IRAN ATTACKS ISRAEL

Though the mountains be shaken

    and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”

    says the Lord, who has compassion on you...

If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;

    whoever attacks you will surrender to you...

 

    no weapon forged against you will prevail,

    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

    and this is their vindication from me,”

declares the Lord.

Isaiah 54: 10,15, 17

On Saturday night (13/04/24), at  11:23 PM Israel time, we received this message:

🔅ATTACK ALERT -

🚨DRONE LAUNCH IRAN - Multiple sources state from US officials, “dozens of suicide drone launches from Iran headed towards Israel”.  50-100+ drones depending on report.  IDF confirms.

Continued launching - may be more.

🚨DRONE LAUNCH YEMEN - Unofficial at the moment. 

⚠️ TIMING from Iran - Early morning

Hypersonic Cruise missile - 10 minutes

Cruise missile - < 1 hour

Ballistic missile - 4 hours

Suicide Drone/UAV - 6-9+ hours

The different types will be launched to arrive together.

On the way, they have to pass at least 4 defense systems, starting with warships, Patriot systems stationed in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and American bases in the Middle East, Israeli defense systems and Israeli fighter jets.

BUT, expect to hear about additional launches from Syria and Yemen, and Lebanon.

⚠️EL AL THAILAND FIGHTS - returning to Thailand due to Jordan airspace closure.

⚠️GPS JAMMING - expect nationwide GPS jamming immediately.

⚠️AIRSPACE YEMEN - closed.

At around 2:00 AM, Sunday morning, the first drones and missiles began arriving in Israel. Sirens sounded throughout the country and citizens headed for shelter, if they hadn't already done so. 

The sirens did not go off in my town, but I had my alert set for Jerusalem too, and therefore I heard the sirens and the sound of distant booms of exploding ordnance. I turned on the TV to see drones passing over the Temple Mount and the interceptions. You can see the video of this on X with this link: https://twitter.com/i/status/1779292077886460213  

or on this link: https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-launches-wave-of-drones-at-israel-in-first-ever-direct-attack-idf-braces-to-intercept/

I followed events on the TV until about 3:30 AM when things seemed to have settled down. I managed a few hours sleep after that. 

The next morning, Sunday, at 9:08 AM we received the following situational update.

OPERATIONAL UPDATE BY IDF SPOKESPERSON, REAR ADMIRAL DANIEL HAGARI, REGARDING THE SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE OF ISRAEL'S AIRSPACE OVERNIGHT

Last night, Iran initiated an attack against Israel, launching over 300 threats of various types. The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, along with a strong fighting coalition - which together intercepted the overwhelming majority of the threats. 99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted - a very significant strategic achievement.

Of approximately 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that Iran launched, zero crossed into Israeli territory. Dozens of them were intercepted by Israeli Air Force fighter jets, our Aerial Defense Array, and the aerial defense systems and aircraft of our partners.

From the more than 30 cruise missiles Iran launched, none crossed into Israeli territory. 25 of them were intercepted by IAF fighter jets outside the country’s borders. Out of over 120 ballistic missiles, only a few crossed into Israeli territory, with the rest being intercepted. These fell at the Nevatim Air Force Base, causing only minor damage to infrastructure. As you can see, the base is operational and continues to carry out its missions....

Iran hoped to incapacitate the base and thus impair our aerial capabilities, but it failed. IAF aircraft continue to take off and land from the base and depart for offensive and defensive missions. This includes the ‘Adir’ fighter jets, which are now returning to the base from an aerial defense mission...

In addition to the launches from Iran, several launches were made from the territories of Iraq and Yemen. None of them crossed into Israeli territory. In recent hours, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanese territory toward the north (of Israel); there were no casualties. Fighter jets struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including Radwan targets. All this while additional aircraft continue their defense missions.

Over the past six months, we have been operating in close coordination with our partners, led by US CENTCOM, the UK, France, and other countries (Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia!)that operated last night. This partnership has always been robust, but last night it was exceptionally evident. Last night we conducted a complex defensive air battle, with excellent performance by the IAF and the Intelligence Directorate. The battle was directed under the command of the Chief of the General Staff from the Israeli Air Force Operations Center.

The interception capabilities of the Aerial Defense Array and the defensive abilities of the IAF aircraft, demonstrated exceptional professionalism as well as the IDF’s military and technological superiority. Thanks to all of this, the attack by Iran - was thwarted.

Unfortunately, a ten-year-old girl (actually a 7-yr old, Israeli Bedouin Arab) was severely injured by shrapnel. We wish her a speedy recovery. Other than her, as far as we know, there are no additional casualties.

However, it is important to say - the event is not over....

(Note: my parentheses)

Amina al-Hassouni (Photo: Muhammad al-Hassouni)

https://allisrael.com/7-year-old-bedouin-girl-wounded-in-iranian-missile-strike-still-in-serious-condition

 Now two days later, the enormity of what happened in the early hours of Sunday are just beginning to sink in. I believe we saw a miracle of God's protection, equivalent to the parting of the Red Sea. Israel and its allies, the US, UK, France, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, shot down 99% of the 300 or so UAVs, Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles fired at Israel. Such a high success rate is unheard of. In past conflicts we have seen at best only about an 85% success. When you consider all the things that can go wrong, a 99% success rate is close to impossible. A Professor in the Defense Industry made this claim (even he compared it to the dividing of the Red Sea!):

"I wanted to share something that is much more than a feeling.  Something that comes from a real calculation:  What happened in Israel on last Motzai Shabbat (Sat/Sun night) was not less than the scale of the splitting of the Red Sea.

I am a Professor of physics and I worked for several years in the defense industry in Israel, in projects that are still the cutting edge technologies of the defense of the State of Israel. When I look at what happened on Motzai Shabbat, on a scientific level - it simply cannot happen!! Statistically.

The likelihood that everything, but really Everything works out, does not exist in complex systems  Like the defense systems that were used to defend Israel from the massive Iranian attack.

These systems have never, but never, not only in the State of Israel, been tried in real time!!

I took a pencil and dived into the calculations to check the statistic probability that such a result would materialize.  

The large number of events that had to be handled, when each missile or UAV is handled independently (that is, human error or some deviation of one operation, is not offset by other successful operations), compounds the chance of making a mistake. 

With all the high technologies, a breach was expected  In the defense of the skies of the State of Israel.

Even if we got 90% protection it would have been a miracle!! 

What happened is that everyone, but everyone - the pilots, the systems operators and the technology operators acted as one man, at one moment in total unity.  If this is not an act of G-d, then I no longer know what a miracle is.

It is Greater than the victory of the Six Day War or the War of Independence.  Those wars can also be explained through natural events.

BUT

The rescue that took place for the people of Israel on Motzai Shabbat  is simply impossible naturally.  I believe that this miracle saved the lives of many people from Israel.

If the defense system had failed to intercept a number of cruise missiles, the result would have dragged us into a very complex war. 

I wouldn't bet that next time it will work like this without Divine supervision.

The simple proof of what I said is that the managers of the defense industries, who develop and manufacture these systems guarantee no more than 90% success!

And we all saw, with our own eyes  99.9% !!!"

MAY THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL BE BLESSED!!!

Not only were 99% of the missiles intercepted but of the few that did penetrate Israeli airspace, they were either shot down or landed harmlessly in open spaces. Had even one of the big ballistic missiles, for example, hit a residential area there would have been massive casualties. Around 120 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel. Each one carries a 750 kg  warhead which when it explodes, would fully destroy any structure and kill every person in a 22 meter radius, badly damage structures and cause major injuries in a radius of 75 m.  Imagine if these 120 missiles had hit an Israeli city! 

When these missiles are intercepted all the shrapnel from the missile and interceptor must fall to the ground. It can take up to 10 minutes for this to happen. Some of the shrapnel and remains are very large. The photo below shows just the fuel tank (about 70% of length of the missile) of a ballistic missile that landed on the shores of the Dead Sea. The fuel tanks detach from the warhead in the latter stages of its flight.  This is not a fake photo- it gives you some idea of the size of these things! 

https://res.cloudinary.com/hb0stl6qx/image/upload/w_900,c_scale,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_auto/v1713339319/3_gsqd2w.jpg

https://allisrael.com/at-first-i-thought-they-were-fake-idf-presents-enormous-remains-of-intercepted-iranian-rockets

It is now Tuesday and as I am writing this, it all seems a bit surreal - as if it  happened long ago or in some movie. On Sunday, just hours after the attack,  I went to the supermarket and it was 'business as usual'. Later,  I went to the Garden Center and it was busier than normal. I guess gardening is good therapy, and of course, it is Spring and the weather is glorious. Yesterday, Monday, I went to Ein Kerem (the town where John the Baptist lived), ate at a restaurant and took a walk down the lovely wooded valley. Busloads of tourists were wandering the streets and groups of Israeli hikers passed us by. Life appeared totally normal. 

