Israel (MNN) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance has now joined other top officials in Israel to help keep the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal moving forward.
Both Israel and Hamas representatives say they’re committed to the truce, but diplomatic progress remains slow and cautious. Disagreements over hostage bodies, aid access, and control of territory could trigger a relapse.
As aid workers bring critical help to Gaza, they encounter indescribable need.
Displaced Palestinians in Deir el-Balah line up to receive food provided by charitable organizations.
(Wikimedia Commons)
“I’ve read articles [about] Palestinians who are returning to their past houses and seeing the total devastation, saying how burdened and broken they are at the suffering,” Brother Y with Global Catalytic Ministries says.
“There was massive, massive destruction, and it’s so painful for people.”
At least two-thirds of all structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since the war began. Although Hamas claims to represent the Palestinian people, Brother Y says many residents reject that claim.
“Many of them put the suffering both on the Israeli government and Hamas, those that – as they say in their words – ‘call themselves our leaders,’” Brother Y says.
The war has brought suffering to Israel, too. Read more about that here.
“Many (soldiers) who came back committed suicide, and many secondary trauma people who are friends and relatives, also committed suicide,” Brother Y says. “We have a suicide epidemic in Israel.”
Hope and healing through the Gospel
(Photo courtesy of Prayercast)
Pray for believers as they bring help and the hope of Jesus to Gaza war survivors. The ceasefire creates space for humanitarian access, which gives believers an avenue to share the hope of Christ.
“The international involvement will create many opportunities for Christian-led, mission-minded NGOs to go in and bring in their people. The only thing I am optimistic about is the amazing Gospel opportunities that are going to be presented [as a result,]” Brother Y says.
“The only true healing, the only true redemption, the only true forgiveness can come through the Gospel.”
Pray for hearts to change as people formerly against Christ encounter His love. “Even guilty people can have a born-again experience, can get a new life and heart,” Brother Y says.
“Let’s go all the way back to the Nazis; people who [were] serving in the SS and who repented and turned to God – these things really baffle us [but] that’s the power of the Gospel,” he continues.
In Gaza, “there’s going to be lots of pain for the oppressed, oppressors, and everything in between. And that’s a great opportunity to bring the Gospel into this brokenness.”
Header image depicts destruction in the Beach refugee camp, Gaza Strip, circa July 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)
