Please pray for the peace of Israel as Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal expressed this weekend that while he plans to step down in the 2017 elections, he is doing so to make room for young leaders to take his place. He asserted that Hamas will continue to denounce the state of Israel, will not respect past signed agreements and will not renounce violence (aspects that comprise part of what is known as the Quartet principles). Please pray that whatever happens in their elections, will actually see the opposite of Mashaal’s expectations: that the state of Israel will be recognized and respected by leaders in Gaza, that agreements will be upheld, and that violence will not be promoted by their leaders.