Reflections on October 7th: A Day of Significance for Israel, Jerusalem, and Christian Pilgrims

Visiting Israel as a Christian is a life-changing experience. It’s a land filled with history, where ancient traditions join modern life, and beautiful landscapes create a sense of wonder. Reading about Israel in the Bible is powerful, but walking its streets brings those stories to life. That’s why, every year, Christians from around the world come to Jerusalem to witness the path Jesus is believed to have taken to His crucifixion over 2,000 years ago.

But on October 7th, 2023, the war in Israel brought quite some sadness to the city, making its history even more complicated. This tragic event has not only affected the people of Israel but has also changed how the world views Israel.

This war is now part of their story, affecting Jerusalem and equally the Holy Land (remember, these places hold deep spiritual meaning). In this article, we’ll walk through the events that took place on that day, how things have unfolded since then, and the current situation.

Israel was deeply affected by an attack on October 7, 2023, which became the deadliest day in the country’s history since Israel’s founding. On October 7, Hamas and other Palestinian factions launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing more than 5,000 rockets at Israeli cities and infiltrating settlements in the Gaza Envelope.

The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and thousands of injuries, with 251 people taken hostage, 73 of whom remain captive as of February 2025. According to Israeli figures, that day was the worst single-day loss of life for Jews since the Nazi Holocaust.

In quick retaliation, aimed at eliminating Hamas, the Israeli military launched operations in the Gaza Strip the following day, which quickly escalated into a brutal and ongoing conflict. They declared a state of war and initiated a large-scale military campaign against Gaza, involving intense airstrikes and heavy bombardment that led to over 48,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 111,000 injuries.

Around 11,000 people are still missing, either trapped under rubble or in areas that are difficult for rescue teams to access. Gaza has been devastated, with 92% of homes destroyed and 95% of schools wiped out, leaving 1.93 million people displaced, over 85% of Gaza’s population. Over 80% of hospitals and health facilities in Gaza have either been destroyed or are no longer functional due to continuous airstrikes and shortages of medical equipment.

Hamas has rockets capable of reaching up to 150 miles. However, Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system was able to intercept most of them, and this protected key areas, like Jerusalem, from getting major damage. In spite of this, the conflict still remains unpredictable, and the threat of rocket attacks, even on religious and historical sites, continues to be a serious concern.

The ongoing conflict has also severely damaged religious and historical sites, including mosques, churches, and heritage locations in Gaza and the West Bank. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza have become catastrophic, with severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. The destruction of essential infrastructure and utilities has left many civilians in dire circumstances.

Some more humanitarian activities allowed for the release of a fraction of hostages and the delivery of aid. However, Israel maintains that any ceasefire must include the full dismantling of Hamas, while Hamas demands an end to Israeli airstrikes and a complete lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

On the other hand, Gaza’s economy, already crippled by years of blockade, has effectively collapsed, while Israel’s economy has equally taken a major hit, with billions of dollars spent on military operations and damage to infrastructure from Hamas rocket attacks.

Internationally, the conflict has sparked reactions from various countries and organizations, with some supporting Palestinian demands and others backing Israel’s right to self-defense, reflecting the complexity of the political situation in the region.

As of February 2025, the situation remains volatile and uncertain, with the humanitarian crisis deepening, and a resolution still distant, further entrenching the divide between Palestinians and Israelis.

For hundreds of years, people around the world have traveled to the Holy Land seeking God’s favor as they walk in the holy places where Christ and other biblical figures stood. Visiting sacred sites like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Garden of Gethsemane has been an act of devotion, allowing one to reflect on their faith and experience the deep spiritual history in the Holy Land.

However, the ongoing war, including the violence specifically, has taken a toll not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. But as the conflict continues, Jerusalem’s role as a symbol of hope and faith persists. The Holy Land has witnessed centuries of conflict, but through it all, it has remained a place of deep spiritual importance.