As a message of peace and goodwill, Hadas (left), helped organize and collect truckloads of relief to send from Israel to Gaza residents. “[They wanted] to reach out to their neighbors [and] say ‘we also want peace,’ ” said Charmaine Hedding, representative for OB Israel (right).

JERICHO, Israel - In this small West Bank city, Hadas burst into tears of joy when she heard the news. Operation Blessing was contributing to her cause, in a big way.

The young Israeli college student’s dream of collecting aid for war-weary residents was becoming a reality – only it wasn’t for her fellow Israelis. It was for those living behind enemy lines.

As a result of the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas, many families in Gaza caught in the crossfire have been left to fend for themselves in a post-war zone. They live without the basics: electricity, food and heat.

As a message of peace and humanitarian goodwill, Hadas and her friend, Lee, decided to do something about it. They organized collections of goods, hoping to send a truck filled with aid to Gaza residents. They asked for blankets, clothing, food, diapers, toiletries and tents.

OBI sponsored the cost to transport 9 trucks, each carrying up to 500 boxes of aid.

The Israeli media heard about their idea and broadcast it throughout the country. The response exceeded their expectations. Many Israelis, some whose towns have also been severely damaged in the war, have responded generously. They donated thousands of items – enough to fill 9 trucks so far.

“Their message was clear: ‘We are sending this aid – Israeli aid from Israelis – to show the people of Gaza that we are humans just like them,’ ” said Charmaine Hedding, representative for Operation Blessing Israel.

Operation Blessing contributed to the project, paying for the trucks to bring 250 to 500 boxes of aid each, to Gaza.

This isn’t the first time OBI-sponsored transportation aided the war-torn area. Weeks earlier, OBI partnered with International Christian Embassy to help evacuate youth and the elderly from the heavily bombarded town of Sderot, Israel, and provide temporary accommodations, along with meals and activities.

Since the cease-fire, those who fled are returning home. But, many Israelis can see how dark it is in Gaza, and they wanted to help the civilians left there.

“[They wanted] to reach out to their neighbors across the border,” Hedding said. “Not as a government but as individuals, in this expression of friendship, to say ‘we also want peace.’ ”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
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