Israel Crisis Response

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”

Psalm 122:6-7

February 25, 2025 – Many Line the Streets To Honour The Bibas Family Baby Kfir, Ariel, Shiri, And Oded Lifshitz – Slain in Captivity

For over 500 days, we prayed and hoped for the safe return of Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas, Shiri Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. Tragically, they perished while being held hostage. Two innocent children and their mother, who should have been together in their home, and a devoted grandfather, who deserved to be surrounded by his family, are no longer with us. This week, their bodies were returned to Israel, where they were honoured with a solemn procession. Hundreds gathered to mourn the profound loss of these innocent lives.

February 18, 2025 – More Hostages Released

Many hostages, including Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, Sagui, Sasha, Yair, Saggy Dekel-Chen, Lair Horn, and Sasha Troufanov, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed returned home safely over the past few weeks. Starving and fatigued, some return home to their loved ones, while another found out that his wife and children were murdered on Oct 7. Pray for the healing of all the hostages as they recover from the atrocities they faced while in detainment.

February 1, 2025 – Hostage Releases Continue

Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas have been released! Praise God these innocent people will return home, one of them being the father of the youngest of the hostages – Ariel and baby Kfir – left in Gaza. Please pray for these two sweet boys and their mother who still haven’t been released.

January 30, 2025 – Yehoud, Mozes and 5 Thai Hostages released

Yehoud, Mozes, and five Thai hostages were released early Thursday afternoon amid chaos. Returning from captivity outside the home of a slain Hamas leader, they were surrounded by hundreds of gunmen and large crowds. The intimidation they faced and the conditions of their detainment have left lasting impacts. Please pray for them as they begin the long road to healing.

January 27, 2025 – More Hostages Released

Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19, were freed by Hamas yesterday morning after they were taken on October 7, 2023 — 477 days ago. Several of the women reported being held in underground tunnels in Gaza, describing harrowing conditions. We commend the resilience and tenacity of these women as they return home to their loved ones.

January 21, 2025 – First Set Of Hostages Released After 450 Days

After over 450 days in captivity, Doron, Emily and Romi were returned to their families. More hostages are scheduled to be released next Saturday. Their return marks a pivotal moment of relief and hope, as loved ones embrace and long-awaited healing begins. We thank God for their release, and we continue to pray for those yet to be released.

January 15, 2025 – Hostage Release Deal Reached

Your endless prayers are helping Israel and her people. After more than a year of war, terror, and pain, a ceasefire agreement has been met between Israel and Hamas. Read more here.

While there will be more news as this agreement unfolds, the horrors that have taken hold in the Holy Land still linger for so many.

The people of Israel have endured unimaginable heartbreak and unprecedented attacks, and The Fellowship continues to support them with food, emergency care, and essentials—and we’re committed to continuing that support.

The Fellowship has supported all the families of hostages by providing purchase cards, enabling them to buy food and other essential supplies. This support was crucial, as many of these families, while grieving, were also evacuated from their homes in southern Israel.

Your gift today can help us provide lifesaving help to the Jewish people who depend on us for critical humanitarian aid.

During this historic time, please continue to keep Israel and her people in your prayers.

October 7, 2023

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel killing 1,163 individuals and taking another 255 hostage. The need to help the people of Israel has never been greater. Fellowship volunteers are on the ground in Israel helping with immediate and ongoing needs.

One Year Later

As we pass the one year anniversary of the attack on Israel, we take time to reflect on all that has occurred. facing conflict on multiple borders; and still face continual attacks daily since the day. Jews across the world are experiencing an unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism, with 82% of Jewish Canadians reporting feeling less safe in Canada after October 7 according to the Jerusalem Post.

Since the start of the Hamas invasion, over 1,650 Israelis have been killed and over 100 Israeli civilians (including children and elderly) taken hostage* are still unaccounted for. Entire communities are in ruins. October 7, 2023, is now tragically marked as the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust.

Keep up to date by follow our Latest News

Faces of Hope

Despite the horrors of the October 7th attack, Jewish men and women of all ages have maintained their faith in God and each other. Here are their stories of hope and resilience.

See more Faces of Hope story on YouTube

IFCJ Canada’s Impact

IFCJ Canada continues to assess needs daily as we receive an overwhelming number of requests for aid. Alongside the regular aid we deliver to Jewish people in need, we are providing support to populations hardest hit by this crisis, including:

• Evacuees from war-torn areas who were forced to leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs
• Elderly beneficiaries, families, and new olim (immigrants) who need necessities like food, water, medicine, clothing, and psychological counseling to cope with trauma

Since October 7, 2023, IFCJ Canada has disbursed more than $5.9 million in aid to the communities we serve across Israel, focusing on supporting vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals (many of whom are Holocaust survivors), families, and children, with their basic needs.

In total, through The Fellowship’s global efforts, $114 million in emergency aid has been disbursed to support those impacted, including evacuees, the wounded, and first responders.

Aid

• More than 2,500 emergency vouchers were provided to elderly individuals and families for the purchase of basic necessities like food, clothing, and hygiene products. These vouchers were distributed to people evacuated from their communities following the attacks on October 7.
• Supplied basic necessities like food, clothing, and hygiene items to over 64,000 people.
• Distributed more than 796,000 meals and food boxes to elderly individuals and families.
• Continues to provide over 550 daily hot meals through soup kitchens in northern Israel, despite ongoing rocket fire.
• Prepared 5,000 emergency food kits for families remaining in northern Israel in case of an escalation to full-scale war along the northern border.

*Numbers are reported from October 7, 2024 and are subject to change.

Read more about the impact donors are having on Our Blog

We urgently need your help in this time of crisis.

Support those that have survived as they endure the effects of a second attack from Iran. The people in Israel need you now more than ever.

Your gift today can help us provide the much-needed resources to Jews who depend on us for critical humanitarian aid.

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