Israel-Gaza Hostage Update

When the IDF received intel that Hamas had planned an attack on their troops from a certain location in central Gaza, the resulting air strike caused the collapse of an adjacent building where three hostages, Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky were unknowingly held.

Terrorists used Noa to announce in a video that Yossi died in the collapse, and that after Hamas rescued Noa and Itai from the rubble, they were transferred to another location, but Itai was hit by an air strike and died along the way. Although it appears Yossi and Itai are dead, without access to their bodies, verification of how their deaths happened proves difficult. (Y. Jeremy Bob, The Jerusalem Post, Feb 9)

Psychological warfare is a common Hamas tactic, and some of what they announce is not true. Last fall they announced a hostage had been killed in an Israeli air strike, but two weeks later released her from captivity alive.

Hours after the IDF rescued hostages Fernando Marman and Louis Har on Sunday night, Hamas claimed eight more hostages had been injured in Israeli air strikes and three died, but offered no proof. (D. Greyman-Kennard, TJP, Feb 12)

Yossi, 53, was abducted from his home in Be’eri on October 7, along with his brother Eli Sharabi, and his daughter Yuval’s boyfriend, Ofir Engel, 18, a Dutch-Israeli high school student from Jerusalem. Ofir was released November 29, but Eli remains in captivity.

Itai, 38, lost his mother, father and three golden retrievers the day Hamas terrorists invaded Kibbutz Be’eri and took him hostage.

Noa, 26, and her boyfriend Avinatan Or, 30, were among dozens of people kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 while attending the Supernova Music Festival near Re’im. At least 364 people were brutally murdered that day. Noa’s mother, Liora Argamani, is terminally ill with brain cancer, and fears her daughter may not return home before she passes. Noa is believed to still be alive. (G. Tetrault-Farber, C. Mantovani, TOI, Feb 7)

A Palestinian bus driver from East Jerusalem who carried passengers to the rave, Soheib Muhammad Abu Amar (m, 22) heard what was happening, but gallantly refused to leave without his passengers. It is now apparent he was abducted by Hamas and held in Be’eri along with other hostages for a time, and then died in a shootout between IDF and Hamas.

Of the 101 hostages believed still alive, 91 are Israelis or dual nationals, eight are Thai, one is Nepali, and one is French-Mexican. At least 14 of those are women ages 18-39. (France24, Feb 12)

The whereabouts of one-year-old Kfir Bibas, his four-year-old brother Ariel, their mother Shiri, and father Yarden, who was separated from them in the abduction, is still unknown. Released hostage Nili Margalit was with captive Yarden when Hamas told him his family had been killed by an Israeli air strike. No proof of their deaths has ever been given. (TOI, Jan 5)

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 and facing acute food insecurity.

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 Israel, Gaza and Lebanon in These Trying Times

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 end 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. We ask You especially for the Bibas children and the 14 women still believed in custody. Protect them from rape and other abuse. 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 in every location where they are held. Point Israeli soldiers to where the they are, and give them Your instructions for safely freeing them and safely getting them home. 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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