forced to rent a partially destroyed apartment she shares with others for $500 a month, relying on donations from abroad, after her tent collapsed. "I look at my fragile tent and I beg God that I will not have to go back to it. Because death inside that tent is certain.” 

God of love, we bring to you the needs of our neighbours in Gaza.  We ask your forgiveness that winter rain and cold is being used as a weapon of war and oppression.  We ask your forgiveness that international leaders have chosen to walk by on the other side ignoring the plight of desperate people. We thank you for charitable organisations ready and waiting to bring relief into Gaza.   Move among the new Knesset that its members will have compassion on people living on the edge of life and demand the borders be open to life saving resources.  Be with all your people in Palestine and Israel and lead them to a place of unity so that your will can be done on earth as it is in heaven . In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.  

Sophie, from Underwood, Nottinghamshire, UK woke in the night to discover her partner, Jack, (who is just 25 years old) had gone into cardiac arrest. Despite having no previous experience, performed CPR and managed to restart his heart before emergency services arrived. Sophie called emergency services, who guided her through CPR resuscitation for 20 minutes before paramedics arrived. Paramedic Dan McChord was among the first to arrive and found Jack and Sophie in an upstairs bedroom. "We went straight upstairs and Sophie was providing amazing CPR. She'd got him down on the floor and had started all the work for us. Jack's heart was actually beating again, which doesn't happen often for us," he said.  Jack suffered a second cardiac arrest while paramedics were treating him.  He required nine shocks from a defibrillator before his heart began beating effectively again. Doctors confirmed that Jack had an un-diagnosed congenital heart defect. He underwent major surgery to replace his aortic valve and part of his aorta before being discharged from hospital.  Jack is not back at work.

A prayer based on Psalm 145

I praise your greatness, my God the King;

I will praise you forever and ever.

I will praise you every day;

I will praise you forever and ever.

You are great and worthy of praise;

your greatness no one can understand.

 Lord, you are trustworthy in all your promises

and faithful in all you do.

You uphold all who fall

and lift up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

You are near to all who call on you,

you hear their cry and save them.

I will speak in praise of you my Lord God.

Let every creature praise your holy name

for ever and ever.