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Friday night, Hamas returned Shiri Bibas’ body, and yesterday, the Islamic terrorists released six male hostages in the final live exchange of the January ceasefire‘s first phase.
Eliya Cohen, 26, from Tzur Hadassah, was taken on October 7 from the Nova music festival, where terrorists slaughtered more than 260 people and abducted about 40. Another recently released hostage said on February 9 that Eliya was held in chains with little food or light throughout his captivity.
Omer Wenkert, 23, a restaurant manager from Gedera, was also taken from the Nova festival, and suffers from an autoimmune condition.
Omer Shem Tov, 21, from Herzliya, escaped from the Nova massacre in his car, but then was captured when he returned to rescue his friends, Maya and Itay Regev, siblings who were also abducted, but released in November of 2023.
Tal Shoham, 40, was kidnapped from kibbutz Be’eri, along with his wife Adi, their two young children and his mother-in-law, Dr. Shosham Haran. All four were released in November of 2023.
Avera Mengistu, 38, an Ethiopian Israeli Jew from Ashkelon, who suffers from a mental health condition, was abducted by Hamas in 2014, when crossed into Gaza.
Hisham al-Sayed, 37, an Arab-Israeli Bedouin from southern Israel, walked into Gaza in 2015. He also reportedly suffers from a mental health condition.
In exchange, Israel is to release 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, but have delayed in protest of Hamas’ repeated violations and humiliating tricks and exploitations regarding the hostages..
Hamas and its allies continue to hold 63 Israeli hostages in Gaza. At least 32 of them are believed dead. Four of those bodies are expected to be released next week, one of which may be that of a soldier held since 2014.
To pray by name for the hostages still held by Hamas, and for more updates on the Israel-Gaza war and the Christians harboring in Gaza City, visit our Israel-Gaza page.
Hamas-controlled Gaza is 99% Muslim. Already in this war, an estimated more than 48,000 Palestinians have died without ever hearing the good news about Christ, and thousands more are believed still buried beneath the rubble.
Lord, thank You for the safe release of these six. As they reunite with loved ones and seek to recover from such a long time in captivity, please be near to them and let them feel Your presence. When they awaken afraid in the night and cry out, answer them, and show them Your way to salvation. Bring Christians to them to show them Your love and share the good news of the One who died to give them abundant life. Please be a Shield of protection around the hostages still held by Hamas. Open the way immediately for their safe release, escape or rescue. As they remain in captivity, please soften the hearts of their guards to epent and be saved. Meet them in their dreams and show them Christ is the way of salvation. You’ve done it before, Lord. Please do it again. Our hearts are saddened by the devastating numbers of those who have died, those who are in need of healing, those who hunger and those undergoing extreme hardship and stress. But most of all, we long to see the lost saved and the spiritual captives set free. Comfort those who have lost so much, and heal their minds and bodies. Cast out fear with Your perfect love and bring Christians to them to help both Palestinians and Israelis heal from the trauma they have experienced. Put Bibles in their hands, and open up other ways for them to hear the gospel in a way they will easily understand. From out of so much death, bring forth LIFE, Lord. Spark a church-planting movement both in Gaza and in Israel that spreads all throughout the Middle East. Replace hatred with LOVE, war with PEACE, and death with new LIFE. Make the horrific acts of these terrorists who claim to serve “God” so repulsive, millions of Muslims will balk at such religion gone wrong and hunger for what is right. May they seek You with all their hearts and find You. Please also shine Your light and truth to every Israeli heart. Their Messiah has come, but they do not yet acknowledge Him. Please, Lord, show them the Truth. John 8:31-32. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see You as You truly are.
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 a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
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