Week of August 20, 2024

Israel’s Defense Ministry Rehabilitation Department said, since the start of the war, they have treated over 10,000 soldiers. Of the soldiers, 35 percent were dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental disorders caused by trauma. Another 37 percent had physical trauma to their limbs. The department is also still treating 62,000 veterans injured in previous conflicts. They estimate, by the year 2030, the Rehabilitation Department will be treating over 100,000 people, with at least half struggling with PTSD. Each month, the department treats 1,000 wounded patients, not just from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) but from every segment of Israel’s security forces.

Please pray for the health and healing of so many wounded soldiers who strive to protect the people and land of Israel.

Israeli active and reserve duty Air Force pilots recently spent time with children battling cancer to show them how to take off, land, and carry out in-flight maneuvering. The children were able to wear unique flight jumpsuits with their names on patches to feel even more part of the pilot program. After learning about aerial maneuvers, the pilots told stories of what it is like to fly a mission during wartime, discussing challenges and pressures during critical moments of decision making. The pilots called the children the “real heroes” as they battle with cancer. One of the young participants said, “It was an empowering and educational experience. Even though we crashed a few planes—in the simulator, of course—we felt like the sky was the limit.”

Please pray for the children’s healing from cancer and for the pilots who face danger in the skies every day.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently conducted significant operations along the Gaza-Egypt border, demolishing over fifty tunnels in the Philadelphi Corridor. In a press conference, IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the IDF’s “significant fighting” and accomplishments threatened Hamas’ attempts to regroup and recover. He said, “We are determined to continue this.” Israel believes Hamas used these tunnels for smuggling arms. In addition to targeting the tunnels, the IDF also focused on Hamas infrastructure within Gaza, hitting more than thirty sites including booby-trapped buildings, weapon depots, and tunnels.

In response to ongoing rocket attacks, the IDF has issued an evacuation order for Palestinians in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza. The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, published a list of the zones needing to be evacuated. This order directs residents of the suburb of al-Qarara to move to Israeli-designated humanitarian zones for their safety. The IDF’s actions are part of a broader strategy to weaken Hamas’s operational capabilities and protect civilians amid the conflict.

Please pray for Israel’s continued success in dismantling Hamas’ terror network. Please also pray for the safe relocation of displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza.

The Jewish and Israeli holiday of Tu B’Av (meaning the fifteenth day of the month of Av) is usually celebrated with nice dinners, flowers, and evening strolls with the person you love, much like Valentine’s Day in the United States. This year (August 19), many families, couples, and widowed spouses are mourning the death of loved ones and those hostages Hamas still holds. A young woman set up a romantic dinner table at the beach and sat across from an empty chair in honor of her boyfriend, who is a hostage.

Right now, Israelis are hurting, mourning, sad, and stuck in a cycle of grief, disbelief, and worry for those they love and have loved. As a team, our Chosen People Ministries workers are daily trying to show love, faith, and trust in the Lord God so others would know there is hope. The team has had incredible conversations with people about Jesus the Messiah, who alone can bring healing to broken hearts and hope to the hopeless.

Thousands are struggling. Please pray for them, for our team, and for many to turn to Jesus, who loves them so much. He gave His life for them!