Nearly a year has passed since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, yet residents in the south continue to hear drones overhead. The situation draws attention as the world watches the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Camille Melki from Heart for Lebanon says, “What has stopped are the major military campaigns, but Israel keeps watching and observing the traffic, the behavior, the movement of Hezbollah.”

When Israel detects activity, it strikes, destroying Hezbollah posts. Civilians are often caught in the crossfire. Some villages remain in ruins while the rest of the country rebuilds.

“Every day, the drones — Israeli drones — fly over Lebanon,” Melki says. “On a daily basis, there have been strikes against Hezbollah military posts or against Israel.”

Bint Jbeil Road, Lebanon (Photo courtesy of Ahmad Bader via Unsplash)

Yet in areas untouched by conflict, peace is slowly returning. Most Lebanese are back to their daily lives. Schools are open, and businesses are running. Except in the villages along the Israeli-Lebanese border, life is back to normal.

“People are hoping and really looking forward to the day when Hezbollah will be completely disarmed,” he adds.

Heart for Lebanon is building its new center just south of Sidon — a biblical, coastal city largely spared from recent fighting. It’s an area that was predominantly used to welcome and host internally displaced families and people in great need.

The new center reflects a long-term commitment. Melki explains, “This is our opportunity to demonstrate the Gospel at its best in front of the people who need the most.”

Food aid distribution
(Photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon)

As construction begins on the Hope Ministry Center, the message to the people of southern Lebanon is clear — Heart for Lebanon isn’t going anywhere. They’re planting roots, choosing to walk alongside communities for the long haul, bringing consistent love, care, and the hope of Christ.

“We are here as a community of faith that wants to both proclaim the Gospel and demonstrate the Gospel to people — addressing fundamental issues of faith and reaching those from very authentic backgrounds,” Melki says.

Pray for Lebanese communities affected by ongoing tensions. Visit Heart for Lebanon to see how Christ’s love continues to transform lives and bring hope to the region.

Header photo: Lebanese crowd (Photo courtesy of Mohamad Mekawi via Pexels).

Why is this so? A man we’ll call Brother Y points to media coverage as one reason. He is an ex-IDF soldier and a Jew who gave his life to Yeshua the Messiah, serving with Global Catalytic Ministries. He says the press has been almost unanimous in the push against Israel in its struggle.  

For example, you will see images of Israeli soldiers with weapons, without understanding what they’re doing. Instead of seeing Hamas fighters or masterminds on the other side, “almost 100% of the time you see the populace, who are suffering,” says Brother Y. 

“So it’s very easy to lose your critical thinking when you see that, and just go for your heart. Praise God, people have a heart, and they go by their God-given emotions. But that can really skew the view of reality and what’s happening.”

At the same time, there have been tens of thousands of casualties in Gaza. The Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry puts the death toll above 67,000. 

“That breaks our heart, especially as people of the faith,” says Brother Y. “And I can tell you that it breaks the hearts of my people Israel who are not yet followers of Messiah. There’s a big heartbreak, lots of discussions, lots of protests. ‘Let’s try to find a better way of doing this.'”

Genocide: who and where? 

In September 2025, a United Nations inquiry announced its conclusion that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Brother Y says this is a debunked myth.

A home in Kibbutz Nir Oz after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. In the October 7, 2023 surprise attack on the Gaza border communities, Hamas either killed, injured or abducted about one quarter of the 400 residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz.
(Wikimedia Commons)

“[In] all of Palestinian Authority-controlled cities, there are zero Jews,” he points out. “Inside Israel, there are close to 2 million Arabs living with full rights, unlike any other country in the Middle East. They have full voting, full protest rights. So there’s no apartheid. There’s no genocide. For two years now, a genocide could have taken place in one week if we wanted, with the weaponries that Israel has.”

He speaks bluntly on these things because he interacts with many people who used to stand with Israel. “[They] used to stand — generally, not with everything,” he clarifies. “Neither [do] I stand with everything my government does. But [many would] generally stand with Israel who have now turned their backs, mainly because of media brainwashing.”

Israel’s enemy is Hamas, not Palestinians. The terrorist group’s original 1988 charter, though revised since then, called for the annihilation of Israel.  A study published online by Cambridge University Press analyzed the October 7, 2023, attack. It concluded that yes, Hamas’s actions meet the criteria for genocide under international law. 

The gospel: for one and all

In all the evil and suffering of this two-year conflict, Brother Y says there is one Messiah to look to. 

“The suffering servant of the Lord, who came into our human suffering, and who says, ‘It’s neither who’s right, you guys are right, or your enemies, or the people on the other side. It’s “we’re all wrong.”‘ We’ve all sinned against the mighty God. God reached down and forgave us, His previous enemies, and made us friends and household of God.”

One Israeli Jew heard Brother Y sharing the gospel and asked, “As amazing as this message sounds, you really think hearts can change? People who’ve suffered so much on both sides can suddenly lay down their weapon[s] and say, ‘Yes, I see this bleeding Messiah. I see the suffering servant of the Lord’?”

Brother Y replied, “I’ve seen this again and again, that even when we don’t have answers, then we look at Yeshua, who suffered, and He calls us himself, He calls us to receive His heart, and supernaturally, He allows us to forgive on both sides.”

This was Brother Y’s own story of change. It’s also the story of Corrie ten Boom, whom Brother Y told his friend about.

Please pray

Whatever stance you have on the Israel-Hamas war, please pray for the people caught in the controversies and crossfire.

“Pray for justice and righteousness. Pray for more freedom of information, because that’s really important. Information and education, even as [it] is, can bring dialogue,” says Brother Y. 

“Pray for the workers who are sowing the seeds of the gospel. Pray for the fire, the power of the gospel, to really breathe upon these people who are going out, because I believe eventually, this is the only hope.”

Header photo: Israeli intelligence officers, 2022. (Stock photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy via Unsplash)

Already, Palestinians are anticipating a new civil administration after the dust settles. The Center for Peace Communications and the We Want to Live movement report that Gazans — including teachers, lawyers, and activists — are leading a grassroots resistance to Hamas influence.

But for now, Pastor Israel Pochtar with Beit Hallel Congregation in Ashdod says there are significant challenges.

“It’s Israel getting into guerrilla war. When we study history, the guerrilla war is the most challenging one. Even big countries struggle with the guerrilla war and the fighters — in our case, terrorists — hiding among civilians. You never know who is the soldier and who is just a peaceful person. It’s very complicated.”

(Photo courtesy of Pastor Konstantin Tsivin/Beit Hallel Congregation)

Beit Hallel Congregation sees the toll this war has taken, particularly on soldiers and their families.

“There is a lot of PTSD for soldiers,” says Pochtar. “When they go out of Gaza, they come to just normal life. The coffee places are open, the restaurants are open. Israel learned how to live peacefully even in the midst of the war, when war is just around the corner. But for soldiers who come out and see that, see kids and family — and then go back to fire, to danger and friends dying and waiting for hostages to be released, it is very difficult.”

In moments like this, Scripture brings encouragement. “So the words of the Bible, when it says, ‘Comfort, comfort, my people says the Lord,’ it really makes sense now even more, because the nation really needs comfort.”

Pochtar urges believers worldwide to pray for both sides of the conflict. “I want to ask all the friends to pray for Gaza — not only for peace, but also for freedom for the Gospel…. And praise the Lord, we have many friends who are waiting for this day and ready to go, ready to bless, help, but also preach the Gospel.”

Ultimately, the conflict is pushing people in Israel and Gaza to search for hope beyond politics.

“Now it’s the time to comfort and to preach Jesus because He’s the only solution for Israel. He’s the only solution for Gaza. It’s the only hope. There are no political solutions. At least, I believe there’s no political solutions during this situation. Only God can change and do miracles.”

Header photo: The fighters of the Multi-Dimensional Unit maneuver on the ground in the Gaza Strip in the Iron Swords War.
(IDF Spokesperson’s Unit/Wikimedia Commons)

“You could never think, by watching the news there, that there could be any peace there or any humanity whatsoever — and [yet] there truly is,” says Doyle.

