The soul of Israel was shaken to its core on October 7th, 2023—a day that will be etched in history forever. In mere hours, a thriving land of faith and tradition was plunged into mourning as Hamas terrorists unleashed a savage assault, slaughtering over 1,200 innocent lives and kidnapping 251 more.
Today, over 600 days later, the pain still echoes through the streets, the fields and the hearts of the Israeli people with 56 beloved souls still held captive in Gaza.
Tom and JoAnn Doyle, founders of Uncharted Ministries—veterans of the land, having spent three decades leading Bible tours through Israel’s sacred soil stepped into this raw, aching reality. In March 2025, they embarked on their third solidarity journey since the October 7th attack to stand with their Israeli brothers and sisters. But this time, they brought a camera—to capture not just the devastation but the unbreakable spirit of a people who refuse to be defeated.
Tom and JoAnn’s journey led them to the home of Mira and Pinhas Hajaj—the grieving parents of Sgt. Aviv Hajaj, a young, bright observation soldier with the Border Defense Corps’ 414th unit. Aviv, only 19 years old, was among those brutally murdered by Hamas at the Nahal Oz surveillance outpost during the horrific assault.
Inviting Tom and JoAnn into their home, the Hajaj family opened their hearts, recounting Aviv’s final moments. They shared the harrowing final text exchange between mother and daughter—messages sent as Aviv and her fellow female soldiers huddled in a bomb shelter with rockets screaming overhead and terrorists closing in. As rockets rained down and gunfire grew louder, Aviv clutched her phone—the last fragile thread connecting her to her mother:
Aviv: Ima (Mom), there are terrorists in Israel.
Mira: Don’t worry, they know what to do. (Thinking it was an IDF simulation of a terrorist invasion to prepare the young female soldiers)
Aviv: Mom, a soldier is screaming.
Mira: What?
Aviv: It’ll be ok, Mommy, with God’s help. Read the Psalms.
Mira: Of course, it’ll be ok, my love.
Mira: What’s happening, sweetheart?
Mira: Love, what’s happening, sweetheart?
Mira: Love??
Mira: Sweetheart, Beautiful, what’s happening????
Each unanswered message would eventually confirm Mira and Pinhas’ greatest fear—their daughter wasn’t coming home.
Since October 7th, Israelis are asking deeper questions about faith, purpose and healing. In the midst of loss, a hunger for hope is growing—and many are finding strength not just in their national identity, but in the promises of God. And as believers in Jesus, we are called to stand with Israel—not just in the good times, but also through devastating hardships as well.
JoAnn Doyle shared in a recent Uncharted Ministries Podcast about their trip to Israel saying, “The most powerful support we can offer is through prayer—praying for the peace of Jerusalem, for the Lord to comfort the brokenhearted, for the safe return of every hostage still in captivity and for an end to this war. When we pray, we join in God’s redemptive plan for His people. And when we pray, we declare that light will always overcome darkness.”
You can watch Tom and JoAnn Doyle further discuss their journey into the heart of Israel below:
