Terrorist from Hamas Invasion Arrested in USA, Hostages’ Bodies Returned

Last week, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, a terrorist allegedly involved in the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel, was arrested in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he had been living and working since he entered the US under false pretenses a year ago among the multitudes of illegal immigrants, including terrorists, allowed across the US-Mexico border under former President Joe Biden.

About 1,200 Israelis were murdered in the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion, and more than 250 people were taken hostage, including Americans. Over the past few days, the bodies of hostages Major Tal Ham, 41, and Eliyahu Margalit, 75, Ronen Engel, 54, and Thai national Sonthaya Oakkharasri, 30, were returned to Israel after nine others last week. In exchange, Israel returned dozens of Palestinian bodies.

This leaves 15 bodies from Israel still in Gaza: Meny Godard, Ran Gvili, Sahar Baruch, Dror Or, Tamir Adar, Itay Chen, Asaf Hamami, Arie Zalmanowicz, Oz Daniel, Hadar Goldin, Sudthisak Rinthalak, Lior Rudaeff, Amiram Cooper, Omer Neutra and Joshua Mollel. 

As Israel retreated in compliance with this month’s ceasefire, brokered by current US President Donald Trump, Hamas has sought to violently reestablish its control over Gaza, even holding public executions. Then on Sunday, two Israeli soldiers were killed in an anti-tank missile attack, to which Israel responded with air strikes.

Both Israel and Gaza are more than 97% unreached, which means most of those who lost their lives did not know the saving gospel of Christ. Nearly 69,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, and 90% of the remaining Palestinians in Gaza are displaced.

Abba Father, so many are dying without ever hearing the good news of Jesus’ sacrifice paid for them so they could be free from sin and death. Please have mercy. Make a way for every Israeli and every Palestinian, including Mahmoud, to hear the gospel in a such a way they will understand and receive You as Savior. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see You as You truly are, and give them a hunger for Love so strong, they will seek Truth and find You. Meet them in their dreams at night. Talk to them throughout the day. Wherever there is internet, connect them to websites and Christians who will share with them the plan of salvation. Remind both Israelis and Palestinians that You are their Home, not a place. That You are the Sovereign One, not a government or terrorist organization. That Your laws are perfect and filled with love, bringing the pathway to peace, joy, and LIFE through intimacy with You. And that only those who place their faith in Christ can ever truly be free. Meet every Jew as they read the Torah, as they pray to You, as they cry out for the safety of their loved ones, and ask You for mercy. Meet Palestinians as they bow to Allah in prayer and wonder what they will eat today or if their families will survive this war. Give them such a hatred of violence that they will feel repulsed at the atrocities committed by their fellow Muslims and long for something more. Place around them Christian aid workers who will love them and show them that better way, who will shine Christ’s love so brightly no Palestinian can deny that You are the one true and living God, and You are Good. Give every terrorist such a fear of the Lord they will lay down their weapons and surrender to Love. Make a way for every heart to hear Your good news before it’s too late. We ask the same for the families of all those who have died, Lord. Please give them such a yearning for a better way that when they hear the gospel, they will receive the King of Kings with open arms and be saved. Yes, Lord, Awaken Hamas, awaken Gaza, awaken Israel, awaken all of Palestine, Lebanon and beyond to the wonders of Your love. Use this terrible tragedy to bring forth a church planting movement that spreads throughout all the Holy Land and the Middle East.

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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 a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

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