“As far as Jesus’ church reaching through the political, ethnic boundaries, all of that, so many things are happening that are good.”

Israeli believers on rescue missions

He says one Palestinian family with four kids is trying to escape an incredibly dangerous area in Gaza. 

“Israeli believers are trying to get them out and save their lives. It’s truly, truly amazing,” says Doyle.

(Photo courtesy of Uncharted Ministries)

“One Palestinian believer showed us a note that flew out of a helicopter saying, ‘Move from this area. IDF is going to be trying to find some Hamas terrorists.’ They say it’s snowing in Gaza, it’s snowing. It’s the notes coming [down].”

Messages of peace from Palestinians

Meanwhile, Palestinian believers are sending messages like these: “We don’t want war with Israel. We don’t have anything against them. Please get rid of Hamas. Please keep us safe, though.” 

This heart for peace has been there from the beginning. Back in October 2023, one Palestinian believer was forced by Hamas to watch the parade of hostages into Gaza. Doyle says he sent the message, “I’m crying here. This should not be happening to human beings, and I’m so sorry. Please tell the Israelis we’re sorry about this.”

“Even sending that message on his phone was so incredibly risky if he got caught,” Doyle says. “But that’s what happens. The gospel transcends all those barriers.”

Believers in Gaza share hope of Jesus

Other believers in Gaza from Muslim backgrounds are standing in faith, too.

Christians from Gaza circa 2021
(Wikimedia Commons)

When the Uncharted Ministries team asked them if they had been able to share Jesus amid this horrible war, they said, “With hundreds of people, hundreds.’”

“They’re just sitting, hoping to not get caught in the crossfire, and so they’re with other families,” Doyle says. “The question they’re asked is, ‘Why do you have so much peace? How can you smile in the midst of this?’ And they tell them, ‘It’s because of Jesus, how He changed our lives.’”

Let the peace of Christ rule

Because the gospel of Jesus overcomes all human barriers, please let Him rule your prayers about this war. Consider basing your prayers in Colossians 3:12-15 as a starting place.

“Pray for the Muslims that have become believers there (in Gaza) and meet together in small groups. They’re in incredible danger,” says Doyle. “Pray for the Israelis in the surrounding cities — in kibbutzim (small communities) — and [for] soldiers that are believers. They’re doing their best to keep people safe and help despite all the destruction.” 

Pray also for the remaining hostages and their families, and that peace will come to Gaza instead of Hamas terrorism and war.

Header photo: Israeli pastor and a Palestinian missionary praying over the Gaza Strip from Israel. They love each other as brothers in Christ and they love both people groups. (Photo, caption courtesy of Uncharted Ministries)

“That was quite frustrating, but it’s encouraging to know that things are, at this time, looking like they are going forward. You do get the feeling that it could fall apart, but we are all hopeful that it could really be true.”

Under the agreement, officials anticipate a 60-day period in which the Israeli army will withdraw troops from key positions, handing them over to the Lebanese army. If Hezbollah attempts to reestablish ground near the border, the Lebanese army will be responsible for dealing with the threat. Israel reserves the right to strike if no action is taken. This would be done in coordination with and under approval from the US, Houssney says. 

Nearly 3,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, when Hezbollah first fired rockets into Israel. Israel has been conducting airstrikes in response and launched a ground invasion on October 1st of this year. Since September, Israeli forces have targeted and killed at least seven of Hezbollah’s top leaders, destabilizing the group. 

“We do get the sense that the Hezbollah operatives that are sending missiles are not under central command, Houssney says. 

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The flow of weaponry to Hezbollah has ceased or heavily dwindled under the Israeli offensive, but the group is still able to operate from hidden stashes of missile reserves. 

“There has definitely been a triage when it comes to Israeli strikes on these weapon caches where they’re striking the bigger locations,” Houssney explains. In an effort to eliminate the weapon depots, Israel is moving from bigger targets to smaller ones. 

“God only knows how many micro-reserves of weapons there are, but you do get the sense that they are dwindling,” Houssney says. 

