As the war in Gaza looks set to intensify, with an expanded offensive anticipated, the region’s Christians have been remembering the late Pope Francis and his final phone conversation with them, in which he called for peace and justice in the Holy Land. Fr Gabriel Romanelli of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza described on SAT-7 ARABIC program You […]
As we begin our journey through Lent this month, ongoing conflicts and shifting political landscapes continue to pose significant challenges in the Middle East and North Africa. In this month’s briefing, we’ll explore how Syrian and Sudanese Christians are holding fast to their faith in the face of violence, hear about the women across the MENA who are opening their […]
As people return to devastation following the ceasefire in Gaza, a young Christian woman has shared how she endured the war and even found joy while sheltering for months inside a church. Ola Saba, aged 19, took refuge at Saint Porphyrius Church along with over 300 other people. She told SAT-7 ARABIC’s You Are Not Alone programme how her family […]
As a new year dawns in this episode, we’ll explore how there is cause for hope in the Middle East. A ceasefire has been agreed between Israel and Hamas; the ceasefire in Lebanon continues, and the new Syrian leadership promises to respect the rights of minorities. But while there is cause for optimism, many people in the region begin another […]
As a new year dawns, there is cause for cautious hope in the Middle East: a new ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas; a holding ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon; and a new Syrian leadership which promises to respect the rights of minorities. But while there is cause for optimism, many people in the region begin another year amidst war […]
Over a year since the Hamas-led attack on Israel, conflict in the Middle East has continued to escalate, leaving around 2 million people displaced. But despite the ongoing conflicts, SAT-7 continues to broadcast messages of hope to the region – and viewers keep getting in touch with stories of God at work in their lives. In this month’s Briefing, we’ll […]
“We urgently need to find our way back to peace in line with the UN Charter [of Human Rights] and international law.” This was the impassioned message that Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, sent to the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council last month. Prominent among the examples he gave were Gaza, Sudan, Syria […]
A 12-year-old Christian girl from Gaza whose family has taken refuge in one of the churches there has shared her prayers for an end to the war. She told SAT-7’s You Are Not Alone programme that she and other children want to “return to play and live our childhood”. Faeqa Ayyad, along with her parents and siblings, is living at […]
Freedom and security seem ever more elusive in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This month, we bring you various reports on religious freedom, women’s rights and press freedom, as well as more hopeful news from Syria. Freedom of religion and of belief is “being challenged more and more” around the world, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom […]
While conflict in the Holy Land and the fresh involvement of Iran dominates headlines, a war between generals continues to ravage Sudan, and Türkiye expresses an appetite for change in political leadership. The Middle East found itself on a knife-edge last weekend after Iran launched 300 missiles and drones at Israel – the Islamic Republic’s first direct assault on Israel […]