A stroll in Ein Kerem

The Israeli Home Front has been just amazing. I have seen no evidence of panic. Schools were closed for just one day but are now open again - at least those not shut down for the Passover holiday. Life continues somehow in spite of 6 months of war. I was feeling guilty about just continuing on as normal, even eating in restaurants and going for walks in nature, until my pastor, a soldier recently returned from duty, pointed out to me that "that is what we are fighting for". Our brave and selfless men and women soldiers are fighting, risking their lives and futures, so that the rest of us can have a life, even a good life. I no longer feel guilty, just deeply grateful.

Of course the war isn't over yet, and may just be beginning. 

We are all wondering what will happen next. Will Israel attack Iran? Will Iran try to attack Israel again? No one knows, There is a lot of speculation, much being driven by a mountain of fake news and propaganda. On Monday night the IDF spokesman quoted the Chief of Staff as saying that Israel will respond to missiles fired into its territory, but he did not say when or in what manner. Iran continues to threaten dire consequences if we do. 

I feel that we have never had a better opportunity to deal with the threat of the Iranian regime once and for all. Sadly however, the USA and other western nations have said they will not support an Israeli attack on Iran. This is very short sighted. Do they not understand that Jihadist Iran is not just a threat to Israel but to the whole of western civilization? Why do they persist in thinking they can deal with the problem of Iran diplomatically? Why do they not take seriously the Iranian threats to destroy Israel (which they call the little Satan), then the USA (the big Satan) and then all of Europe. This is not just empty rhetoric. They mean it quite literally. It seems that the Western leaders have no understanding of the mentality of the followers of Jihadist Islam. The Ayatollahs of Iran and their supporters have only one goal - world domination. The Western leaders say they do not want this war to escalate into a regional, or even potentially world-wide war, but they do not realize that it is already a regional war. What will it take for them to wake up?

I think that Iran got a shock on Sunday morning.  Is Iran a paper tiger, or is it part of their strategy to send off their old, unreliable missiles to give the impression of weakness, and to put us off guard, before they send in their newer, more reliable weapons? It is important that we do not underestimate their abilities nor let our guard down.  They and their proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, still have thousands of missiles they could use against us, and they have powerful allies in Russia and China. Those allies may even have supplied them with nuclear warheads, not to mention that they are very close to producing their own.

It seems that whenever Israel is being attacked in an obvious way, the Western nations are all on our side, but whenever we go onto the offensive in order to protect ourselves (and them!) they turn against us. 

U.S. President Biden is spinning so fast back and forth, for and against Israel, he is dizzy and seems barely able to function.  He is playing right into the hands of our enemies, by making us look weak and indecisive. He would do well to take note of his forerunner, George Washington, who wrote, in 1799, "...offensive operations, often times, is the surest, if not the only (in some cases) means of defense". Right now Biden is saying to Israel "Don't" attack Iran. But if Israel would attack, would the US stand by or would it rise up and help? It's anyone's guess. 

For a clear and Biblical analysis of the situation today I would recommend this video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P3f0oZDeUI

ON THE NORTHERN FRONT. 

In the meantime, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria continue to fire a steady stream of rockets and UAVs into Israel's northern settlements and military posts. For the last 6 months they have fired an average of 20-30 missiles every day. Around 80,000 residents of the northern border communities have been evacuated and have spent the last 6 months 'camping out' in hotel rooms or with family and friends. Hotels are fun when you are on holiday, but the novelty quickly wears off. Not only is it very stressful having whole families crammed into one room and living shoulder to shoulder with that annoying family next door, these families have lost their means of support. Farms and businesses have had to be abandoned.  Many homes, farms and businesses have been destroyed. 

News is now coming in of a Hezbollah attack on a northern Bedouin Arab town, Arab el-Aramshe, in which 18 people were wounded, 4 seriously. This is not the first time Arab towns and villages have been attacked. The Iranian Regime hates Sunni Muslims almost as much as Jews. 

https://allisrael.com/6-people-wounded-in-hezbollah-attack-on-arab-village-in-the-galilee

ON THE SOUTHERN FRONT

In spite of 6 months of war, and the destruction of 16 of its 24 battalions, Hamas still has the capacity to fire rockets into Israeli territory, although these have decreased to a trickle. Fighting continues in the Strip as Israel mops up the terror cells still operating in the northern and central sector, and prepares to tackle the last bastion of Hamas in, and under, the southern city of Rafah. As preparations are taking place, so are negotiations for the release of the remaining 133 Israeli hostages. 

Hamas is making outrageous demands in the negotiations that Israel cannot accept. If we were to do so, it would be tantamount to defeat and surrender. Hamas has no incentive to hand over the hostages, since it is only the presence of the hostages as human shields that is preventing their annihilation at this time. It is also by no means clear how many of the hostages remain alive after 6 months of starvation, torture, sexual abuse and the lack of medical treatment in the dark, dank, filthy underground tunnels. 

The US continues to play into the hands of our enemies by telling us not to go into Rafah so as 'to prevent a humanitarian disaster'. Israel has solid, workable plans, supported by the UAE, to evacuate civilians as necessary as our forces move into the city. We don't need the patronizing, not to mention hypocritical, USA telling us how to run this war. 

A few days ago, Israel called up two reserve brigades for a renewed Gaza incursion and today there are, as yet unconfirmed, reports that tanks are moving back into the Strip. 

Here is a video about the current state of the negotiations. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwjpCjqmcWg

THE SOUTHEASTERN FRONT

The Houthis of Yemen, another Iranian proxy, joined in the missile attack on Israel on Sunday morning,  and also continue to attack shipping in the Gulf and passing through the Suez Canal. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

There is much more I could write about but I will save that for another time. I will however close by recommending you watch this video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M06S7R6vfVs

T

 

TAKE UP YOUR WEAPONS

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6: 10-18

Last evening I watched this video of a dear sister in the Lord who, with her whole family, was miraculously saved from the massacre of October 7 in Kibbutz Nahal Oz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEut_Udik_c . I recommend you watch her testimony for it is both uplifting and encouraging, but also contains a somber and challenging message for us all.  I was touched and not a little convicted by her following words,

 " The spiritual army of the LORD, here in the Land and all around the world, they just got up and began to (make) war. That's His army. And the Lord told me later on, "To all my children, I am drafting them into my army. There is no more time to sleep. You need to take up your weapon and fight over Israel, over my nation. You all need to fight. You need to stay alert." We are very much in the end times. We are in very special days. He wants to awaken his people throughout the entire world..."

Today, 27th February, we are in Day 144 of the Israel - Hamas War.  As the IDF prepares to move into the last phase of its ground incursion into Gaza, the entry to Hamas' last stronghold, Rafah, the battle against Hamas may be nearing victory, but the war is very, very far from over. It is just beginning. 

To call this war the Israel-Hamas war is misleading. We are fighting a world war, even if most of the world has not yet woken up to the fact. We are not fighting against a terror organization, we are fighting against a terror ideology, and a false Satanic religion, which is using every evil tactic it can to turn the world against Israel, and it is succeeding. Israel is finding herself more and more criticized, blamed and accused even by those we call our 'friends'.  

Over the last few days, for example, over 40 nations have made oral presentations to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) supporting the Palestinian claim condemning Israel for "gross violations of international law", and asking the Court to demand an immediate, unconditional, and total Israeli withdrawal from the “occupied territories”. Only the US, UK, Hungary and Fiji pushed back against this absurd demand.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil,

who put darkness for light

    and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

    and sweet for bitter.

Isaiah 5:20

Israel has made every effort to refrain from violating International Law, even at the risk of our own soldiers lives. Even the ratio of civilian to military casualties at 2:1 is far below the average for urban warfare of 9:1 that has occurred in other conflicts. This attests to the extreme measures that Israel has taken to avoid civilian losses in an impossible densely populated situation where Hamas is using them as human shields and fodder for their propaganda machine. The IDF has found weapons, tunnel entrances and other military paraphernalia in nearly every home, school, mosque and hospital they have entered in Gaza.  Where is the outcry against Hamas for these humanitarian atrocities and its violations of International Law?

On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 

Zechariah 12: 2-3

Many voices around the world are pressuring Israel to stop the war in Gaza. If Israel were to do so, it would unequivocally give victory to Hamas, rewarding them for the grossly barbaric act, the slaughter, torture, rape and the taking of hostages, that occurred on October 7th. If given this victory it would embolden Hamas to carry out more such atrocities, as it has openly and repeatedly threatened, and lead to the potential genocide of all Israelis - Jews, Arabs and others alike- from the "River (Jordan)to the Sea (Mediterranean)". All the efforts of Israel to destroy this Hamas cancer in Gaza would be lost. A surgeon does not leave part of a cancerous tumor inside his patient, if there is a chance of taking it all. If even part of the tumor is spared it will stimulate all its related abnormal cells to spread far beyond its original site, Gaza, and reach to the very ends of the earth. 

And what are these "occupied territories" they are talking about? The last Israeli soldier and civilian left Gaza in 2008. Furthermore, Judah, Samaria, East Jerusalem and Gaza are all legitimate war 'spoils' according to International Law, since they were won from the nations that attacked Israel in 1948 and consequent wars. Then again, whose Land is it anyway? It is the LORD'S and he unequivocally gave it to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as an everlasting inheritance, a promise he reiterated many times in the Bible.  

Hamas and its supporters are crying for an independent Palestinian state. For the last 15 years Gaza had self-rule. What did they do with that opportunity? Did they rebuild homes, build hospitals, schools, roads, water and electricity supply capacity to improve the lives of the Gazan people? No, they built hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, underground bunkers, factories, storage facilities and bought billions of dollars worth of weapons, all intended for the destruction of Israel. They did not even make use of the established and lucrative industries and farms the Israelis left behind for their benefit. 

Israel is at a great disadvantage in this battle of the minds. We are constrained by the facts, truth and rationality. The enemy has no such scruples and the Western world is so incredibly gullible it is falling for their propaganda. Nearly every post-Christian nation has be infiltrated and seduced by the lies of the radical Islamic elements, energized by the Enemy, Satan. Having abandoned the Lord of all Truth, these nations, and the individuals in them, are easy-prey for the Father of Lies. They may well find themselves on the wrong side of the fence come Judgement Day. 

The other day the cat of one of my friends brought home a mangled dove (as they do- don't you love them?). My friend took up the dove and treated its wounds. It survived. My friend saw this incident as a metaphor for the condition of Israel today. Doves are the symbol of peace. Israel has never initiated an attack against her neighbors. We want to live in peace and have many times offered an olive branch to those who will receive it. But today a 'cat' has got us in its jaws and we are broken and injured, but not dead.  Our Father in heaven will take us in gentle hands and heal us in due course. 

Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,

    how foolish people have reviled your name.

19 

Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;

    do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

Psalm 74: 18-19

There are many things I could write about but I will just finish with some prayer points, as I exhort all you who call upon the Name of the LORD, to take up your spiritual weapons and stand with Israel in this war. 

1. Pray that the Lord's army all over the world will wake up and take up our spiritual weapons against the Father of Lies, Satan, and all who are promoting his evil plans against God's people. 

2. Pray against the propaganda and lies, the old blood libels and  the antisemitic tropes that are gaining expression, acceptance and power all over the world. 

3. Pray that the believers in Yeshua all over the world will understand the true issues at stake and be found to stand on God's side, praying and when possible speaking out against the Enemy and his evil plans.

4. Pray that the leaders of your nations will support Israel and not be deceived by the lies of Hamas and its supporters, so that your nation will not be cursed by God as it is written in Genesis 12:3.  

5. Pray that Israel's leaders will stand firm, act responsibly and not give in to the pressures from the world, against God's will. 

6. Pray that the people of Israel will stand united, even as much controversy threatens to divide us at a time when unity is absolutely necessary

7. Pray for repentance. Israel has sinned in so many ways and though we call upon God to help us in this time, there are few voices calling the people to repent and little sign of an understanding of the need. God is 'flogging' us as punishment for our sins as a nation, trying to bring us back from our wicked ways, because he loves us enough to discipline us as a good father will do to his wayward child. God has not abandoned us or lost his love for us, but he is calling us to repentance and to return to Him. We, as a nation, have not got this message yet and I fear for what it will take to get through to us. 

   “If his sons forsake my law

    and do not follow my statutes,

31 

if they violate my decrees

    and fail to keep my commands,

32 

I will punish their sin with the rod,

    their iniquity with flogging;

33 

but I will not take my love from him,

    nor will I ever betray my faithfulness

Psalm 89: 30-33

8. Pray for the release of the hostages. It will take a miracle for that to happen. There are many rumors and 'leaks' about potential deals but I find it hard to believe any deal can be reached in time. The clock is ticking for these 134 souls who are being kept in inhumane, unhealthy conditions and who are being denied adequate food and the medicines they need. We believe about 50 of them may already be dead, but there is no confirmation of that. Pray for the families and friends of the hostages, who are waiting and waiting and waiting....

9. Pray for the people of Gaza, who are also suffering severe deprivation in the midst of winter. Most of the aid that has reached Gaza has been hijacked by Hamas operatives for their own use, or to sell at inflated prices to the populace. Pray too for their liberation from the bondage and oppression of the Hamas regime. Pray that the Holy Spirit will expose the lies of Islamic fanaticism and draw many to the true God and salvation in Yeshua. Pray especially that the brainwashing of a whole generation (at least) into a culture of hatred, violence and death can be undone and a culture of peace, and coexistence instilled in its place.

A recent poll showed that over 90 percent of Palestinians

 falsely believe that Hamas did not attack civilians on October 7. 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/jordanian-school-textbook-said-to-paint-october-7-atrocities-in-positive-light/ 

Pray too for the Christians in Gaza (about 1000 people). I don't know if they are still there or if efforts of believers here to rescue them were successful. 