Interacting with Christians on the ground in Lebanon, Houssney hears hesitant hope. He says the idea of a ceasefire brings psychological relief.

Still, the road ahead is long. Believers can pray for people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed in the conflict.  

“Even if tomorrow morning they were to go back to their areas,” Houssney explains, “they would be setting up tents where their homes used to be.” 

He also asks for prayer “that God would continue to work in the hearts of people and use the church that’s present here in the Middle East to make the biggest Gospel impact that we can in the midst of the crisis.”

Header image courtesy of fahed kiwan via Pixabay

The ICC’s move underscores international scrutiny on Israel’s military, which faces the complexities of fighting a terrorist organization that embeds itself among civilians.

Sasson Pochtar, left (Photo courtesy of Sasson Pochtar with Beit Hallel Congregation)

As the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) navigate the challenges of war, the stories of individual soldiers offer a unique perspective.

Sasson Pochtar is a youth pastor at Beit Hallel Congregation and serves in Israel’s military. As a Messianic Jew in the IDF, Pochtar says, “We’re fighting against terror, and we’re fighting spiritual warfare as well.”

Pochtar describes how his faith has opened surprising opportunities for the Gospel even amidst the conflict. He wears an Icthus patch — the Christian symbol of a fish — on his IDF uniform.

“From day one, people were asking many questions. They see that I’m kind of different than others, especially on social media. My social media is so open about my life, and they were like, ‘Are you a pastor? You’re a Jewish guy. How does that work? How can you be a pastor?’

“So, I said, ‘Yeah, well, I’m a Jew [and] I believe in Jesus, that He’s the Messiah, He’s the Christ, and He’s the Savior of the world.’ And from that, it just developed many, many different talks.”

Pochtar asks fellow believers to pray for the Israeli people. Your prayers have an impact and are an encouragement to Israeli believers representing Christ. “I’m always saying to my friends, ‘By the way, I just had a talk with friends in the States or in Europe, and they are praying for you.’ They’re like, ‘Oh, what do you mean?'”

(Photo courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

Please also pray for Gospel opportunities across Israel.

“We just need more prayers for wisdom and for love — love, love and love. This is the biggest thing that I think we need to pray is to love,” says Pochtar. “I came to a point that I had many questions about that, but I really realized that I don’t hate my enemy. I’m actually blessing my enemy.”

Learn more about Beit Hallel Congregation’s ministry in Israel.

Header photo of Israel flag. (Photo courtesy of Stanislav Vdovin/Unsplash)

The strike also sends a message about the escalating conflict that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th last year.

Sasson Pochtar, a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces and the Youth Pastor at Beit Hallel Congregation, says, “At the beginning, they were saying that Iran probably will not respond. But now, after they realized how big of an attack it was, [Iran] is trying to hide everything that happened. But Israel was attacking in really specific places that kind of shows them if it continues that way, we definitely will escalate that.”

Sasson Pochtar, left (Photo courtesy of Sasson Pochtar with Beit Hallel Congregation)

The war with Iran and its terror proxies is Israel’s longest war since the end of the 1949 conflict.

“We’re not used to having such a long war, so for us, it’s a new challenge,” says Pochtar.

“It’s a really hard situation. We feel that we’re getting really tired of being so long in the field. But we understand the cause, and we understand that what we do is necessary because, if not us, who will do it?”

In war and conflict, especially when it’s drawn out, civilians and military members alike ask spiritual questions and search for hope.

Please pray for the people of Israel to know the sustaining promises of Jesus Christ. Ask God to encourage Israeli Christians in their Gospel witness.

Pochtar says, “We really feel the prayers. We know that our brothers and sisters around the world [are] praying for us. We feel that a lot of miracles [are] happening. I had many miracles that I really felt the prayers of people.”

Learn more about Beit Hallel Congregation’s ministry!

Header photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo courtesy of IDF Spokesperson’s Unit/Wikimedia Commons: https://tinyurl.com/2s4hb6aw)

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)

This marks the latest phase in the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land — a war that is taking a toll on both Israeli soldiers and civilians, who are feeling the strain of the economic impact.

