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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Living Israeli hostages released after peace deal signed

By Baptist Message staff DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (LBM) -- The remaining 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were released following a ceremony, Oct. 13, that ended a two-year war between Israel and Hamas. As part of the deal, Israel released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. U.S. President Donald Trump, who attended the ceremony, called the peace deal an answer to prayers of millions of people. “Together we’ve achieved what everybody said was impossible,” Trump said. “At long last, we have peace in the Middle East. It is a very simple expression, peace in the Middle East. “And we’ve heard it for many years, but nobody thought it could ever get there,” he continued. “And now we’re there.” The deal ends two years of intense fighting that was ignited after Hamas attacked Israel, Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people and capturing another 251 mostly Israeli citizens. There are 28 hostage bodies that are to be released as well, but only four were returned on Oct. 13, according to multiple news outlets.   … [Read more...]

Speaker Johnson calls Israeli / Hamas peace deal ‘a truly historic achievement’

WASHINGTON (LBM) – After President Donald J. Trump announced, Oct. 8, that phase one of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas had been made, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Baptist, called the achievement “historic” and said it was “one that only President Trump could have delivered.” The deal would end two years of intense fighting that was ignited after Hamas attacked Israel, Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people and capturing another 251 mostly Israeli citizens. The remaining 20 hostages who are living are to be released to Israel on Monday and the final 28 bodies that have been withheld from families will be returned, too. Importantly, peace portends to follow between Israel and the Arab world. “Through strength and conviction, he’s accomplished what others have only talked about: bringing hostages home, security for Israel, and laying the groundwork for lasting peace in the Middle East,” Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, Louisiana, added. “Once again, President Trump proves that peace comes through American strength.” … [Read more...]