Inside Israel News
Week of March 12, 2025
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Twenty-Four Hostages Held Captive in Gaza Believed Still Alive
As the first stage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas came to an end, the nation of Israel worries about the twenty-four living hostages remaining. There are fifty-nine hostages still in Gaza, but thirty-five are not living. Hamas either killed them on October 7, 2023, and dragged their bodies into Gaza, or killed them while in captivity. Those living are active-duty soldiers, those who were working or enjoying the Nova music party, or those sheltering in their safe rooms in their Gaza-border kibbutz homes. They were trying to protect their family members from Hamas terrorists who had infiltrated their homes. Of the twenty-four living hostages, twenty-two are Israeli, one is a farm worker from Thailand, and one is an agricultural student from Nepal. With the recent release of hostages from the first deal, Israel received “signs of life” for many of the twenty-four men—some families had not known the fate of their loved ones for over a year.
Please pray for the physical, mental, and spiritual safety of these beloved men, still held hostage in Gaza. Pray for their swift and safe return.
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Israel, United States Participate in Joint Air Force Exercises
The Israeli Air Force and the United States Air Force ran joint operations this week in practice and strategic planning for future combined missions. Israeli F-35i and F-15i fighter jets flew next to a US B-52 strategic bomber. The goal was to build up connections between the two giant forces to improve reaction to regional threats for a variety of scenarios.
The world is watching Iran come closer to possessing weapons-grade enriched uranium, so this joint exercise is intentional. Tehran is nearing nuclear weapons capability. The US B-52 Stratofortress can carry bombs weighing 30,000 pounds, which are designed to pierce deep into fortified compounds before exploding. It can fly for long periods of time and will be instrumental, if the time comes, to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities, buried deep under layers of concrete and rock in the Fordow and Natanz facilities.
Please pray for the Israeli Air Force’s strategic partnerships for regional stability.
Israelis Don Batman Costumes to Honour Slain Young Hostage
This week is Purim, when Jewish people celebrate the story and survival of Esther and the Jewish people while in exile in Persia. Children (and adults) around Israel will dress up in many different costumes. This year, the Batman costume is very popular, as little Ariel Bibas, who was murdered along with his tiny brother and brave mother in Hamas captivity in Gaza, loved Batman. A kindergarten in Jerusalem, symbolizing many groups, schools, and families across Israel, all wore orange Batman capes, in honor of little red-headed Ariel. The head teacher said the school wanted to provide the children with strength to be superheroes to prepare them for life in Israel. She said the sight of kids dressed up had the staff choked up and emotional.
This Purim is bittersweet, as it is a time to celebrate and rejoice, yet there are still hostages in Gaza. Please pray for those who are traumatized, to find healing and joy.
Fruit from the Frontlines
Chosen People Ministries—Israel Staff Bring Healing and Hope to Holocaust Survivors
Last week, our staff had a lot of activities for Holocaust survivors for International Women’s Day and the upcoming Purim holiday. On Sunday, they had a fantastic event at the Tel Aviv Messianic Center. People from the nearby cities of Holon, Petach Tikva, and Bnei Brak came to spend time together. Our staff shared a Purim story and talked, of course, about Jesus. A female professional cellist gave a wonderful concert, and then they ate together. Our staff made a very large cake and surprised everyone. On Monday, they were in Sderot (a city in the south near Gaza, which was gravely affected by the attacks on October 7, 2023) and had a great meeting there. Our ministry prepared a special concert, and then there was a quiz about Purim, and a great prayer time together. On Tuesday, another event took place in Ofakim (another town close to the Gaza border that was attacked on October 7). At each event, all women received Dead Sea product gifts with shampoo, salt, and soap.
During the events, our staff discovered the depths of the PTSD these people are suffering. Lina*, 85 years old, from Sderot, told our staff that until today, she cannot sleep, and she feels something terrible can happen at any time. Eva*, 86 years old, from Ofakim, constantly sees flashbacks of a terrorist shooting her neighbors in front of her eyes. Every other day, she goes to a psychologist, but it does not get any better. There are a lot more stories like this; many Holocaust survivors are now receiving disability due to psychological disorders since October 7, and it has not been a good sign. Our team tries their best to help them and improve their lives. Additionally, they spend considerable time praying with these individuals, as our staff are the only family for many. They need to have meaningful communication and social interaction to avoid feelings of loneliness.
