Week of May 15, 2025
In This Week’s Issue
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Israeli P.M. Netanyahu Prioritizes Victory Against Hamas Over Release of Hostages in Gaza
On October 7, 2023—a Sabbath, and the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles—operatives of the terrorist organization known as Hamas invaded southern Israel, killed 1,200, and remanded another 250 to Gazan captivity. Some of these were civilians while others were IDF reservists. Many of them had been attending
the Supernova Festival. Of the original 250 prisoners, nearly 200 have been returned dead or alive to their families. It is believed that only 24 of the total 59 remaining in Gaza are still alive.
The 24 survivors might have been released once and for all this month—were it not for the fact that Mr.Netanyahu refused to negotiate any further with Hamas regarding the second phase of a hostage release/cease-fire deal. He let the deadline lapse because the accord would have required the full withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza. The first phase was launched in January and entailed the liberation of 33 women, children, and older men in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The Tel Aviv-based Hostages and Missing Families Forum bitterly opposed Mr. Netanyahu’s stance to place the defeat of Hamas over the safe return of the Gazan captives to their homes. The Forum suggested that Mr. Netanyahu acquiesced to pressure from far-right lobbyists such as MK Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit Party leader and Minister of National Security) and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich who threatened to depose the federal government if the troops pulled out and the war ended. In contrast, the Forum’s rebuttal was “[Most Israelis] want the return of the hostages before anything else,
[and this should be] the supreme goal…guiding Israel’s government.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog sided with the Forum and asserted that “Israel cannot [wholeheartedly] celebrate [her] independence when our brothers and sisters are not [here] with us.”
Please pray that by the grace and with the help of God, both goals are achieved speedily and soon, namely, the war is ended and all hostages are returned to their homes and families. May He grant wisdom and favour to the elected officials and lead those on both sides of the conflict to a saving knowledge of the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ.
Israel May Mobilize IDF Troops to Resume Provision of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Two of the many tragic consequences of chronic war are civilian malnutrition and starvation. The ruling nation may try to de-escalate any further aggression from dissident factions by cutting off their food supply. This strategy may indeed weaken enemy military forces. However, as there is always collateral damage in warfare, non-combatants may also suffer the consequences of the lack of food security.
In the first quarter of 2025, Israel shipped 650 truckloads of food daily to northern Gaza—twice to thrice the estimated minimum per diem requirement for the two million plus living in the region—in the hopes of staving off a food shortage for at least two months after the final delivery.
By mid-March, however, the Netanyahu Administration resumed IDF incursions into Gaza and suspended any further food transport there. They reasoned that the combined fears of malnutrition and starvation as well as diplomatic pressure from the nascent Trump Administration in the US would force Hamas to close a hostage release/cease-fire with Israel.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir adamantly refused to deploy his troops to bring rations to Gaza but did propose that they protect the currently available food supplies against piracy, vandalism, theft, and so on. Furthermore, Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as far-right politicians such as MK Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich have prioritized the war effort against Hamas and are prepared to increase IDF active and reservist troop deployment to Gaza. Nevertheless, several MKs and IDF leaders fear that escalation will trigger strong pushback both from military personnel and civilians, as many of the former are already suffering from battle fatigue and burnout while most of the latter would prefer to see the hostages—both living and dead—returned to their homes. Therefore, certain delegates proposed hiring private contractors to move provisions into Gaza.
However, others argued that transport companies would lack the manpower and the defensive strength to handle such a task effectively.
Pray for food security in Gaza, an end to the war in Israel, the safe return of all hostages to their homes and families, and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ among those on both sides of the conflict.
Families of American-Israeli Hostages Hope That President Trump’s Visit to the Middle East Will Facilitate the Release of Their Loved Ones
On October 7, 2023—a sabbath and the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles—operatives from the terrorist organization known as Hamas stormed the Supernova Festival near the Gaza Strip in southernIsrael and abducted over 250 people.
At the time of this writing, it is believed that a total of 59 remain in Hamas custody in Gaza. Of these, it is thought that only 24 are still alive. Five of the 59 captives have (or had) dual American-Israeli status. The deceased include Itay Chen (19), Omer Neutra (21), Judith Haggai (70), and Gadi Haggai (73). The only potential survivor in this subset of the Hamas prisoner population is Edan Alexander (21). Spokespersons claim that Hamas is prepared to release all 59 hostages in exchange for a permanent cease-fire and total IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu countered that such a move would enable Hamas to stay in power there and possibly invade southern Israel once again.
In contrast, a poll by the Israeli Biorepository Network for Research (“MIDGAM”) disclosed that 68% of the 500 Israeli citizens surveyed upheld the Hamas proposal. Moreover, the families of the American-Israeli prisoners stated they felt that Mr. Netanyahu and US Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer botched the negotiations.
The relatives of the aforementioned captives admonished the Israeli government for discouraging any contact with them regarding the status of their loved ones lest the information be “leaked to the media.”
Furthermore, they suggested that Mr. Netanyahu’s plan to enhance the IDF presence in Gaza is driven by his desire to preserve his government rather than rescue the hostages and end the war and Hamas rule there.
They also criticized US President Donald Trump for allowing the proposed January 2025 liberation of 33 hostages to fall through, and Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff for focusing exclusively on de-escalating Iran’s nuclear programme and the Russia-Ukraine War.
On the other hand, the families of the American-Israeli hostages are nonetheless optimistic that the presence of Mr. Trump in the Middle East—even outside Israel—could reanimate Hamas-Israel talks and increase the chances of bringing all prisoners home AND achieving a cease-fire.
Pray for the safe return of all remaining hostages—dead or alive—to their homes and families, a permanent end to the Swords of Iron War, Godly wisdom for those in lead
Fruit from the Frontlines
In the following four ministry encounters shared by our staff from Israel, you might notice a common theme. The Lord takes one situation and transforms it to bring fruit and glorify Him. From the mall to the hospital, a brunch prayer time to a simple phone call, the Lord works good in all circumstances and sometimes surprising ways.
Pray for all the people who have interacted with our staff over the past months, and for their families. Please pray for salvation where it is needed, for encouragement, provision, wisdom, strength, comfort, kindness, truth, victory, and light. Pray for our staff to abide in the Vine and soak in the Word. Pray for harvest, and for more laborers for the harvest. Thank you!
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