Week of May 29, 2024

Spain, Ireland, and Norway recently declared their plans to recognize the “state of Palestine.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said their doing so is as if they are handing out a “reward for terrorism.” Netanyahu went on to say,

“Eighty percent of the Palestinians in [the West Bank] support the terrible massacre of October 7. This evil must not be given a country. It will be a terror state. It will try to repeat the October 7 massacre, and we will not agree to that. A reward for terrorism will not bring peace, and it will not stop us from defeating Hamas either.”

The Israeli government summoned the ambassadors of the three nations for “severe reprimands” and showed them footage of the fear and mistreatment of the five female observation soldiers Hamas took hostage. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the video would “underscore to them what a twisted decision their governments made. Their step will have severe consequences.” The United States has stood against Palestinian efforts to singularly secure a state, saying the outcome should be brought through direct mediation with Israel. The Palestinian Authority (PA) also needs to go through significant reforms, as Ramallah, the capital of the PA, is known for alleged corruption and disarray.

Please pray for these countries and others to see now is not the time to give Gaza and Palestine recognition and reward for their murderous efforts to wipe out Israel.

After intense fighting in the northern Gazan neighborhood of Jabalya, Israeli authorities found the bodies of three Israelis murdered and taken from the Nova music festival on October 7. Their names are Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nissenbaum, and Orion Hernandez. Through intelligence and collaboration with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the 98th Paratroopers Division, the Yahalom Unit, and the 504th Unit, their families will be able to have closure and bring their loved ones to a final resting place in Israel.

Please keep the families in prayer as they now have closure and their loved ones have returned to rest in Israel.

A Hezbollah missile struck and destroyed a Messianic congregation building in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel just after 5:00 pm local time last Friday. No one was in the building since the congregation had evacuated to Tiberias following the outbreak of war in October.

The building, usually bustling with activities like cooking meals for Israel Defense Forces soldiers and assisting Holocaust survivors, was—thankfully—empty at the time of the attack. Despite the dangers, Pastor Israel Iluz, staff, and volunteers have remained committed to their mission. They continue to serve the community by preparing and delivering meals, providing groceries, and offering spiritual support. This missile barrage highlights the ongoing attacks in the north and the resilience of those affected.

Praise God there were no casualties, and pray with us for the attacks to cease soon and for justice to prevail.

Recently, an Israeli staff member and a friend visited a hospital in Jerusalem to give out soft teddy bears to children in the cancer ward. The bears have an intravenous port and a hat to show they are undergoing treatment, just like the children! The kids are encouraged to bring the bears to appointments to hug and love them while they receive treatment. The child of a former Israeli staff member went through four open-heart surgeries, and they know how much a therapeutic bear helps! This family loves to purchase and send bears to Israel to continue this therapy. As the bears were handed out, a smile was on everyone’s faces. A perfect number of bears were in the bag, and even a bear without a port accidentally found its way into the bag. God knew who this special bear should go to, and yes, the staff members met a family whose child had just been diagnosed with a major heart problem and would need surgery. Now, the last bear found a home in the arms of this small child to be loved and hugged!

Please pray for the health and treatment of those children who received a special bear to love.