The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, began Monday with a series of opening invocations, featuring a unique prayer that focused on the plight of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The prayer, delivered amid the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for the liberation of the captives, called out to God for the freedom of the imprisoned individuals, with an added plea for the “peace of Jerusalem” and the “children of Abraham”.
The term “children of Abraham”, a reference to the biblical patriarch believed to be the common ancestor of Jewish and Muslim traditions, also alluded to the long-standing quest for peace and understanding between the two faiths. At least 120 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with approximately half presumed to be still alive.
In contrast to the solemn tone of the preceding prayer, the convention also featured passionate speeches, including an especially rousing address from Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). Scott passionately invoked his faith as he recounted the “miracle” of former President Donald Trump’s survival of an alleged assassination attempt at the weekend, describing the incident as a show of strength, likening the beleaguered leader to a lion that “stood up” and “roared”.
