We are two friends from the Gaza Strip. We live and were born in Gaza; we were both born to Muslim families.
On October 7, 2023, the terrorist attack on the citizens of the Israeli people happened and after that the war on Gaza began. When the terrorist attack on Israel started, we were very happy. We were happy with the killing of the Jews, and when we saw on TV the scenes of killing and ugliness in Israel, we desired to be among the participants in this attack because of our hatred for Israel.
After the attack launched by Israel on Gaza and the bombing, destruction, and displacement, people began to leave their homes and migrate to the south. My friend and I used to go to the houses that were evacuated to rob them and steal everything, despite the risk of what might happen to us. We did not care or fear the bombings. Our concern was only looting and what profit we could make.
When the war intensified and famine broke out in Gaza, there was no food, not even flour, and people were eating animal feed. We decided to risk our lives and go to areas where the Israeli army had penetrated in order to rob the houses that kept food. In fact, we were almost killed several times, but we were lucky.
One day we were returning from looting. We had stolen food and flour from a house and came to the displaced people to sell it. We used to sell the stolen goods at exorbitant prices. On our way, we passed a widow whose children were starving, and she did not have money to buy our flour. The woman begged us to give her children some food. My friend and I decided to give her some flour.
The woman raised her hands to the sky and began to pray for us that God would protect us and compensate us. My friend mocked her and said, “You should have prayed to God to feed your children instead of praying for us, will God hear your prayers?”
Then we left to go on our way, but before we did, she said a word that would end up changing our lives forever. She said, “God knows and sees.”
That night, we tried to sleep, but due to the intense bombing we were fearful and could not sleep. Because we were so afraid, we began to cry out and say, “Oh God, oh God, do you not see and know? Are you not the one who sees and knows? Do something so that we can see your power and your kingdom. Destroy Israel, defeat Israel. Oh God, destroy Israel.”
After that, we slept, and Jesus Christ, the Savior, appeared to us and said, “Yes, yes, yes, I see, and I know. I will change your worries to great joy. I am the Savior. Follow me, and I will give your rest.”
After that, I began to search for an interpretation of this matter. The next day, we went to steal in another area, and while we were looting one of the empty houses, Christ appeared and called, “Shall I not guide you to something better than this? Go to my church, for you have brothers who speak in my name. Go to them.”
We then began to ask where those who speak in the name of Christ could be found. At the end of the road, we found some brothers who were speaking about Christ, all of them former Muslims who were now followers of Christ.
Today we have become part of the family of Christ, part of His church, and we are helping others in need. We are new disciples.
