Press Statement by: David Parsons, ICEJ Vice President & Senior Spokesman

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem mourns the passing of our friend Ofir Libstein, Mayor of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, who fell today defending his community from the treacherous surprise attack by Hamas terrorists infiltrating from Gaza.

Just two days ago, on Thursday morning (5/10/23), Mayor Libstein welcomed over 600 pro-Israel Christians from some 50 nations at a solidarity rally in the regional council’s high school adjacent to Sapir College. Mayor Libstein said the following to our delegation of Feast pilgrims:

“Welcome again to Shaar HaNegev. We are here just three kilometres from the border with Gaza. The people who live here in Sha’ar HaNegev, we are keeping the Land of Israel. We are keeping the border with the Gaza Strip… We have doubled our population in the last 10 years, and everything is with your help. because with your help we feel safety here. With your [bomb] shelters that you help us to buy and to put here in the area, we live better lives. And I promise to do everything to keep the Land of Israel, the keep the land of this area, and to build it stronger and stronger. I am so happy to see you from all over the world that have come to see this beautiful place. Thank you very much.” Ofir Libstein indeed kept his promise to keep the Land of Israel and the Sha’ar HaNegev region, but sadly it came at the cost of his life. His words and his memory will remain with us forever.

The ICEJ roundly condemns this evil and horrendous assault on Israel on a Jewish high holy day by Hamas and its patrons in Iran. We have urged Christians worldwide to pray for Israel’s safety, and we will redouble our efforts to stand with Israel by delivering more bomb shelters to vulnerable communities.

For a video clip of Mayor Libstein addressing the Christian visitors, see: https://youtu.be/ssS0a5GgaSo?feature=shared

For background on the ICEJ’s solidarity rally on Thursday, see: https://www.icej.org/blog/christians-stand-with-israelis-at-negev-solidarity-gathering/

For more information, contact

David Parsons

Vice President & Senior International Spokesman