Life in Gaza today is bleak, but even in this seemingly hopeless situation, the Lord is drawing people to himself. ICR partners say they have never seen such openness to the Gospel.
The team heard a testimony earlier of a Muslim man who came to Christ after meeting a group of Christians in a displaced people camp in Gaza. They had a secret church.
“It wasn’t just a casual encounter; our discussions about faith, God, and existence were filled with deep contemplation and reflection,” the man said. “I found them honest and transparent when they spoke about their personal relationship with God, which prompted me to delve into a study of Christianity.”
He decided to read the Bible. “I found in the teachings of Christ a message of love, peace, and tolerance. His teachings on unconditional love and forgiveness had a profound impact on me. I felt I had found the answers I was searching for.”
It was not easy to decide to become a Christian. The man feared how his family and community would respond. However, becoming a part of the church body gave him reassurance. He found safety and a sense of belonging, and singing hymns and praying together strengthened his new faith.
Meanwhile, life is difficult. Things are constantly shifting. Where people camp changes, and where people can get food is different almost every day. Much of the food donated from international groups is not getting to the people.
According to an ICR partner, from May to July 2025, more than 1,200 civilians were killed while trying to access food. Some were shot near distribution sites. Others died along aid convoy routes.
Just this week, a Christian leader shared a heartbreaking story he received from a young man he is discipling. The young man went with his 32-year-old cousin to a food distribution site, but only one of them came back. The cousin was shot in the neck and died on the spot.
Almost everyone – 90% of the population – lacks access to clean drinking water. Most families survive on less than three liters per day, which is less than a gallon. Public sanitation has collapsed. Raw sewage runs through crowded streets. Toilets are broken. In the shelters, many girls cannot access basic hygiene and bathroom facilities.
For the displaced families, most of their day is spent searching for basics. Each morning, displaced families divide their efforts:
One person searches for food. Another looks for water. Someone else goes for firewood. Others try to find bathrooms, supplies, or news of aid. Entire days are spent trying to meet the most basic needs. Most aid that arrives is stolen or intercepted before it can reach the people who need it most.
One young man explained that he receives flour from a friend, but only when that friend returns alive. He gave his friend his only pair of tennis shoes, since the friend was barefoot. In return, every time the friend makes it back from an aid run, he brings two kilos of flour for his friend.
ICR partners focus on purchasing and distributing food, and providing tents and solar-powered water filtration systems. We also provide cash, medicine, blankets, and clothing, when needed.
Pray for the small pockets of believers there. Pray for those who are seeking to meet the urgent needs of their families along with caring for others and seizing opportunities to share the gospel with others.
