Stranded in Jerusalem at the start of the war, group of French leaders from 'Porte Ouverte Chrétienne' network experienced the unexpected

Led by Samuel Peterschmitt, senior pastor of La Porte Ouverte (Open Door) Church in Mulhouse, France, a group of 39 pastors and their spouses arrived in Israel on Feb. 25, just before war with Iran erupted.

With their itinerary abruptly canceled, they found themselves confined to Jerusalem for four days, living to the rhythm of security alerts and repeated trips to bomb shelters.

"Before the trip, we prayed that if God allowed this to happen, even with the risk of war, it was because He was leading it and He would help us cope," one participant told ALL ISRAEL NEWS.

The trip had been organized as a time for biblical discovery, Christian fellowship, and prayer.

When the conflict broke out on Saturday, Feb. 28, the atmosphere changed brutally. The first sirens and instructions to reach protected zones felt surreal, especially since they had only arrived a few days earlier. Images of the escalation were already circulating in international media, sparking deep concern among their families back in France.

For many in the group, the experience moved beyond simple observation; it became a form of identification.

"We were able to better understand what you experience in Israel regarding war, the repeated alerts and everything that implies in terms of stress and the difficulty of planning for the future," another group member explained.

During the alerts, they joined other hotel guests and staff in the shelters. These unplanned moments became, in their words, among the most significant of the trip.

"We were able to meet Israelis, especially during those moments in the shelters, in a way we certainly wouldn't have if we had followed our planned tour. It allowed for privileged exchanges where we could share why we came, to show support, and that touched people deeply."

Conversations touched on faith, solidarity, resilience, and the emotional weight of an unstable security situation. Several members said they felt their presence under these specific circumstances carried a profound symbolic weight.

The calendar added a singular dimension to their stay. The outbreak of conflict occurred as Purim approached, the Jewish holiday commemorating the biblical story of Esther, a narrative set in ancient Persia, which corresponds to modern-day Iran. Without seeking to draw oversimplified parallels, some pastors acknowledged that this coincidence deeply moved them by making biblical and spiritual realities feel tangible.

 "We hadn't planned this," noted one participant. "But being here at this exact moment forces us to reflect."

For those who left loved ones in France, the war added an extra layer of emotion. Calls and messages multiplied to reassure spouses and children back home. The wives present in the group confessed to feeling the particular weight of the Jerusalem sirens while thinking of their relatives following the events from a distance. Despite the stress and uncertainty, several stated they would make the same choice again.

With Israeli airspace remaining closed, the group must depart Israel by land. Their itinerary now involves a bus journey to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, before returning to France via various European layovers, a route far longer and more complex than originally planned.

Some acknowledged the physical and emotional fatigue accumulated after days of tension and disrupted sleep. Yet, beyond the shattered plans, they experienced an unexpected reality: a renewed call to stand with Israel, to intensify their intercession for the Middle East, and to share this experience with their home churches.

Their tone remains resolutely hopeful: "We hope to return as soon as possible to complete the tour we weren't able to finish!" Samuel Peterschmitt said with a smile, expressing a sentiment widely shared by the group.