[Today's Prayer] "Hamas Moves Hostages Above Ground to Stop Gaza City Offensive"

Israeli public broadcaster Khan reported on the 15th (local time) that the Palestinian militant group Hamas has moved hostages above ground to stop the Israeli military's offensive against Gaza City.

According to Palestinian sources, some hostages held by Hamas have been moved from tunnels to houses in Gaza City, while others have been moved to tents.

The outlet reported that Hamas is preparing an operation dubbed "legitimacy ambush" in preparation for a full-scale Israeli ground offensive. The intention is to induce civilian deaths or injuries during the fighting, thereby increasing international pressure on Israel to halt its attacks.

To achieve this, Hamas is preventing the evacuation of Gaza City residents to the south, allowing as many residents as possible to remain in the city. The outlet added that it is resorting to violence, including threats of execution, against those attempting to leave.

Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during its surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, 47 remain in the Gaza Strip. Twenty of them are believed to be alive.

Israel issued an evacuation order on October 9, ordering all residents of Gaza City to move to the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip.

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Source: Yonhap News

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-3)

Father God, we hear the heartbreaking news that the Palestinian militant group Hamas is preventing Gaza City residents from evacuating southward, threatening execution and committing violence to prevent Israeli hostages from being taken above ground. They are inducing civilian casualties during the fighting to halt the Israeli military’s offensive on Gaza City.

As the war between Israel and Hamas approaches its second anniversary, please give comfort and hope to the Israeli hostages and their families who have yet to return to their families, and grant them a swift release.

May the Hamas forces, who do not hesitate to use human lives for profit, quickly fall under Your hand.

Have mercy on the people of Gaza, who suffer between Israel, which is forcing Gaza residents to flee for its offensive against Gaza City, and Hamas, which threatens those attempting to emigrate.

May the Israeli and Palestinian churches hear the cries of the Gaza people, awaken to the Gospel, and unite together to serve and move forward.

So, may the souls of Israel and Palestine, who are suffering and lamenting the loss of their homes, know that they have an eternal home in Jesus Christ, the eternal kingdom of God. When Jesus returns as King of all nations, may they be clothed with a dwelling from heaven, and may they become citizens possessing the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

Furthermore, may they become the holy people of Israel and Palestine, who carry out the mission of the last disciples to testify to all nations about this eternal gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven!