Meanwhile, Israel continues to weigh the psychological cost of war.

Believers on the ground tell Bruce with Uncharted Ministries, “They can see a lot of brokenness, even on the streets of Jerusalem, a sense of people not knowing what to do. Some people they’ll see on the streets just wandering around, disoriented.”

Israeli soldiers are facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in record numbers. Suicide rates are skyrocketing, too.

(Photo courtesy of Susan Wilkinson/Unsplash)

“Some of our leaders have been on five different rotations. They are having an increasingly difficult time [coping] with what they’re experiencing and seeing on the battlefield,” Bruce says.

“The PTSD, the trauma – they don’t know [how] to deal with it.”

War’s hidden cost: Trauma and brokenness in Israeli society

Because so many Israelis serve in the military, it’s common in this small nation to know someone affected by PTSD.

Studies show how Israeli military families suffer high rates of “PTSD spillover,” while other research describes the mental health fallout of the October 7 terrorist attack.

“Relationally, the stress on families is unbelievable,” Bruce says. “They’re seeing an increase in divorce, separations, family trauma, turmoil. They are understaffed for counselors in the country.”

Pray for wisdom for Bruce and other Uncharted leaders as they seek opportunities to respond with the hope of Christ.

“We’re seeing a spiritual desire on the part of the people, given the trauma that they’re going through, but there’s still brokenness in the country,” Bruce says.

Hope for tomorrow

Uncharted may build upon its current outreach to Holocaust survivors to meet today’s trauma needs.

Child survivors of the Holocaust filmed few days after the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army, January 1945.
(Wikimedia Commons)

“One of the key ministries we have in Israel is to Holocaust survivors. These people have gone through unbelievable trauma,” Bruce says.

“Many of them are atheists; they just can’t believe that God would have allowed this [to happen.]”

Regular group sessions help Holocaust survivors process their trauma and find hope in the God who heals. Over 100 survivors have put their faith in Christ as a result.

“They’ll come [to the meetings] for fellowship, food, and they’ll hear a message of encouragement,” Bruce says.

A local leader who coordinates this ministry says, after October 7, “he’s seeing [people seek] spiritual answers, and to understand that they cannot survive without God.”

Header image depicts Israeli soldiers on the ground in the Gaza Strip in the Iron Swords War. (Wikimedia Commons) 

In the rising tensions, Ilya Butolin with Beit Hallel Congregation focuses on the return of the 20 living captives.

“After [the] seventh of October, each family, each person in Israel had either a friend or a relative or a close family that [has] been in captivity or [has] been hurt from the war,” says Butolin. “Seeing how they held the hostages was really hard, because it’s personal. It’s almost like your family [is] in captivity.”

The hostage’s release on Monday was deeply significant for another reason. October 13 marked the end of the Feast of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles), which commemorates when God gave the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. 

“So it’s a big celebration, on one hand, of when we received the Law, the Torah. But then, on the other hand, there is a big celebration that our people are coming back home,” Butolin says. “I can’t even explain in words how much of a big deal it is.”

There’s much to pray for

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It’s the main thing that we as believers in Jesus have to stand on,” says Butolin. “It’s really important. It’s biblical.”

Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo courtesy of Dariusz Kanclerz/Unsplash)

Pray for the families of the hostages who did not come back alive, that they will find their hope and healing in God alone. Pray the same for the 20 men released from captivity.

“My prayer, it’s that there’ll be no other thing [for the freed hostages] — no PTSD — except one thing: there will be God. God will be showing [Himself in] this time,” says Butolin. “And I believe that these people will see the Lord. That’s our prayer, that all Israel will be saved.” 

Then, keep praying. Butolin says Monday was a massive celebration. But one quarter of the almost 2,000 prisoners that Israel released on Monday had been “convicted of crimes including murder and deadly attacks against Israelis,” the BBC reports. 

“But [for] the future, we’re still dealing with a terror organization. It’s one step closer to the peace, but it’s not complete peace in Israel,” Butolin says. “It will be really important to continue to pray for other [war] fronts, for the northern [front] with Lebanon and Syria, with Iran, with the Houthis. We believe that there will be peace with all of them.”

Header photo: Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, Israel, October 13, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Oren Rozen via Wikimedia Commons. Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

In Israel, yellow ribbons are displayed — on trees, fences, car mirrors, clothing, and public landmarks — as a visible sign of support for the hostages and their families.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Brother Y, who serves with Global Catalytic Ministries, told MNN from Israel: “It’s a very, very complex scene with lots of emotions involved on all sides. Very few, though, are thinking that the war has ended.”

Some hostage families were horrified to see the physical state of their returned loved ones, while others grieved the loss of those they hoped to see alive.

“There’s mixed emotions there, but mainly joy and thankfulness for the American government and everybody who was instrumental in bringing the people back,” Brother Y says.

Most Israelis celebrated with the families of hostages who returned home alive yesterday, but the overall mood was bittersweet.

“I have personal connections – friends of my children, and children of my friends – both were kidnapped and assassinated or tortured and murdered from the Nova festival, etc.,” Brother Y says.

“I didn’t have anyone that came (home) alive, but I can feel their celebration. I can feel their joy.”

Simultaneously, “about 2,000 bona fide terrorists with gallons of blood on their hands were also released as part of the (ceasefire) deal,” he says, “so this is why I wasn’t emphasizing the joy.”

Monday’s exchange renewed international hope for ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas. Supporters of the terrorist group, however, made “Quraysh treaty” their rally cry – “A time when, in the Quran, a covenant was broken,” Brother Y says.

“It was a temporary covenant to gain access and control, and then followed by a military conquest. They’re chanting this right now, basically saying, ‘We’ve gotten our reprieve. We’re going to come back bigger and stronger.’”

Pray for Gospel opportunities in the interim. “The prayer for believers is that God’s going to position His people – mature believers, praying believers, Gospel-focused, missions-minded believers – and that there’s going to be a wide-open door for the Gospel,” Brother Y says.

In the header image, Israel’s Teddy Stadium displays the words “Thank you President Trump” following a deal for hostage release and ceasefire in Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons)

It is a long-awaited step toward a broader peace deal to the two-year war. But Nuna with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says candidly, “This peace treaty that is in the Middle East, I’m not so sure it’s going to stand. I think it’s a false peace, but at least it will give us a bit of a relief for a time.”

Significant questions remain about Gaza’s government, Hamas’s disarmament, and Israel’s military presence in Gaza.

In a beautiful “coincidence” only God could have arranged, believers from Lebanon and around the world have gathered today to pray for the Middle East. Months ago, the Beirut House of Prayer planned a 50-hour international assembly for October 9-11.

“We will be praying day and night, with people rotating and praying and worshiping and just asking the will of God for not only this nation, but also the whole Middle East,” says Nuna.

“It’s [a] strategic time for Syria, for Turkey, for Jordan, for Lebanon, for the Palestinians, for Egypt, for all these areas here. We’re coming and pouring our hearts before God, asking for His will and for the knowledge of His glory to be released in these nations.”

Nuna says these Muslim, Jewish, and nominal Christian countries are not seeing the glory of God. Instead, they are seeing “religious politics,” factions, closed borders, people separated, and changes in power such as the fall of the Assad regime in Syria or the decrease of Hezbollah’s power in Lebanon.

(Image courtesy of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon)

“We’re asking God to [open] people’s eyes to see His glory, because it’s a really difficult time,” says Nuna. “So many people are depressed, skeptical, in disbelief, and in hopelessness. So many people are feeling like ‘[It is] better for us to leave.’ So it is strategic to pray at this time.”

Join in praying for eternal things. Learn more about prayer movements in the Middle East and how you can be part of gatherings like the Beirut House of Prayer. Connect with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon, or visit the Beirut House of Prayer on Instagram or YouTube.

“Jesus is coming back, and He’s coming back here. This region is so dear to His heart —whether it is Israel or Lebanon or the whole area, it is dear to His heart,” says Nuna. “If you want to be part of this, and you want to have more news about the Middle East and more direct contact with houses of prayer, contact us.” 

Header photo of Beirut House of Prayer gathering October 9-11, 2025 courtesy of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon.

Over the weekend, a White House official announced that U.S. President Donald Trump was dispatching envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Egypt to finalize the technical arrangements for the hostage release and to explore a long-term peace agreement.

“We are certainly watching what’s happening with these ceasefire negotiations, and we are looking for direction on next steps,” Bruce with Uncharted Ministries says.

“We’re obviously very concerned for our staff [who] are in the fight; one of our close contacts in Israel [has a son who] is the tank commander.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that the captives’ return could be announced during the Jewish festival of Sukkot, observed from October 6 to 13. Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue deep within Gaza.

Jerusalem’s Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock, where both Jews and Muslims pray every day.
(Photo courtesy of Uncharted Ministries)

Trauma and faith amid war

Hamas jihadists raided a Jewish community on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. More about that here. Nearly 50 hostages remain in Gaza today, and only 20 are still alive.

“We have a Jewish member of our team and then our Israeli national leader there; they say the nation is exhausted. Some are experiencing trauma, PTSD,” Bruce says.

However, despite the mental toll of war, “as long as the hostages are still held, they can’t move on.”

Uncharted partners with Jewish-background believers in Israel, and “We’ve heard, ‘October 7 has changed everything,’” Bruce adds.

Israelis are asking deeper questions about faith, purpose, and healing. In the midst of loss, a hunger for hope is growing – and many are finding strength in God’s promises. Learn how you can support this Gospel growth by partnering with Uncharted.

“Become educated and maybe as a ‘bucket list’ go [to Israel],” Bruce says. “Then you can pray right on the ground and see it firsthand.”

Header and story images courtesy of Uncharted Ministries. 

The airstrike came one day after terrorists killed six people and wounded more than 20 in Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for that attack. 

“This has shown the world that Israel is not messing around. They want to get Hamas out of Gaza,” says Tom Doyle with Uncharted Ministries. “But then, on the other hand, you look at Israeli hostages that are still trapped. What’s going to happen to them? Will there be a retaliation?”

Palestinian man. Image courtesy of hosnysalah via Pixabay.

The situation is incredibly complex. But Doyle shares that Palestinian Christians have strong opinions about Hamas. 

“As [the strikes] happened, we were getting texts from former Muslims in Gaza that were thrilled that, as they said, ‘The people who have made our lives miserable in Gaza — Hamas — are slowly going. So many of the leaders are gone now.’” 

Behind the headlines, Doyle says, believers in both Gaza and Israel are seeing greater openness to the gospel. 

“In the midst of the war, there are Muslim background believers with joy on their face,” says Doyle. “They’ve had times where they were struggling to get food without getting shot at or robbed, yet now they have the fruit of the Spirit on their face.” 

Their joy is leading fellow Palestinians to ask them why, leading to a chance to share about Christ. 

In Israel, Doyle says that one man who survived the Holocaust recently passed away. He had resisted the gospel for decades, believing that Nazis were Christians. But another Christian prayed for him for more than 20 years. At age 98, the man received Jesus as his Savior. 

“He became someone [who] just started sharing with his Jewish friends about Jesus,” Doyle said. “He would say this: ‘I don’t have a lot of time left in life, so I may not get to ever talk with you again. So please listen to what I say.’”

A Palestinian believer and Jewish believer pray together at the Gaza fence.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Uncharted Ministries)

This man passed away recently. At the funeral, his son accepted Christ. 

Find your place in the story

Pray for people to come to know Christ all across the Middle East. 

“[Lasting peace] won’t happen through government or the UN or any one country. Only Jesus can bring peace in their hearts, to where people won’t hate each other and the war won’t just keep going on and on and on,” Doyle says. 

“What we’re praying right now is for peace and for a great awakening in the Middle East, where millions are turning to Jesus as Savior.” 

Header photo courtesy of Kyle Glenn via Unsplash. 

According to Pakistan’s military, security forces have freed the hostages, but 21 train passengers were killed along with four soldiers and 33 hijackers. However, as of yesterday, the BLA claims it is still active on the train and continues to hold over 100 hostages.

The Pakistan Army’s special forces soldiers in a drill conducting jointly with the Russian special forces in 2016. (Caption, photo by Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52068269)

This attack is just the latest in a string of violent incidents in Balochistan, a region where the BLA has been fighting for autonomy.

Nehemiah with FMI points out this attack also highlights growing extremism in the country. According to the new Global Terrorism Index 2025, he says, “Pakistan is now ranked as the second most terrorism affected country in the world, right after Burkina Faso and before Syria, alarmingly terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan rose by 45% in 2024 alone.”

While the BLA mainly targets government forces and infrastructure, their actions also make life even more dangerous for Christians and other religious minorities who already face discrimination and persecution.

“It’s a fearful situation when these partners go in these areas and try to share the Word of God. You never know who is your enemy and who is your friend, especially in this hostile situation where terrorists are everywhere,” Nehemiah explains.

“Sadly, in Balochistan and KPK, which is a border region of Afghanistan and Iran, many cities control have been taken over by Taliban or ISIS or BLA…. So different aspects are now in Pakistan. They are [attacking] the military, mosques, and of course they are targeting Christians or minorities in Pakistan as well.”

Amazingly, Pakistani Christians are praying for terrorists, that they would know and turn to Jesus! Please pray with them.

Nehemiah says, “I was talking to a brother a few days ago, and I was like, ‘How can we pray for you?’ And he said, ‘Please pray for terrorists who are killing them and killing other Pakistanis. Please pray for them that they know the light of the message and the light of hope, which is Jesus Christ.'”

Learn more about FMI’s ministry in Pakistan.

Header photo: Pakistan flag (Photo courtesy of Abuzar Xheikh/Unsplash)

Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “This is the beginning of the day after Hamas. Evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete.”

There are still 101 hostages from Israel held in Gaza. Some may even be held by other terror groups in connection with Hamas. Sinwar often hindered the negotiation process and had little interest in talks with Israel, according to both the United States and IDF.

With Sinwar now removed from power, Netanyahu made another play for the hostages, promising that anyone in Gaza who lays down their arms and returns hostages would be let go alive.

Yahya Sinwar (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154093051)

US President Joe Biden also put out a statement referring to this as ”a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to…the raid to kill Osama bin Laden in 2011.”

Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) says, “There are even some comparisons in the news to Saddam Hussein, and there are many discussions that go on. This is very critical. One of the most brutal things to happen was the October 7 attack.”

Now where does Israel’s war with Hamas go from here?

Mock offers, “One is the situational perspective — the reality of this war continuing on for more than a year now, the battle really occurring on multiple fronts for the nation of Israel, and the possibility with the elimination of one of their key leaders that maybe we can see the return of the hostages. Maybe we can see an end to this conflict.

“It may be wishful thinking […] So there may not be the peace that we all pray for, at least in the near term, but it is a step that may change the balance in trying to find a resolution to this conflict.”

Then, there’s the spiritual perspective. An SGA missionary pastor in Israel told Mock that no matter what happens, he remains focused on training up men and women in the Word of God.

Mock says, “I was challenged because I find myself glued to the TV, wondering what’s going to happen next in Israel, especially with Iran? What’s going to happen in Ukraine? What’s going to happen in our own election? And I have to admit that it’s very easy to be consumed with all these changing events and…sources of information to find out what’s happening.

“I think we should be reminded by this response to the faithful pastor that we should remain focused on the task at hand – which is advancing the Gospel – and on Christ.”

Pray for peace in the region and for both Israelis and Palestinians to know Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Ask God to use local Christians to proclaim biblical truth and make disciples in Christ, even in the midst of ongoing conflict.

Header photo of IDF chief and Shin Bet head visiting the site of Yahya Sinwar’s killing, October 2024. (Photo, caption courtesy of IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154042924)

Israel says, for its own security, it needs to eliminate the Hamas stronghold in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have also sought refuge.

Uncharted Ministries’ Tom Doyle says, “Israel wants to finish this and get the remaining Hamas leaders that are in Rafah, but this is going to be a horrible thing for the Palestinians. We need to pray for them, too.”

Rafah’s population exploded when the war began several months ago, growing from 250,000 to 1.4 million as Palestinians fled south from other parts of Gaza. Today, thousands of households are on the move again as Israeli troops prepare for a forthcoming invasion.

Palestinians packed up their tent settlements in Rafah earlier this week when Israel closed the main crossing for aid trucks entering Gaza from Egypt.

Scores of Hamas militants could also be relocating, hidden among the crowds leaving Rafah.

“It’s absolutely impossible to extract Hamas from innocent civilians. They’re all over,” Doyle notes.

It’s unclear whether Israel will launch an all-out invasion of Rafah as international efforts continue for a ceasefire, but no matter what happens next, the situation needs your prayers. Ask the Lord to protect and provide for His followers in Gaza.

“Let’s say that the war ends today. Nobody knows what tomorrow looks like,” Doyle says. “Who’s going to control it (Gaza)? Will there be another Palestinian government? [Will] some nations come together to help keep it from going over to the radicals?”

Along with prayer, consider helping Christians in Gaza through Uncharted Ministries.

“Prayer is the most important thing, but if you want to help support [people], we’re able to get funds in without Hamas taking them, and [together we can] help the people that need it so much in Gaza,” Doyle says.

Header image depicts Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. (Wikimedia Commons)

When it was struck, the World Kitchen team had just delivered 100 tons of food aid at a distribution warehouse. Other aid groups have temporarily paused deliveries in Gaza, saying it’s no longer safe to offer help.

(Photo courtesy of World Central Kitchen via Facebook)

“The accidental attack against the aid workers is tragic; it’s just heartbreaking,” Uncharted Ministries’ Tom Doyle says.

“We know what they go through to get aid to the people because we’ve done those things at Uncharted. It’s hard to get through the Hamas blockade.”

Celebrity chef Jose Andres, World Central Kitchen founder, says Israel’s military intentionally targeted the aid convoy – a claim Israel denies.

“Israel has been explaining, they’re doing full disclosure. I certainly think it was not in their best interest to do this on purpose, of course, but they will be blamed for it like it was on purpose,” Doyle says.

Uncharted partners with believers on both sides of the war, and they see God at work – despite the horrific scenes in the headlines.

“We’re seeing people [becoming bold] in their faith,” Doyle says.

For example, “some of the Muslim background believers that we work with in Gaza — the hatred is pushed aside; they’re able to follow Jesus and live their life for Him amid a horrible situation.”

Learn more about Uncharted’s work here.

The Israel-Hamas war is “a difficult situation,” Doyle continues. “Whatever side people fall on, we can agree on this – we need to pray. We need to pray for the Palestinians who are suffering through this and for the Israelis who are suffering as hostages.”

Pray also for the hostages’ “families, now six months not knowing if their sons or daughters are alive or dead. Pray for the families of the aid workers [who] gave their lives to serve the people [who] are in misery right now.”

Header image depicts 2023 damages inflicted during the war in Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons)