This IDF soldier was carrying a book of psalms in his pocket. That little book saved his life when he was shot - the bullet stayed lodged in the book. - Fair Use - In my personal Bible reading, I am now going through the Psalms. I feel that very many of them could relate to this war. First Israeli Hostages Return; 10 Thai, 1 Filipino Freed; 39 Palestinian Convicts Released: Thirteen Israeli women and children taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 are crossing back into Israel after a transition through Egypt via the Red Cross on Friday evening local time. 12 Thai hostages and one Filipino hostage have also been freed. In return, Israel has released 39 Palestinian terror convicts, all women or teenagers. It has also allowed additional fuel trucks and other supplies into Gaza, after a four-day pause in fighting took effect earlier on Friday, under the terms of the agreement. Over 200 hostages remain in custody in Gaza. At least 50 Israeli hostages are set to be released over the four-day pause, and a total of 150 Palestinian convicts. Hamas will be allowed to extend the pause in fighting as long as it hands over an additional 10 hostages per day, up to ten days total. Israel would then release an additional 150 Palestinian prisoners. There are a number of potential complications in the deal. Israel reportedly agreed to stop surveillance of Gaza during the four-day pause, which will allow Hamas to move hostages without their locations being traced — and would also allow Hamas to rearm in anticipation of more fighting. Meanwhile, some Palestinian civilians who moved south during the fighting are attempting to return to the northern Gaza Strip, which is still a war zone. Hezbollah, in Lebanon, has also stopped firing at Israel, though it is not a party to the agreement with Hamas on the hostages. The first stop for the hostages will be a military base in Israel, where they will receive medical examinations and attention. The families of the hostages are waiting there, as are stuffed animals and toys for the children who are going to be released. Soldiers escorting the hostages have been instructed not to answer questions directly about the children’s parents, because many of them were killed by Hamas. Few of the hostages are presumed to know the full extent of what happened in the last several weeks. Israel has vowed to continue the fighting to destroy Hamas, which many Israelis believe can no longer be allowed to exist after the October 7 terror attack. Global pressure, however, is building on Israel to extend the pause into a permanent ceasefire. Update: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement officially welcoming the return of the hostages, noting that it remains one of the main goals of the war, and said that the Israeli government would continue to pursue all the hostages’ release. I made a mistake, here is the link Thank you for this Heidi... :rose: 
