Following the exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) has launched a large-scale emergency relief operation, delivering $2.5 million in aid to displaced and injured Israelis.
The attacks, a part of the Israeli military campaign dubbed Operation Rising Lion, forced the evacuation of around 5,000 Israelis and damaged a whole bunch of homes and residential buildings. A ceasefire has been declared as of Tuesday.
In response, IFCJ has distributed over 1,000 debit cards prepaid with $225 to families in a few of the worst-hit cities including Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Rehovot, Rishon LeZion, Ramat Gan, and Tamra.
IFCJ CEO Yael Eckstein said the necessity was urgent and overwhelming: “In a matter of seconds, lives were turned the wrong way up.
“Homes destroyed. Children frightened. Elderly men and girls suddenly without food, medicine, or perhaps a bed to sleep in.
“In those moments, there isn’t any time to attend. Only to act. That’s what the Fellowship is here to do—to bring comfort. To bring help. To bring light.”
Alongside financial assistance, IFCJ is accelerating the installation of protective infrastructure, with plans to deploy 10 latest bomb shelters this week and an extra 100 within the weeks ahead – 50 of that are heavily reinforced against high-impact blasts.
Additionally, the organisation is extending aid to latest immigrants who arrived in Israel just before the missile strikes began.
Many of those latest arrivals, referred to as olim, had only just landed within the country and at the moment are navigating a crisis they never expected to face so soon.
The organisation is providing them with shelter, food, and guidance.
“We can’t stop the missiles, but we are able to meet fear with faith and meet loss with love. And that’s what we’re doing – every hour, day by day,” Ms Eckstein said.
Even as rockets have been falling, IFCJ teams are going door-to-door delivering hot meals, hygiene supplies, and emotional support.
Ms Eckstein praised the courage of her staff and volunteers, in addition to the outpouring of support from the organisation’s global Christian donor base: “I’m also overwhelmed with gratitude for our Christian friends whose love and prayers make this work possible.
“Their support is just not just financial—it’s spiritual,” she said.
“It reminds the people of Israel that they are usually not alone—that even within the darkest of nights, there are hands reaching out in love.”
