Hamas Violated the Ceasefire and Hostilities were Renewed

Hamas violated the agreed-upon ceasefire and on Friday, the hostilities were renewed. There was a week-long pause from fighting that Israel agreed to only for the sake of the promise of the returned hostages. Hamas returned less than half (105) of those they captured. These were innocent civilians in Israel—mostly women and children who were ill-treated while in captivity for 50 days. They were given very little food to eat, no medical care, many were kept in cages, and children’s legs were burned and branded with metal, as a means of identifying them in case they escaped. On the other hand, Israel returned three times more prisoners—not hostages—whom Israel fed well, housed in warm beds, and provided medical care as needed.

Of the 145 hostages still being held by Hamas, 28 are women and 117 are men. Ten of the hostages are age 75 or older, among them husbands of women already released.

On Friday, Hamas violated the ceasefire and renewed hostilities. During the pause, Hamas had the time to restock weapons in order to attack Israel again. Rockets have been launched regularly for the past 12+ hours.

Israel will not tolerate Hamas any longer. They plan to eliminate this enemy while taking care to move the innocent civilians who are being used as human shields by Hamas. Knowing now that Israeli citizens are being abused while in captivity, the urgency to irradicate the enemy and retrieve the captives is even stronger.

Please pray for the protection of the soldiers as they look for the hostages. Pray for the hostages that they have divine stamina and hope while they remain in enemy hands. Pray for those who have been released, that their health is restored, and that they heal from their emotional wounds.

Song For Israel works relentlessly to provide bomb shelters for those living in Israel in areas unprotected. In many areas, they have only 7 seconds to find shelter but there is none! We have just finished collecting funds to provide our TENTH bomb shelter and are now collecting donations for the next one. Will you help save lives in Israel? Please click here for more information about our Bomb Shelter Projects.