Where the aid money goes!!!  This cache totaled around 3 million shekels and was found in a Hamas leader's private home. This is only one of many such hordes the IDF has found. 

10. Pray for our soldiers many of whom have been fighting on the front lines for 4 months now, with only a day of home leave sporadically in that time.  Most of the reserve soldiers have now been released for rest, but they may be called up again if/when a major confrontation with Hezbollah kicks off. Pray for their re-entry to 'normal' society and their readjustment to family life. Many have seen and experienced terrible things and are suffering various degrees of PTSD. Wives and husbands have had very different experiences, emotions and needs during this time, and this can put a big stress on relationships.

There are so many more prayer needs but I need to stop so I can get this out today. Today is the last day of a 3 day call to prayer and fasting being held by the local congregations all over Israel. Please join us in fervent prayer for the situation. Pray in the Spirit and with the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

I want to encourage you to be careful about sourcing and disseminating information. There is so much disinformation, misinformation and fake news. All news outlets (including my blogs) have their biases and none are infallible, but here are some I can recommend:

All Israel News   - aimed at Evangelical believers and written by local believers  -  https://allisrael.com/

IsraelRealtime - a news feed updated several times a day via WhatsApp or Telegram - just click on the link you prefer and you are in. 

Telegram https://t.me/Israel_Realtime_Updates

WhatsApp  https://chat.whatsapp.com/IDuXiB9W2YKEGQciw2Ajd3

  I have recently published three articles in All Israel News. Here are the links: 

•  Where was God on October 7?   https://allisrael.com/where-was-god-on-october-7
• Genocide?  https://allisrael.com/blog/genocide
• Balance or Truth?  https://allisrael.com/blog/balance-or-truth

Below are some YouTube videos I have seen recently that I can recommend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_MfnpuafBg  Arab woman speaks up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jNABVSm6jM   about Uriya Bayer, a believer who was killed in the war

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFspUWn_GVo  Caroline Glick on Hostage Deal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiVHuLpvHG8   Hope song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbCuOSSc9j0   

Arab Palestinian Warns the World about Hamas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA5iFyjOrU8  Hamas' strategy of psychological warfare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/m2bYcAMuwVk?si=Tws3cJdq3VOHftlq   Nate and Eylon interview - excellent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LIcd7wHlCE  Israeli Arab women

INTO THE NEW YEAR 2024

We are now 10 days into the New Year, 2024, and 97 days into Israel's war against Hamas. Its been a long time since I last updated and this one has been written and rewritten several times because as fast as I write events overtake me. It is also very difficult to concentrate and the usual busyness of life seems even more frenetic. Then, how can I express the sorrow and the horror of this ongoing war? How can I explain the emotions we are all experiencing? How can I explain the complexities of the situation? It just seems overwhelming, but I will try. 

There were no public firework displays to bring in the New Year in Israel this year, but on the stroke of midnight, our enemies in Gaza fired at least 27 missiles into Central Israel, lighting our skies. You can see the rockets being intercepted in the video in this news bulletin: https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-stroke-of-midnight-hamas-attacks-israel-with-heavy-new-year-rocket-barrage/

The war continues and I must thank all of you who pray for Israel. You have no  idea how important your prayers are. Often in the midst of all it is difficult to calm oneself enough to pray, except just to cry "Help, LORD, help". We need your support and prayers like never before. 

Israel is now fighting a war on 7 fronts: 

THE SOUTHERN FRONT - GAZA

The IDF continues to rout out the Hamas terrorists, destroying their tunnels, weapons and weapons manufacturing facilities.

 The northern part of the Gaza Strip has more or less been brought under Israeli control but just two days ago, a terrorist unit in the north managed to fire off a volley of at least 7 medium range missiles into the central region of Israel. The IDF has pulled some thousands of soldiers out of the northern Gaza strip and sent some home for rest, but the fighting continues there, as the remaining groups of terrorists are neutralized and ordnance and infrastructure destroyed. 

There are many international calls to allow the return the civilian population to the north, but it is still too early. Not only are many of the buildings destroyed but so is the infrastructure, such as water and sewage. Homes and streets are still extremely dangerous because of unexploded ordnance and the booby traps and mines laid by Hamas in the streets and private homes, even in children's bedrooms and hidden in their toys.  

In the southern part of the Gaza Strip the battles are raging fiercely, although the remaining Hamas battalions are separated from one another and surrounded. However there is still much to do there to eliminate the Hamas threat. In the last day alone the IDF eliminated around 150 terror targets, including 15 underground tunnel shafts as well as rocket launchers, missiles, UAVs, and explosive devices. Additionally, a rocket-manufacturing machine was destroyed. This is just a typical day on the southern Gaza front. 

