Week of August 26, 2025

According to the biblical calendar, a year has passed since the brutal deaths of the “Beautiful Six.” Six Israeli hostages endured eleven months in harsh captivity and were murdered by Hamas as IDF troops were in the vicinity, closing in on their deep, isolated tunnel. The IDF found their bodies on August 31, 2024, two days after their death. The supporters, families and friends of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino and Alex Lubanov gathered together to remember them and pay tribute to their young lives cut short.

Eden’s mother, Shirit Yerushalmi, spoke to her daughter from the side of her grave. “A year has passed, and I still cannot believe that you are not here,” she said. “The pain is unimaginable, only growing, and I miss you with every breath. Nothing is the same anymore.”

Please pray for the families as they continue to grieve and miss their loved ones. Please pray for the return of the remaining fifty hostages, dead or alive.

Called “Gideon’s Chariots II,” Israel is planning a large ground operation to take over Gaza City with the goals of seizing Gaza City, freeing the hostages, dismantling Hamas’ weapons, deporting senior Hamas members, and demilitarizing Gaza to secure areas for civilians. Priority will be given to the safety of the hostages hidden in tunnels and civilian homes throughout Gaza. The IDF knows Hamas is at its weakest point; therefore, it is an opportune time to remove them from power.

Over 130,000 reserve soldiers will be needed in five standing divisions. A notice has been sent to 40,000 reserve soldiers with 20,000 whose current duty has been extended. As a result of the extended war and soldier fatigue, the reserve call-ups will happen in three phases—September, November, and March. Troops will have rotation breaks to reduce the length they are away from home, family, and friends. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir made sure the call-ups begin in September so that reservists can finish their summer plans with their families and be present on the first day of Israeli schools.

Please pray for those planning the logistics, safety measures, and ability to locate the hostages. Please pray for the reservists as they prepare for this important mission to rid Hamas from Israel’s borders.

This past year, over 5,000 women enlisted in combat roles in the IDF, up from 500 a decade ago. Previously, they had been serving combat support roles, but now they are breaking glass ceilings and serving on the front lines in Artillery Corps, mixed battalions, and air defense. Now, one in four who are found medically, functionally, and mentally fit enlist in the combat role.

With the current 7,000-person shortfall of standing combat soldiers because of war and reserve duty fatigue, the women stepping into elite combat roles are a tremendous help. Within the elite Yahlom (Diamond) unit, female combat soldiers are now in training. Of the units stationed along the border with Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank, the mixed gender battalions are seeing women make up 60% of the personnel. Some female troops are also serving in the Merkava tanks that have seen many missions in the Gaza Strip.

Please pray for the IDF as they train and make ready men and women to serve and protect the nation of Israel.

One of our staff members is excited to share an amazing story of hospitality, gospel-oriented conversations, and amazing connections!

‘Host Israelis is a network of 227 hosts across 18 countries. More than 500 Israelis have used the network to stay in the safety of host homes who love Israel and God’s chosen people. A few weeks ago, I was sitting at swim lessons, and my son said that a boy in his class was wearing a ‘pray for Israel’ bracelet. They got talking, and next, the mother and I got talking and became fast friends. This family was a true supporter of Israel and ready and able to share the gospel wherever they went. They talked about how they had recently hosted an Israeli family, displaced by the war. The Israeli family had just left the New York City area, where they had also just stayed in a host home. With excitement, I pieced together the details and realized I know the NYC host family. What a connection! After speaking with the NYC hosts, they said the Israeli family had stayed with them first and were welcome to return. While there, they asked some key spiritual questions about Jesus the Messiah. Next, the family traveled to the new host home and had fantastic conversations and came back to NYC with a Hebrew Bible and an Isaiah 53 Explained book in Hebrew. The NYC host said something incredible happened while the family was visiting the new host home because they came back excited and full of questions about Jesus!

Now, the Israeli family is connected with one of our workers. Let’s pray for these seeds to keep growing, ripe for the harvest! It rejuvenated me to connect the dots and piece together this information, to meet a host family so ready to share His message of salvation, and to connect the Israeli family with our worker in Israel. There is no coincidence with the Lord!’

If you want to be a part of the Host Israeli network, here are more details.

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