Day 42 Update on the War

2/11/2025

Jesus sure was right when He said that each day brings its own sorrow (Matthew 6:31-34). Of course, I'm paraphrasing his words, but the underlying meaning is there. 

Each morning I turn on Israel's news to check up on the status of the war with Hamas, especially now during this phase of the cease fire. Before I went to bed last night I read that Hamas was not going to release the hostages on Saturday, claiming Israel had violated the agreement. The first news I saw when I turned on my computer was the face of Shlomo Mansour, 86, who was due for release. The article was  announcing his murder by Hamas. I am still a bit uncertain as to whether he died during the attack and his body taken with others to the tunnels, or  if he may have been murdered in captivity. This hit me rather hard, as Shlomo was the hostage I had chosen to set a place at the dinner table here in my home on Thanksgiving of 2023 in his honor.

 

 

 

I also read reports yesterday and today about three more hostages. The family of Eliya Cohen, 27, who is also on the release list, received proof of life information, saying he was weak and not doing well. He had been shot in the leg on 10/7/23, and the news said that he had never received treatment. The list also includes the name of two men who have been missing in Gaza for over a decade, so I am not certain of their condition, nor has anyone reported deaths, to my knowledge. One of the hostages released last week spent time in captivity with Alon Ohel, 23, and Alon asked Yarden Bibas to get news to contact his family. Alon is in poor condition, and he has injuries to his eyes. News was also received regarding Ziv and Gali Berman, age 27, who were listed in poor condition, living separated from each other. Alon, Ziv, and Gali are not included on this hostage exchange list. The psychological warfare Hamas uses, as well as the treatment during the exchanges, has been unconscionable. 

There is still no news regarding Shiri Bibas and  her children Ariel and Kfir. So the game with Hamas continues, as does the torment on the hostages and their families. Ultimatums have been issued by our President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. Our prayers continue with the hope that this nightmare will soon be over. As long as Hamas is active, they are a threat to the nation of Israel and to America. They call Israel "little satan" and American "big satan." How could our country ever provided support to an organization that is bent on the destruction of a small peace-loving nation and on us. I am grateful that my trust in is my God who never changes, does not lie, and does not play around. Lord, please have mercy on us all. 

So, I will continue to post the faces of the hostages daily. I've been doing that since early in the war, and I have a list of every hostage taken 10/7/2023, many whose bodies were in the slaughter and had been identified. It takes time to identify a heap of burned bodies. The process is tedious and heart-rending.