Previously, President Trump set a deadline of 6 PM on Sunday for Hamas to accept his and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s peace deal. Now, two days later, Israel, Jews, and believers around the world remember October 7, the day that Hamas first attacked and plunged Israel into another bloody conflict.

Our eyes are on Israel in this Jewish new year as the Trump administration peace plan is in play and the anniversary of the horrendous Hamas attack on Israel is upon us.

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As I reflect upon the horror of Oct. 7, 2023, the day is fading softly into Yom Kippur — known as the Day of Atonement.

Considered to be the holiest day of their calendar, Jewish people around the globe fast and repent for the sins of the prior year.

Israelis also mourn their dead from Oct. 7 and the long captivity of their Israeli hostages, some of whom are also presumed dead.

Hope, however, arose with Hamas’ initial agreement to release all remaining hostages as a part of moving forward with President Trump’s peace plan. This development was announced on Friday, Oct. 3.

Forty-six hostages remain hidden in Gaza’s tunnels or civilian homes, awaiting an end to the armed conflict that has ravaged the region since Israel began a military defense and rescue mission.

A Day of Horror.

Evil burst across the inadequately defended border between Gaza and southern Israel two years ago. Hamas militants ran, drove, and parachuted into the Jewish homeland, murdering, raping, and kidnapping. The terror overtook a music festival, which — disastrously — had extended its celebration another day, providing easy pickings for the terrorists, some of whom disguised themselves in Israeli uniforms. Hamas also breached at least 15 kibbutzim and homes.

Israel was caught woefully unprepared. By the time the rampage was quelled, Hamas and other terrorists had slaughtered 1,195 and kidnapped more than 250.

As is the case with anything connected to Israel, global reaction was mixed. Initially, many nations and people expressed horror and supported the Israeli military move into Gaza, seeking to retrieve hostages and cripple the terrorist organization.

But a sizable and growing population began to inveigh against Israel’s armed response. Strident voices charged Israel — a nation with first-hand experience of genocide — with doing just that against the people in Gaza.

Entrenched Enemies.

Attempts at peace and cease-fires have foundered throughout the drawn-out conflict in Gaza. In Gaza, the Israelis face particular challenges in recovering hostages and hunting terrorists. Hostages have been housed by civilians — some compelled by Hamas and others seemingly willing.

Hamas has used civilians as human shields — hiding in hospitals and other civilian buildings. For Israel, this renders the fight fraught with peril and international disapproval.

Scores of people — including civilians and Israeli military — have died in the past two years.

The dynamics of this conflict shifted dramatically as Israel eliminated Hamas leadership, chopped the head off of a terror attack being planned by Hezbollah, and crippled Iran’s nuclear and weapons stashes.

Political Cost.

Despite being attacked, Israel remains the boogeyman of this conflict for an increasing number of people. Repeated lies and hatred of the Jewish people seem to be prevailing in the international court of opinion.

The United Nations — many of whose employees shamefully participated in the Oct. 7 attack — just presided over a vote to approve a Palestinian state.

The Antichrist Spirit.

Antisemitism began to rise around the globe. America has seen a dramatic spike in attacks against Jewish people. Most recently, two Jewish worshippers were killed when a jihadist rammed his vehicle into a U.K. synagogue and stabbed one person.

Derek Prince, one of the founders of IFA, considered antisemitism a manifestation of the anti-Christ spirit. This spirit powers the ancient rivalry between satan and Christ and His people.

According to Mr. Prince, modern Israel’s founding acted as a lens to focus the hate. He wrote, “The establishment of the State of Israel has merely provided a more politically correct name—antizionism—in place of antisemitism.”

The Curse of Evil.

As a resident of a city that is home to 1.4 million Jewish people, I am well acquainted with the hatred spewed at them.

It breaks my heart.

For my Jewish friends.

For my Savior’s people.

For the haters themselves.

Such hatred is not unseen by the Lord.  As the psalmist wrote, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”

As intercessors, we must forgive these haters and seek their repentance in prayer.

Israel Open to Attack.

The events of Oct. 7, 2023, illustrate the deadly consequences to Israel of a two-state solution.

Having ceded the lovely coastline of Gaza to Palestinian control, delivered the biblically significant territory of Samaria (West Bank), and given the strategically critical Golan Heights over to its sworn enemies, Israel has not seen peace — only further attack.

And the Palestinian people in the ceded lands, captive to their terrorist overlords, are pawns and sometimes willing participants in the battle against Israel. Sadly, the governance in the Palestinian Territories has neglected quality of life improvements, which I discovered first-hand as I compared visits to Bethlehem from before the handover to after.

Instead, the Palestinian Authority allowed Hamas terrorists to drive investment, choosing to focus on building tunnels and armaments to attack Israel just as it did on Oct. 7, 2023.

As long as this situation holds, Israel is at risk of further invasion and pillage.

Where is the Peace?

Many are hopeful for some measure of peace since it appears Hamas is willing to accept aspects of President Trump’s peace plan.

The proof lies ahead as we await Hamas’ compliance in returning the hostages, who remain its only advantage in this conflict. Their return renders Hamas without leverage, a calculus the terrorist group surely has in its thinking.

Improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinians does not serve Hamas’ goals, either. For the terrorist groups and many Arab nations, many of which could absorb the Palestinian population, it is quite convenient to point to Israel as an oppressive occupier.

Drafting upon that, the United Nations and other Western sympathizers pile on Israel for its so-called oppression, while ignoring antisemitism and the horrendous Oct. 7 attack.

Blood begets blood.

Conflict between the Arabs and the Jews stems from the sibling rivalry between Ishmael and Isaac.

These enemies have spilled blood over the centuries in the Middle East and, indeed, around the world. It seems almost impossible to believe in lasting peace.

But we must not yield to a sense of fate or futility. For the blood that renders life was also spilt in Jerusalem more than two thousand years ago.

As intercessors, our role is to pray for the Blood of Jesus to pour over the people of the region, bringing peace, salvation, life abundant, and blessing for all parties in the region.

We know the battle is of ancient days, but we also know the war will indeed wind up in a mighty victory one day.

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.

We prayed about the conflict in Israel, October 7, and President Trump’s peace deal on last week’s First Friday webcast. You can view that webcast below:

How are you praying on this anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023?

New York City–based Joyce Swingle is an intercessor and a contributing writer for IFA. With her husband, Rich, who is also a contributing writer for IFA, Joyce shares the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world through theater, speaking, writing, and film. Prior to going into full-time ministry, Joyce worked for close to 20 major magazines and now works in pastoral ministry and Christian counseling. www.RichDrama.com. Photo Credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images.