 The IDF is making steady progress but must move slowly and carefully because of the nature of the crowded alleyways, booby trapped homes, tunnels and streets, and the use of human shields, often children, by Hamas. Our military leaders are warning that the war in Gaza will continue for many more months or even years. 

The clock is ticking for the survival of the 136 Israeli hostages, mostly civilians and including at least 10 children, still being held by Hamas. Many of the hostages suffer from chronic illnesses and are not receiving their medication, others are elderly and it is likely that many of the women being held have been impregnated by their captives. It is believed that some  are already dead, but Hamas has not permitted the Red Cross or any other organization to check on the welfare of the hostages contrary to the internationally agreed rules of war. Those hostages that were released around 6-7 weeks ago had all lost a lot of weight due to starvation rations and had not received adequate medical care (some were injured and others have chronic illnesses). They had been moved from place to place, were kept in dark isolation in tunnels and private homes, forbidden to speak aloud, and in some cases physically and sexually abused. The IDF has found cages in tunnels where hostages had been kept. All were psychologically abused. What is the condition of those who are still in captivity? It is believed that some are already dead. You can see the testimony of two women who were released in these links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MxEngtD5xc  and   https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-mia-schem-i-experienced-hell-everyone-in-gaza-is-a-terrorist/?utm_campaign=most_popular&utm_source=website&utm_medium=article_end&utm_content=5

Imagine the agony of those who were released but had to leave loved ones behind, and of those waiting and waiting for their loved ones to be released and brought home, or for even just any reliable news of them. 

In spite of the advancement of the IDF and the destruction of 'mountains' of Hamas ordnance, we are still being targeted by rockets and missiles coming out of Gaza. The rate of rocket fire has slowed but there is still a daily barrage of rockets in the south and frequent volleys of larger missiles into Central Israel, like that fired into the Tel Aviv region at midnight on New Year's Eve. Under the entire Gaza strip, lies "Gaza Hatachton"  (lower Gaza), a honeycomb of hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, bunkers, and military emplacements and control rooms.  It will take months if not years to search and destroy these. Progress must be slow and systematic lest more hostages are accidentally killed (3 have already been killed when they were mistaken for terrorists), and so that intelligence can also be gathered. Hundreds of thousands of computer files have been captured and tens of millions of shekels (aid money sent to Hamas for distribution to the civilian population but instead used for their war machine).

According to the IDF around 15,000 rockets and missiles have been fired into Israel since October 7 killing 15 Israelis and injuring around 700. Three thousand rockets were fired on October 7th alone. The death toll would be much higher were it not for our access to bomb shelters, and the Iron Dome defense system that shoots down most of those headed for built up areas. Around 10-20% of rockets fired by Hamas fall short into Gazan territory adding to the death toll of Gazans. According to Gazan sources some 23,000 Gazans have been killed so far, but this number cannot be confirmed and includes civilians and operatives, and those killed by their own rockets. In this war is difficult to distinguish between civilians and operatives. The Hamas terrorists do not all wear a uniform and often dress as civilians, women or even as Israeli soldiers. In addition many so-called civilians are not only cooperating and supporting Hamas, but actively participating in the war. Testimony has revealed that at least one family captured Israeli hostages on October 7 and then sold them to Hamas. 

Since the incursion of the IDF into Gaza some 519 Israeli soldiers and 60 police officers have been killed and at least 6,000 injured. This includes the 334 soldiers among those killed in the massacre of October 7th. 

Every Israeli knows someone killed or injured, or held hostage, or serving in the battle front. We are all mourning and suffering  various levels of trauma and ongoing anxiety for the future. What is very impressive however is the mobilization not only of reserve soldiers but also the general public. Everyone is doing something to help, whether it is cooking meals for soldiers, providing meals, clothing and equipment for soldiers,  and the displaced. This song has been #1 in Israel for weeks and reflects the spirit of this resilient and amazing nation. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p3rtnQ_7y4

Around 250,000 Israelis have been displaced from the Gaza border region in the south and the Lebanon border region in the north. Many of those have lost everything and fled only with the clothes on their back, with their homes totally destroyed. The government is housing them in hotels and no one knows how long this must continue. All are anxious to get out of the hotels where they have been cooped up in small rooms with their kids for three months now, and some have even returned to the border towns in spite of the danger, but others have nothing to return to and there is no alternative housing available. 