(Photo courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

Pastor Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel Congregation in Ashdod says, “The needs are great because the military expenses are very high and it’s affecting the Israeli economy. The prices are growing, the economy is suffering, and we’re going to see consequences more and more because this war is very costly.”

Despite the challenges, the light of Christ is breaking through. Beit Hallel Congregation actively supports Israeli Christians in the military. Pochtar estimates there are at least 1,000 Christian Israeli soldiers, including 35 from his church. He also has two sons in Israel’s military.

“We’ve never had such a big number of Christians who are in the army, who are sharing their faith and becoming a living letter of Jesus, of God for all people,” says Pochtar. “We have lots and lots of powerful testimonies and saved lives!”

As the Church continues to encourage believers in Israel’s military, Pochtar emphasizes, “We want to create a platform for our guys. I mean, we have the way they need help, but also we help them to be a message, to be a voice. Also, we tell them when we come, ‘I want to let you know Christians are praying for you.'”

You can get invested spiritually with Beit Hallel Congregation’s informative prayer resources.

“We do send prayer guides on how to pray for Israel, specifically, once a week,” says Pochtar. “So if people who want to pray, not only generic prayers, but specific prayers, they can sign up for our email…and take it into their prayer lives.

“When people pray, we do feel it. Israel needs prayer, and we believe in the power of prayer.”

Header photo courtesy of Pastor Konstantin Tsivin/Beit Hallel Congregation.

Meanwhile, the mood is heavy as Israeli troops prepare to invade Rafah. Death is an ever-present possibility.

“I heard someone say once, ‘There are no atheists in the trenches of war,’ and I can say that for a fact,” says Zev Sigulim, a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces. He partners with MegaVoice to distribute audio Bibles among IDF troops.

Presenting “non-Jewish” ideas isn’t always a popular task.

“There was some religious Jewish radio station warning soldiers of being targeted for missionary work, which makes you think twice about going into the trenches and giving soldiers audio Bibles,” Sigulim says.

However, now is the prime time to introduce Scripture because “Jewish people are all interested in this subject of the Messiah,” he continues.

“God is right now being talked about in the trenches; you’ve got people who are semi-religious talking with secular Israelis, and then there are those who are genuinely interested in knowing about God and Jesus in the New Testament.”

MegaVoice’s solar-powered audio Bibles typically bring God’s Word to unreached groups of people in the world’s most remote locations. More about that here. Today, MegaVoice is providing God’s Word in audio to those on the frontlines of freedom in Israel.

Admittedly, not all IDF soldiers are initially drawn to the audio Bibles because they want to hear Scripture. “Some of the units have a flashlight and a radio … and having that ability creates somewhat of an interest for a secular person,” Sigulim says.

“A lot of the IDF right now is war, fighting, and shooting. But a majority of it is guard duty and standing watch. You can’t watch TV or be on your smartphone, but you can have a radio. You can put your earphones in one ear, listen to the radio, and hear what’s going on.”

(Photo courtesy of MegaVoice)

Believers have distributed more than 1,500 units so far.

“There are two types of missionary work you can talk about in the Israeli army. There’s missionary work by Israelis, like me, who are friends with non-believing Israeli soldiers saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got an audio Bible here; would you be interested in it?’” Sigulim says.

“Then, there are organizations who come with their people [and] they want to serve … giving soldiers food and tactical gear and medical equipment that is much needed, [as well as] handing them an audio Bible,” he continues.

“The Christian community at large has made a huge impact because even the religious soldiers, they don’t care about the rabbis [who say], you know, ‘No, no, don’t accept help from these nice Christian people!’ When you’re in the trenches, you’ll take what you can get.”

Pray IDF soldiers who want to know the truth will receive a MegaVoice audio Bible.

Additionally, “pray for Israel, pray for the soldiers, and pray for Israeli believers who are fighting for their country,” Sigulim requests.

“Pray for this spiritual war that is going to affect all of us.”

Header image depicts IDF Multi-Dimensional Unit fighters maneuvering on the ground in the Gaza Strip in the Iron Swords War.(Wikimedia Commons)