2 Hostages Found, 2 Soldiers Die Retrieving Them

Two Israeli soldiers, Master Sergeants Eyal Meir Berkowitz and Gal Meir Eisenkot, lost their lives Tuesday and several others sustained injuries retrieving the bodies of deceased hostages Eden Zacharia (f, 27) and IDF Warrant Officer Ziv Dado, (m, 36). Eden was shot and then abducted while fleeing the October 7 massacre at an outdoor music concert. The same day, terrorists kidnapped and killed Ziv, a logistics supervisor in the 51st Battalion.

The bodies were recovered from deep within tunnels in Gaza, near the home of a former Hamas commander killed in an Israeli strike. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of at least 18 of the remaining 135 hostages still in Gaza. (Emanuel Fabian, TOI, December 12)

Earlier this month, the names of these seven deceased hostages were announced:

• Arye Zalmanovich (85, taken from his home in Nir Oz, oldest of the 240 hostages)
• Maya Goren (56, kindergarten teacher taken from Nir Oz, her husband Avner Goren was killed)
• Eliyahu (Churchill) Margalit (75, taken along with his daughter Nili, who was released November 30) 
• Ronan Engel (54, taken from his home in Nir Oz with his wife Carina and daughters Yuval and Mika, all of whom were released November 27) 
• Guy Iluz (m, 26, from Tel Aviv, taken from rave)
• Ofir Tzarfati (m, 27, from Kiryat Biyalik, taken from rave, his body was found and identified by Israeli forces)
• Ofra Keidar (70, from Be’eri, her husband Shmuel “Sami” Keidar was killed) 

Of the 240 hostages taken, 109 were released last month during a truce with Israel, and another was rescued by IDF ground troops.

Let’s continue praying for the remaining hostages by name, for soldiers in their attempts to free them, and for Christians and Gazans caught up in the crossfire.

Both Israel and Gaza are more than 97% unreached with the gospel of Christ, which means those who have died on both sides, including the hostages, have likely never heard the good news that brings salvation.

Visit our Israel-Gaza page to read more and PRAY for God’s purposes in the midst of so much terror and death:

Pray for Hostages by Name

Lord, please comfort those who mourn. Heal the minds and hearts of those who survived the terrible attacks on October 7, and please bring a quick and right solution to the end of this war. Convict those on both sides of their sin and their need for salvation. Be a Shield around the hostages still held by Hamas. Keep them from harm and make the way for their speedy rescue/escape. Be near to them and show them Your glory. Let them feel Your presence, hear Your voice, receive Your comfort and healing. Speak to the guards around them, convicting their hearts of evils Hamas has committed and pressing within them the need to make things right. You’ve done it before, Lord; please do it again. Put into place those who will open the way for and even facilitate the safe escape of the remaining hostages. Point Israeli soldiers to where the they are, and give them Your instructions for freeing them. Protect the innocent and those who seek to protect, rescue and help them. Meet every terrorist, every hostage, every Israeli, every Palestinian in their dreams and talk to them throughout the day. Make a way for Scripture to reach them and plant truth in their minds and hearts, verses that will press deep within them a hunger for something more than hatred and war. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see Jesus as He truly is, the one and only Savior who rescues them from the evil that has bound them and gives them eternal life. Clearly present to them the Truth that sets them free before it’s too late, Lord. Use this terrible war to bring about a church planting movement throughout Gaza, Israel and beyond, with thousands turning to Christ. Yes, Lord, awaken every heart to You. Make the way for every person to hear and clearly understand Your plan for their salvation. Press deep within their hearts a hunger for You and the conviction that You, Jesus, are the only Way. You are Life that extinguishes death, Love that chases out fear, Peace that overcomes chaos, Truth that conquers lies…. Show up in the life of each person caught up in the middle of this war, answering their questions and pointing them to You. Hear them when they cry and answer them like only You can. Perform miracles and signs and wonders so they will know it is You, and turn them from the path of evil to Your paths of love and life. Push back the enemy, Lord. Overcome the darkness now with so much Light, satan and all who serve him will flee. Set up Your throne in every heart. In the midst of so much terror, send every person running into Your arms. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

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