[Today's Prayer] Israeli forces rescue 4 hostages in Gaza...245 days in war

The Israeli military said on Monday (Aug. 8) that it has rescued four of the hostages taken by Hamas in October last year.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it safely rescued three male and one female hostages from Hamas hideouts in Nuseirat, central Gaza, in the early hours of the day.

The rescued hostages are Noah Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Zan, 21, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shalomi Ziv, 40, the IDF said.

The four were all taken hostage on Oct. 7 last year while attending a music festival at the Reim kibbutz (collective farm) in southern Israel, and were freed after 245 days.

(Omitted)

Hamas infiltrated more than 3,000 militants into southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, slaughtering more than 1,200 people and taking more than 250 soldiers and civilians hostage in Gaza. More than 100 of them were released during a seven-day ceasefire in November last year.

But more than 130 others remained unreleased as ceasefire talks stalled. Some of them were found dead in the fighting, and at least 40 others are believed to have been killed, the IDF said.

The rescue of the four is a major accomplishment for the Israeli military, which has maintained intense military pressure with the goal of freeing all hostages.

(Omitted)

"I am very happy that the hostages are back," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant told social media outlet X. "The army, security services, and special forces carried out a complex and heroic operation. The operation will continue until the remaining hostages are returned."

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Fear not, O Jacob, thou that art like a worm, O ye Israelites; for I will help thee, saith the LORD; thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:14)

Amen! Praise be to your name, Holy One of Israel, who has never abandoned your people and who is faithfully performing the work of salvation.

In the midst of the Israeli army's relentless hostage rescue operations, we hear that four people have finally been freed after 245 days of being held hostage.

Comfort them from the great shock and trauma of war, and make them children of the joy of spiritual salvation.

There are still many hostages left.

Forgive the sins of those who do not know the truth, who turn against one another and cannot stop iniquity, and make them a people who seek the name of Yeshua, the true freedom.

We trust that your thoughts toward them are hope and peace.

Break the decades-long conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, and unite them in the name of Yeshua.

May the power of death over the Palestinian people of Israel be broken by the blood of Yeshua!

In the last days, arise as a holy army, carrying the cross with the Lamb wherever He leads!