Caught Between Hamas and a Hard Place: Plight of Christians in Gaza is 'Horrific'

Amid escalating concerns about terrorism, lawmakers in Congress have proposed a bill that would prevent anyone holding a Palestinian passport from coming into the United States.

Experts told The New York Post that a million refugees could be created due to the Israel-Hamas war and the "Guaranteeing Aggressors Zero Admission Act" or the GAZA Act would prevent the Biden administration from granting any visas to Palestinians. 

The bill would also prevent the administration from allowing Palestinians into the U.S. using the Department of Homeland Security's parole program, according to the outlet. 

If the legislation advances and exceptions aren't made, it would also prevent Palestinian Christians from entering the U.S.

On this week's episode of The Global Lane, Open Doors U.S.A. CEO Ryan Brown tells of the plight of the tiny Christian community in Gaza.

"They are sheltering in place in a couple of locations there, and praying for safety," Brown said. 

Brown noted the situation for Christians in Gaza is horrific as "we are seeing this play out in real-time in front of us" with information being very difficult to get. 

"To be completely honest, for many believers, there's very real security issues as far as needing to keep somewhat covert as relating to their presence in those areas," he told host Gary Lane. "It's something we definitely need to keep lifting up in prayer because that situation is just unfolding in front of our eyes in horrific fashion."

Lane pointed out the Gaza Christians are really between a rock and a hard place. If they are too friendly to the Israelis, they could be accused by Hamas of being Israeli spies or agents. If they are too close to Hamas, the Israelis may think they are a part of Hamas. 

Brown agreed that prayer is essential for these Christians as they endure a very difficult situation. 

"I think that we as believers in the West certainly need to keep lifting them up because it's very, very difficult to fully comprehend just the realities that they are living in, were living in prior to, and continue to live in today as these tensions just continue to escalate and spin out of control," the Open Doors U.S.A. leader explained. 

Global Persecution of Christians Rising

Brown also revealed what his organization found out in a recent study in partnership with World Relief. 

"Persecution has risen exponentially over the last few years," he said. "There are over 300 million believers around the globe living in persecution, and much of that would be identified as extreme persecution."

"Meanwhile as far as the U.S. and its ability or willingness to receive Christian refugees, those numbers have continued to decline over recent years," Brown noted. "When you take those two trends and put those side by side, it is a very difficult situation that many Christians find themselves in around the globe."

Also on this week's The Global Lane, hear about the Gaza war security threat inside the U.S. and more about the Domino Revival, and how God brought light and miracles to New York City.

Watch The Global Lane at 8:00 p.m. Eastern each Thursday on the CBN News Channel. You can also catch it on the CBN News app or watch the show on the CBN News YouTube Channel. 

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