To address this, our ministry organizes weekly gatherings for Holocaust survivors in five cities, allowing more than 300 people to socialize, enjoy hot meals, and receive spiritual nourishment each week. Our staff is grateful to the Lord for enabling us to help alleviate their loneliness. During one recent meeting, Louise* expressed her gratitude: “I am thankful to the Lord for you, for making every week a celebration. I am 91 years old, yet I wake up with joy every Monday, excited to choose what to wear to our meeting. For us, the club is a holiday we eagerly anticipate.”
Pray for our Israel staff in their ongoing ministry among Holocaust survivors, for spiritual and physical strength each day, for sensitive ears to listen to God and these men and women who endured so much, and for divine appointments. Please pray for them to see the light and love of the Lord in our staff, to heal from the traumas of October 7, and to find their Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace) in Yeshua (Jesus)!
Ministering to Traumatized Children and Families in War-Torn Israeli Towns
For almost six months, our staff has been running a children’s club in southern Israel for children struggling with PTSD issues since October 7, 2023. About thirty children gather every Thursday to spend time together and engage in playful rehabilitation activities. Our staff serves meals, prays, and studies God’s Word with the children. Recently, parents have started asking for similar programs for them. Our staff is praying and considering this request. Beginning March 1, our team launched another club in northern Israel, and in April, they hope to establish one in Jerusalem. Our ministry recognizes the importance of this ministry for children.
This week our team has several outreaches planned, and they ask for your prayers. For the feast of Purim, our ministry is organizing an outreach program in northern Israel on March 12 for unchurched children and their parents, and they expect more than 150 participants. Our staff prepared an engaging program explaining the concept of true salvation through Jesus. They will hold similar events in Jerusalem on March 14 and in Haifa on March 15. Our team has already prepared more than 300 gifts to distribute and pray daily for the Lord to save many.
Please pray with us for the children with PTSD our staff has been ministering to with these clubs, as well as their parents. Pray for their emotional, mental, and spiritual healing—and for their salvation in Jesus. Pray also for this week’s outreaches to bring hope and light into the lives of many more kids and families.
Ministry among New Believers
At a Sabbath dinner, one of our missionaries was talking to a new believer, Hadas*, who started to follow Jesus just a few months ago. She was asking many questions, and some other believers at the table chimed in. It turned out to be a deep and meaningful spiritual discussion. Afterwards, Hadas said the conversation helped her understand a lot more and gave her the desire to read and know the Bible. Also, one of the believers there who had shared with Hadas during the conversation, Sarah*, said she was very encouraged by the dialogue and wants to pray about offering to disciple one of the new believers she knows. That heartfelt discussion opened Sarah’s eyes to this opportunity. She asked our missionary to coach her on how to disciple someone. We are thankful for this privilege!
Please pray for Hadas to grow in her newfound faith and desire to read and understand God’s Word. Pray for Sarah as she seeks to help new believers in their relationship with the Lord. Pray for our missionary as she helps both women—and others—for divine wisdom, grace, favor, and fruitfulness!
Young Adults Engage in God’s Word and Respond
Each Thursday last month, our staff had the incredible privilege of diving deep into the story of Ruth with young adults. Our team often focuses on Ruth’s unwavering commitment, but this time, they turned their attention to Naomi. What was it about Naomi that made Ruth cling to her? What kind of person was Naomi to inspire this type of devotion?
As our staff unpacked Naomi’s character, something amazing happened. The group was not just listening; they were engaging. They were reflecting. After the teaching, our team had multiple private conversations with both the guys and girls who attended. Many of them expressed how this approach—analyzing someone’s character—opened their eyes to their own lives. It helped them see certain situations differently, challenged them to think deeply, and even stirred some to action. But it did not end there. Several of them reached out later for follow-up. They did not just hear the Word; they responded to it. And this is what our ministry is all about!
Our staff is blown away by their hunger—not just to learn but also to grow. When the teaching ends, they do not rush off to chit-chat. They stay. They ask real-life questions. They share what is on their hearts. They want to pray together, to wrestle with the truth of Scripture, and to let it shape their lives.
How amazing it is to witness how God is moving among these young people. The Bible study is not just another meeting—it is real, it is alive, and it is bearing fruit! Seeing these young adults not just attend but truthfully encounter God’s Word is a powerful reminder: His truth transforms lives! We cannot wait to see what He does next!
Pray for these young adults to continue to hunger and thirst for righteousness—so they might be filled! Pray for our staff as they minister to these young people, to go deeper each day in their own walk with Jesus so they will grow and be able to pour into their lives from what God has poured into them. Pray for a spiritual awakening and outpouring of the Spirit upon young people in Israel.
*names changed for privacy