I’m Martin Thomas and it’s Wednesday 22nd January 2025.
Welcome to the 7-minute briefing podcast - your roundup of news and current affairs from the Middle East and North Africa - brought to you by SAT-7.
As a new year dawns, there is cause for cautious hope in the Middle East: ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas and Israel and Hezbollah; and a new Syrian leadership promising to respect the rights of minorities. But while there is cause for optimism, many people in the region begin another year amidst war and uncertainty, with conflict continuing in Sudan and the fall of the Assad regime leaving many with unanswered questions and an ongoing search for justice.
In Syria, December saw the collapse of the Assad regime, after a major offensive led by the group HTS, brought an end to the civil war that began in 2011. While large numbers of Syrians took to the streets to celebrate, many are concerned about what the change in leadership will mean for minority groups in the country – fears that were only exacerbated by the burning of a community Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a predominately Christian town in central Syria.
Although Syria has a strong Christian heritage, in recent years Christians have faced numerous challenges, including displacement, emigration and persecution. Before the civil war, there were around 1.5 million Christians in the country. Now there are just 300,000. While the Assad regime afforded Christians a certain amount of protection and freedom, the civil war has seen them suffer from persecution and violence in areas controlled by so-called Islamic State. While HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been expressing his desire that his new leadership should respect minorities, many remain cautious.
Elsewhere, after almost 14 months of fighting across the border between Hezbollah and Israel, and over 1.4 million people having been displaced, a ceasefire that took effect in late November appears to be holding. While the initial two-month period of the ceasefire will come to an end in the last few days of January, US President Joe Biden has stressed that it is intended to mark a permanent end to hostilities. The peace remains fragile, however, as both Israel and Lebanon have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
In the Holy Land, Hamas officials reached their own agreement with Israel a few days ago, ending 15 months of war in Gaza. The conflict has left over 100,000 people wounded and cost an estimated 47,000 lives. 90 Palestinian prisoners and 3 Israeli hostages have now been freed as part of the deal, with more to be released in the coming weeks.
The US confirmed the deal for a total ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all the hostages held by Hamas on Wednesday evening last week. Following the announcement, the Houthis in Yemen also announced that they will be winding down their drone operations in the area. The first phase of the ceasefire will focus on allowing families to return to their homes and enabling humanitarian assistance into the area. News of a ceasefire couldn’t come soon enough for the few hundred Christians who have spent over a year sheltering in two Gazan churches. Pray for healing for all those in the Holy Land as they begin to build a lasting peace.
You’re listening to the 7minute briefing podcast brought to you by SAT-7.
Check out our latest In Conversation podcast, where Emily talks to Egyptian filmmaker Maggie Morgan about her latest project, SAT-7 ARABIC programme Today Not Tomorrow.
Moving to North Africa, the US has imposed sanctions on the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, after officially declaring that the armed group has committed genocide in the ongoing civil war. Last week, Open Doors launched its World Watch List for 2025, which ranks the countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. This year's list ranks Sudan as the fifth most dangerous place to be a Christian.
With almost 9 million people having been displaced, the country is now home to the world’s worst hunger crisis. For Christians, this widespread hunger is exacerbated by the discrimination that they face from local communities, often being refused food and support. But despite these intense difficulties, Pastor Sami Rahhal from the Evangelical Church in Sudan told SAT-7’s You Are Not Alone programme that despite the destruction of church buildings, their ministry is continuing: “The church is not a building; the church is the believers… and our evangelism, our prayers, are ongoing.”
Finally, this week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, during which denominations across the world join together to pray for the unity of all Christians. Widely celebrated by churches across the MENA, the week allows for recognition of each other’s differences while also standing together in the unity of Christ. Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, reflected upon the occasion: “Share with us our fervent and passionate prayer for peace in our beloved and suffering Orient...who are currently facing the harshest waves of persecution”.
As we look forward to the coming year, let us join with the prayer of a SAT-7 viewer in Syria:
“May His peace descend upon Syria, its people, its churches, everyone. May He touch the hearts of the oppressed and grieving, bringing healing, comfort, and strength. May wisdom prevail, softening hearts for forgiveness, let love unite all its people. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Thank you for listening to the 7-minute briefing from SAT-7.
Take a look at today’s show notes, where you’ll find links to today’s briefing article, plus ideas of how you can be praying into the region in 2025.
