Even with the hostages still in Gaza, Israel erupted into joy on Thursday when the news broke out that a peace deal had finally been reached. All the hostages are due to return, right in time for the anniversary of their abduction at Simchat Torah, the last day of Sukkot according to the Hebrew calendar.
They’re coming home
October 7, 2023 was supposed to be the last and greatest day of the feast, but it became the worst day in modern Israeli history. Rejoicing is commanded during this festival, but it hasn’t been easy. The feast of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, is also known as “The Season of our Joy”… Now we have a big reason to celebrate. All 20 living hostages are set to be returned, along with the bodies of the other 28 who were murdered. We don’t know what state the surviving hostages will be in, but we’ve been holding our collective breath for this moment. It is seismic.
Captivity survivor Emily Damari hugs Talia, mother of twins Gali and Ziv Berman, and their tears finally carry hope. pic.twitter.com/yOLgRkswND
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) October 9, 2025
President Trump, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu, exerted pressure on Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt who all have influence on Hamas. Moreover, all three have a lot to lose if they were to fall out of favor with the US. While the hostages have been a valuable bargaining chip for the terror group over the last two years, the three countries exercised their leverage over Hamas, forcing them to release their grip. One might reasonably ask why this wasn’t done long ago, but these two years have been a significant time of sifting in the world: How would the nations respond to Israel in this time of crisis? The gauntlet has been thrown down and decisions have made, revealing the true state of many hearts. Israel and Jewish people the world over have found out who their true friends are.
Still, this conflict has not been a straightforward fight between good and evil, even if we have been watching Satan rail against God fulfilling His word concerning Israel. It’s not clean cut or simple, and with so much deception and confusion flying in every direction, we would be wise to remember that true peace is ultimately found in God Himself. There will be no perfect peace on this planet until He comes to rule and reign, and Israel will also have to make some painful concessions, releasing multiple murderers who have committed heinous crimes. It should be obvious by now that the Satanic drive to kill Jews has not been stopped, even if this round of fighting has.
A sign and a promise
Rather remarkably, a huge rainbow accompanied Thursday morning’s great news. Back in October 2023 there were multiple rainbows spotted all over Israel, all pointing to God’s enduring covenant with His people. The Hamas operation, “Al Aqsa Flood” may have planned to overwhelm Israel but the post-flood rainbow of God’s covenant with Noah circled the sky, testifying to the truth that God has not forsaken His people.
Now, instead of an Al Aqsa Flood, let’s have peace like a river. The Abraham Accords look set to be extended to Saudi Arabia and beyond, and we are praying that doors will swing open for the gospel to travel to unreached countries in the coming years. The peace deal also signals hope for the people of Gaza, and the very real possibility of reaching them with the gospel in a way that hasn’t been possible before.
The harrowing war has also led many traumatized Israelis to turn to God, and who knows whether Muslim background believers from the surrounding countries might come with Yeshua’s message of peace and love in the coming months and years. It’s hard to imagine what might be on the horizon.
True peace comes from the Prince of Peace
We know that the Bible speaks of far worse to come for Israel in the end times, of broken covenants and peace deals that turn into treachery. We know that the longing to wipe Israel off the map has not subsided one bit. Yet we are also encouraged in the Psalms to “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
The book of Jeremiah was written at another time in Israel’s history when enemies were all around, and the future was not looking good. The phrase, “peace, peace when there is no peace” crops up more than once, and could just as easily apply to the Middle East today. However in among the many passages about false peace comes the famous verse,
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
It is God who gives real peace. He has promised a future and a hope. However, the peace He offers is not like the world gives:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Join us in praying for a new season of peace and the extension of the Abraham Accords, which could represent an open door for the gospel in a new and historic way. Please also pray for all the hostages who are coming home: for their safe transfer back to Israel, and for their recovery from the terrible ordeal they have suffered. God has answered our prayers for their release, and we are thrilled. He is the opener of doors and the liberator of the captives. He is the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 61:1-3
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
