Recently, Pastor Joel Engel shared a series of videos recorded in Israel, which became a true diary of prayer and intercession for the Holy Land amidst the war.

“My heart is weeping,” he said upon arriving in Brazil.

According to Engel, the Feast of Tabernacles — traditionally marked by joy — was different this year. “Israel has its sukkahs set up, but one important thing is missing: joy. There is a lack of joy for parents who have lost their children. Those who have lost their loved ones in such a violent and cowardly manner have no joy. A lack of joy in the hearts of those who will never again sit at the table or celebrate the feast with their dear ones.”

While traveling through cities and tourist locations, the pastor described the emptiness left by the war: “When I visit Capernaum, I usually see a place packed with people; they line up for boat rides. But today I didn’t find a single person. At the airport that is always so busy, everything is deserted. All these things made me feel this pain.”

On the way to Gaza

In one of the videos, recorded at sunrise, Engel is about to leave Jerusalem for the Gaza Strip. During the journey, the pastor recorded images of devastated towns.

Getting near the border, Engel explained the spiritual reason for the trip: “Because so much blood has been shed, demons of death inhabit that land. Shed blood attracts demons of destruction and death.”

Aware of the risks, he stated he was not afraid. “Yesterday someone asked me, ‘Aren’t you afraid to die?’ If I die doing what I love, it was my choice. Doing God’s work is my choice.”

A prophetic act for freedom

A few meters from the Gaza Strip, Engel performed a prophetic act of intercession: “Here, what you see is Gaza. About 100 meters separate us from Gaza. It is written in the Word of God, in Leviticus 25, that God’s command is to sound the shofar and proclaim freedom to all the inhabitants of the land.”

While holding a shofar, he declared: 

“We are here proclaiming deliverance to all the peoples of the earth. We sound the shofar and declare, ‘Be delivered,’ in the name of Jesus — freedom! We can see human barriers that separate people, but in the spiritual world, those barriers are evil. They must fall in the name of Jesus. We proclaim that it is Jubilee in Gaza and Jubilee in Israel. May the Lord bring a truce.”

Surrounded by the sound of the wind, Engel said: “The Holy Spirit is blowing. The wind of God has arrived. Praised be the name of the Lord. The Lord has heard our prayers. He is blessing this land.”

In the following days, he celebrated God’s response: “I felt the glory of God descending. The Lord heard our prayers: there was a peace agreement!”

After two years of conflict, the United States mediated a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. As a result, there was a truce and the release of detainees and hostages — with the return of Israeli hostages and bodies and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Commitment to prayer

Pastor Joel Engel left a clear message: praying for Israel is a spiritual and prophetic calling for this time.

“Let us continue praying, because the work continues. These winds of freedom, winds of peace, of joy, are coming from Israel to us. We had a Brazil–Israel connection. We are united. Let us continue in prayer, because the winds will arrive and our nation will also be blessed.”

“Just as Ruth said, ‘Your God will be my God, and your people will be my people,’ we say the same — your pain is ours. We came from Rio Grande do Sul, the land of Oswaldo Aranha, the national hero who fought for Israel and its independence. We brought from Rio Grande do Sul this affection, this love for Israel. Brazil loves Israel!”

Watch the full recording: