Two Hostages Found in Gaza City

Israeli forces recovered the bodies of Ilan Weiss, 56, and Idan Shtivi, 28, this week in Gaza City.

Ilan died October 7, 2023, defending Be’eri kibbutz against Hamas terrorists, who took his wife, Shiri, 54, daughter, Noga, 19, and his body hostage in Gaza. Shiri and Nora were released November 25, 2023, in a temporary ceasefire agreement with Israel. Ilan and Shiri’s other two daughters, Meytal and Maayan hid from Hamas during the massacre and were rescued by Israeli soldiers.

Idan, an environmental sciences student in Tel Aviv, was also killed on October 7, 2023, as he rescued and helped others escape the horrific massacre by Hamas at the Nova music festival in Tel Gama.

In a recent video released by Hamas, two living hostages, Rom Braslavski, 20, from Jerusalem, and Evyatar David, 24, from Afar Saba, were shown emaciated, pale and weak from starvation and torture. Both were abducted from the festival where Idan was killed.

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.

Gaza is 99% Muslim. Already in this war, an estimated more than 63,000 Palestinians have died without ever hearing the good news about Christ, and thousands more are believed still buried beneath the rubble. Over 150,000 Palestinians have been injured, and about 1.9 million are internally displaced, with about 6 million who have registered as refugees. Food shortages are at critical levels, as Gaza now faces famine.

In the midst of such tragedy, God continues to move, as Gaza Christians are feeding the hungry and showing Christ’s love. One report said 200 displaced Palestinians met Jesus in their dreams on the same night. Let’s continue to pray for thousands more to come to Christ before it’s too late.

Lord, 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 repent and be saved. Meet them in their dreams and point them to Christ as their 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 bring forth Your healing in the midst of so much suffering. Get Bibles into the hands of those who hunger for hope. From out of so much death, bring forth LIFE, Lord. Spark a church-planting movement in Gaza that spreads all throughout the Middle East. Draw every Muslim heart to Yourself, and then place Christians there in their midst to clearly share Your good news that brings freedom. 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 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. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don’t Miss a Day of Prayer

Join the army! Pray through the news for God’s purposes to prevail. To get the daily posts delivered to your inbox in time for your morning quiet times, enter your email address in the space below:

For 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening, Dare to Be a Mighty Warrior, and other books for all ages on praying forth God’s purposes and breaking free from anxiety and other strongholds, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com

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:

When you click on the above links to books I have authored, as a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, I may receive a small commission for certain purchases.

All proceeds this author receives from book sales go to shining Light in dark places of the world.

Thank you for your support! If you’d like to know more about how you can help the Vincents’ ministry, please contact Mikaela.