It’s a day of rejoicing. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his 20-point peace plan for Gaza that would see the remaining hostages freed and the terror group disarmed. The Times of Israel reports that hostage releases can come as soon as Monday, which Trump also affirms.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called the deal a diplomatic success and a moral victory for the state of Israel, and the hostages’ loved ones celebrated the news:
Relatives of the hostages expressed overwhelming joy and relief in initial responses to Trump’s announcement.
Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv are held hostage in Gaza, posted a brief item expressing delight that they are to be released in the very near future. “My Gali and Zivi, I love you so much. You’re coming back home,” he wrote.
Their aunt, Maccabit Meir, told Channel 12 that “there is no happiness like this.”
This development is truly momentous – for the hostages’ families, for the IDF soldiers who have fought so heroically to eliminate the threat of Hamas … for all of Israel and the free world. Coming as it does just after The Fellowship’s Flags of Fellowship event last weekend, it truly shows the power of Christians and Jews uniting to turn to God in prayer.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.” (Psalm 122: 6-8).
