My heart’s breaking as we hit 600 days, since October 7, 2023, when 58 people, from children to grandparents, have been held in Hamas’s dungeon tunnels in Gaza. At Supporting Israel (https://www.supportingisrael.co.uk/) and Born Again Christians (https://bornagainchristians.org/), we’re praying for these hostages and their families, who are living a nightmare. Here at bornagainchristians.org, I’m driven to love the hurting and reach the lost with Jesus’ hope. But the media often skips this story, clouding the truth with half-baked narratives. Let’s honour these captives, clear up the confusion, and share the gospel.

On October 7, Hamas, a terrorist group, not every Palestinian, attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping 251 people. Today, 58 are still captive, facing hunger and fear, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The media tends to focus on Gaza’s struggles but downplays these hostages’ suffering. Worse, it often lumps all Palestinians or Arabs with Hamas. That’s not fair. Hamas is a militant outfit, maybe 20,000–30,000 fighters, pushing to destroy Israel. Most Palestinians, farmers, shopkeepers, and some Christians want peace or just a normal life. A December 2024 poll shows only 38% of Gazans support Hamas. Mixing them up hides the real story.

Some folks claim Palestinians are “from Jordan,” and I’ve wondered about that myself. It’s a bit like saying Scots are “from England” because we’re both British and share a border. Scots and English have a common language and history, but we’re distinct, with our own pride and roots. Palestinians and Jordanians are similar: both Arab, speaking Arabic, mostly Muslim, but separate. Palestinians come from the land of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, going back centuries. After 1948, about 700,000 fled as refugees, many to Jordan, where 2–3 million Palestinians live today. Jordan controlled the West Bank until 1967, giving folks citizenship, but that doesn’t mean Palestinians “came from” Jordan. Their heart are in Palestine, like a Scot’s heart is in Scotland, not England. This idea floats around in some pro-Israel circles, and the media doesn’t help by skipping the history. Knowing this helps us see the conflict clearly.

Then there’s Arab Israelis, 2 million, about 21% of Israel’s population. They’re citizens with the same rights as Jews, working as doctors, judges, or teachers, though their towns get less funding sometimes. They’re not Hamas, and they’re different from Palestinians in the West Bank or Gaza, who aren’t citizens and live under different rules. These distinctions matter to cut through the media’s fog.

As Christians, we’re called to “remember those in prison” (Hebrews 13:3). Let’s pray for the hostages’ freedom, for peace in Israel, and for truth to shine. Israel’s moving forward, building 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria, a sign of hope in tough times, per May 2025 reports. You can help, support Rock Harbor Church’s Bless Israel Fundraiser or share this article on your websites. Every little bit adds up, like drops in a bucket.

But here’s the heart of it: Jesus is the hope for every soul, Jew, Arab, everyone. He died for our sins and rose again, and He’s coming soon. If you’re searching, lost, or unsure, pray this: “Lord Jesus, forgive my sins and be my Saviour.”

That’s the gospel we share at bornagainchristians.org, reaching those who need His love. Want to know more? Visit our sites or reach out.

After 600 days, we stand with Israel and the hostages. Let’s pray, give, and tell the world about Jesus.

Join us at Supporting Israel and Born Again Christians to make a difference for eternity.