Who could have imagined? Today marks 500 days since the invasion of Hamas into Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Gaza has substantially been devastated, and Hamas destroyed.
However, there are still 73 hostages who have not yet been returned. Our understanding is that most of those 73 are dead. Yet Jewish culture places great significance to honoring the dead by bringing the corpses to proper burial.
Much of the country is fasting today and praying. Praying for the return of all the hostages, dead or alive.
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have threatened "all hell" to break out on Hamas if the hostages are not returned.
However, there is a tactical challenge with that. What hell can be brought? The terrorist suicide mentality thrives on hellish circumstances. They feel it justifies them; and international media, academia, and diplomacy often support them in that.
Bring more suffering into Gaza? That is the Hamas game. Will it help bring more hostages back? We don't know. Make more concessions? The only thing Hamas wants is total destruction of Israel from the "River to the Sea."
Please pray for wisdom for the Israeli government, army, and diplomats to move forward the release of the rest of the hostages. That release would enable an immediate rebuilding effort for Gaza, with international cooperation, and potential peace and prosperity for the whole region.
The past 500 days have made us Jews and Israelis feel that the Holocaust is still continuing. This is not a war only for Israel but for world civilization. Wherever you are, please pray with us for the release of the hostages and a new era for the Middle East.
