Hostages and a Nation Still Waiting
The heart of Israel remains with the hostages still held in Gaza.
During Yom Kippur — the holiest day on the Jewish calendar — families of the 48 remaining captives gathered at the Western Wall for prayer. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch read their names one by one, and loved ones tucked notes into the ancient stones.
Read more from the Times of Israel.
Meanwhile, world leaders are searching for a path to bring those hostages home.
President Trump’s 20-point peace plan — revealed this week — calls for an immediate cease-fire and requires Hamas to release all hostages within 72 hours.
Netanyahu accepted the framework, but the deal could cost him politically.
Fox News reports that the same plan that might end the war could also end Netanyahu’s coalition.
A Fragile Path Toward Peace
Hamas’s reply, as The New York Sun describes it, is a tentative “yes, but.”
Analysts believe the group wants to appear cooperative without giving up power.
Read Benny Avni’s piece: “‘Yes, but’ Appears To Be the Strategy of Hamas in the Reply It Is Drafting to Trump’s Plan To End the War in Gaza”.
In Europe, one voice stood apart.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned Hamas and declared that no Palestinian state should be recognised until every Israeli hostage is freed.
Her speech before the U.N. earned praise in The New York Sun for its moral clarity — rare in European politics.
And in a moment of humility, Netanyahu apologised to Qatar for an accidental Israeli strike that killed a Qatari serviceman — an extraordinary gesture meant to keep hostage negotiations alive. Sometimes, humility opens doors that force cannot.
Faith, Families, and Human Stories
Beyond the politics are the personal stories that keep faith alive.
An Israeli citizen imprisoned in Jordan was freed this week after three months in captivity — a quiet reminder of Israel’s resolve to bring its people home.
In London, British relatives of October 7 victims shared their enduring grief and determination to keep the memories of loved ones alive.
And perhaps the most moving story comes from Rebbetzin Jacqueline Feldman, who wrote that the courage and faith of hostages inspired her to rediscover her own faith in God. Their strength has become her testimony — and ours.
Why It Matters to Modern Day Esthers
This week’s news tells a story of contrasts: faith amid fear, leadership under pressure, and a people who still believe that peace — real peace — will come.
While headlines change by the hour, God’s promises to Israel do not.
“He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” — Psalm 121:4
As Christian Women For Israel, we continue to pray for the hostages, for Israel’s leaders, and for God’s peace to prevail over every lie.
Pray. Watch. Stand.
For such a time as this.
