Week of Inside Israel – October 22, 2024

The troops of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)’s Infantry Commanders and Combat Training School known by the Hebrew acronym “Bislach” unintentionally and without prior intelligence eliminated Israel’s most wanted man, Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar was the leader of Hamas in Gaza and the architect of the October 7 massacre where Hamas killed more than 1,200 Israelis and dragged 253 Israeli hostages into Gaza, launching a year of war, heartache, and hardship. With Sinwar’s death, Israelis are hoping Sinwar’s death will lead to the end of the war in Gaza as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked for Hamas fighters to lay down their weapons and release the hostages, in exchange for their own freedom.
The Bislach troops were working in Rafah, the southwest corner of Gaza and a former Hamas stronghold. The troops located three terrorists and eliminated them while they were hiding in a booby-trapped, partially demolished building. The troops found large amounts of Israeli money as well as important documents on the terrorists’ bodies.

One of the troops noticed that one of the bodies bore a strong resemblance to Yahya Sinwar, and this soldier sent photos back to a forensics unit in Israel. Sinwar had served time in Israeli jails where his dental records were recorded. Officials say the photo taken at the site of the attack match Sinwar’s dental records. The IDF killed Sinwar with his bodyguards, one of whom worked as a teacher for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) schools.

Warning: the Ynet News article includes photos of Sinwar’s corpse.

Please pray Hamas lays down its weapons and releases the hostages.

This week, Israelis and Jewish people around the world built a hut (sukkah) to sit in, eat meals in, and maybe even to sleep in as the Lord commanded the Israelites to do in celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot in Hebrew). This is to remind us of the Israelites’ wandering in the desert for forty years before entering the Promised Land (Leviticus 23:42–43). It is a celebration of the last harvest at the end of the summer season. The sukkah is temporary and fragile, reminding us of God’s supernatural protection and provision amid unstable conditions.

This year, many Israelis are having a hard time celebrating Sukkot, as last year’s massacre by Hamas occurred on the last day of Sukkot. One family has kept their sukkah up all year as their son, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, promised on October 6, 2023, to help his dad take it down after he returned from the Nova festival. Hamas took Guy and forty-three others from this festival hostage on October 7. Little is known of his condition, and his parents and family find it hard to carry on without him. Throughout the year, friends and family come sit in the sukkah with the parents to talk, console, and think of memories. Guy’s older brother Gal said they will leave the sukkah up until Guy comes home, “leaving it as a sign of hope.”

Gal and Guy both met up at the Nova party, hugged, and sent a picture back to their mother. When the onslaught began, the brothers ran in different directions. Gal ran and hid for more than seven hours before being rescued. Hamas filmed Guy and his friend, Evyatar, being tied up and laying in a tunnel in Gaza. When four hostages were rescued in June, they gave a sign of life of Guy—they had been held with him. He was given very little food and water and was abused physically and mentally. Guy’s brother Gal has spent months focusing on his brother’s release by speaking with the press and politicians and attending diplomatic missions. He needs time to recover from his own trauma but has prioritized keeping the story of his brother and other hostages in the headlines.

Please pray for the release of the remaining hostages being held deep in the tunnels of Gaza.

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force conducted targeted strikes against dozens of sites in Beirut and southern Lebanon. These sites were directly related to funding Hezbollah’s terror activities like the purchase of weapons and salaries to Hezbollah terrorists. Billions of dollars were stored in the branches of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, some accounts being openly named for Hezbollah. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, told reporters, “In the coming days, we will reveal how Iran finances Hezbollah’s terrorist activities through the use of civil institutions, associations, and non-profits as a cover for terrorist operations.” Before these strikes commenced, the IDF made numerous efforts to avoid harming civilians by giving prior warnings for the civilian population to evacuate. Israel is working hard to eliminate Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure, its military capabilities, finances, and ability to rebuild.

Please pray for the IDF’s efforts to dismantle the terrorist organization of Hezbollah so Israel’s northern residents can return home in peace.

Our workers in Jerusalem wanted to tell you about a camp for teenagers that took place over Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles)! Exactly one year has passed since the beginning of the war, and the situation has not improved. Constant shelling and changes in Home Front Command (the government’s guidelines for Israelis’ safety during the war) made us consider whether to hold the camp. After prayers and reflections, we decided it would be better to have the camp since the children wanted it and were waiting for it. So, we gathered at our Messianic center in Jerusalem, where teenagers aged thirteen to sixteen came from the north and south of the country. Our main desire was to give the children a break from the shelling and sirens, to give them a special time together, rest, and the chance to get closer to the Lord. Praise God, these goals were met!

Every day—morning and evening—we gathered for worship, prayer, and Scripture study. We discussed the Sukkot holiday, Jesus, salvation, and His second coming. We had fascinating spiritual discussions—and I believe this was one of the best camp discussions! As we were preparing to eat in our sukkah (tabernacle), we invited some of the local children’s parents and had an incredible time together . . . as family.

We are grateful to the Lord for the peace and safety we had during the week. Our hearts are full as we watched the children’s joy and transformation as He worked in their lives. Thank you so much for praying for us and our ministry!

Please pray that these Israeli teenagers will grow in their faith and remain steadfast despite the conflict in the Middle East.