“The Nation of Israel Lives”
Statement following the return of the remaining Israeli hostages
For 738 days we have mourned, prayed, hoped, and lifted our voices for the Israeli hostages who were taken into captivity in Gaza on October 7th, 2023. Today was the day we have longed for; the day that seemed to fade into uncertainty from one month to the next. There is a reason why the Israeli national anthem is titled ‘Hatikvah’. It translates ‘The Hope’ in English and the lyrics are as follows (translated):
“As long as in the heart within,
The Jewish soul yearns,
And toward the eastern edges, onward,
An eye gazes toward Zion.
Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope that is two-thousand years old,
To be a free nation in our land,
The Land of Zion, Jerusalem.”
Our hearts have been filled with joy today at seeing 20 Israeli hostages finally reunited with their families. We pray for their healing, both physically and mentally following their traumatic experiences. At the same time we grieve with the families who are awaiting the return of the bodies of their loved ones. We pray for the Lord’s comfort at this time.
As President Trump said in his speech at Israel’s Knesset, today is a day of “profound joy, of soaring hope, of renewed faith—and above all, a day to give our deepest thanks to the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
CUFI’s Founder and Chairman, Pastor John Hagee has released a statement, saying, “After more than two years of enduring a manmade living hell, we welcome the release of the final group of hostages who were taken during the October 7th Massacre. We are profoundly grateful to President Trump for his leadership in bringing these 20 individuals home. Yet also, we have not forgotten the others brutally killed by Palestinian terrorists.”
“We grieve deeply for the lives lost; their murders are a permanent wound on the conscience of the world and a stark reminder of the cruelty the Children of Israel have endured. We honour their blessed memories and stand with their families in mourning,” he said.
The world changed on October 7th 2023, but what has not changed is our unwavering commitment to combat antisemitism in all its forms, to expose and denounce the hateful ideologies that fuel terror, and to advocate for policies that uphold justice and defend the UK-Israel relationship.
To the people of Israel on this historic day: Christians stand with you today and always.
‘Am Yisrael Chai’ – the nation of Israel lives.