As I said earlier, some of the reserve soldiers, after over 3 months fighting in Gaza, are being released now and coming home. The adjustment back to civilian life is very hard and many are suffering severe PTSD. One soldier told my friend that he had fought in 6 wars before but had never seen anything like the atrocities committed by Hamas. He said it was like looking into the very face of Satan. A few days ago (07/01) the Cabinet approved a 9 million wartime grant to assist reservists who were called up. Even with these grants it will not come close to any real compensation for having risked their lives for the nation. These men and women left their spouses and kids and have been fighting for 3 months, having left their jobs, businesses and studies. Many too have paid the ultimate price and a very large number have suffered life-changing injuries. With the war dragging on and with tensions increasing on other fronts, it is by no means certain other reservists will be released, nor that even those released will not be called up again at some point. 

THE NORTHERN FRONT - LEBANON, IRAQ, SYRIA and IRAN

Since the outbreak of war in Gaza, Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been carrying out constant attacks on our northern communities. These daily attacks have been relentlessly escalating but it is not considered a full-scale war as yet (but its just a question of semantics. The northern settlements have largely been evacuated but security personnel, essential workers and some civilians remain. The terrorists in Lebanon have been using anti-tank fire (RPGs) to attack Israeli communities and these cannot be stopped by the Iron Dome. Israel has been responding to this fire, by eliminating terror cells and military installations, but trying not to escalate the situation. 

Nine soldiers and several civilians have been killed by rocket and mortar fire on the northern border. 

It has been revealed that in Lebanon too, there is a vast network of undergrounds tunnels, bunkers and military posts, even more sophisticated than those of Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah boasts that it has at least 150,000 missiles, many of which can reach any target in Israel with pinpoint accuracy. They also have a highly trained army of some 60-100,000 soldiers. They are a much more formidable enemy than Hamas, should they decide to unleash all their forces.   

A few days ago (02/01) someone assassinated Saleh Arouri, the Hamas second in command, in a targeted attack in Beirut. Although Israel has not taken responsibility for this attack. Hezbollah leader, Hasan Nasrallah, is threatening revenge. We are  on high alert expecting a response from Lebanon. On Shabbat (06/1) Hezbollah fired 62 rockets into the northern region of Israel. Nasrallah said this was just the initial part of his revenge for the killing of Arouri. We are all on high alert waiting for any further response. Hospitals have been instructed to prepare for an influx of thousands of injured in the event of a large scale attack. 

At the outbreak of the war with Hamas, the US aircraft carrier strike group, the USS Eisenhower, joined the USS Gerald. F. Ford strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean to provide support for Israel and to act as a deterrent to Hezbollah. Last week the USS Eisenhower left the Mediterranean en route to the USA. I do not know why this decision was made but it seems to me that attacks from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have increased since it left. 

SYRIA AND IRAQ

There has also been a steady trickle of missiles and unmanned aircraft and armed drones infiltrating Israeli airspace from Syria and Iraq. Israel is responding to this threat and is constantly attacking terror targets in these countries. Iran is supplying Hezbollah and Hamas with sophisticated weapons, including the large, long-range missiles. The Israeli air force is attacking these supply lines and the storage facilities. 

US bases in Iraq and Syria have come under attack from Iran-backed militias at least 100 times (reports differ) resulting in many US casualties. 

THE SOUTH-EASTERN FRONT - YEMEN

Shipping through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal has been seriously disrupted by almost daily attacks emanating from Yemen carried out by the Houthis, another terror organization backed and equipped by Iran. Any ship with any ties with Israel is being attacked by attack vessels, drones and missiles. Today (10/01) alone the US Navy shot down 18 suicide drones, 2 anti-ship cruise missiles and 1 anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards shipping in the Red Sea. 

Some of the largest shipping companies are now refusing to allow their ships through the Suez Canal. These ships are having to take the much longer route around the Horn of Africa. The prices of goods, including oil, will increase all over the world since some 12% of world trade passes through the Suez Canal.  Egypt is also suffering a significant loss of income from the tolls it collects.  The US and some 21 other countries have put together a coalition to protect shipping but so far they have not retaliated in any significant way. 

The Houthis have also been firing long range Cruise missiles at Eilat in southern Israel. At least one strayed and landed in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and the others were shot down by Egyptian, Saudi Arabian or IDF defense systems before they reached Israeli airspace.

THE EASTERN FRONT - JUDEA AND SAMARIA (THE WEST BANK)

Hamas terrorists are well entrenched in the West Bank and they enjoy widespread support there. Islamic Jihad and ISIS are also operating there. Throughout the war IDF forces are continuing to fight terror cells in Judea and Samaria.   Huge quantities of weapons have been uncovered. Six days ago, tens of millions of shekels intended for Hamas operations, were confiscated by IDF forces! Tunnels being drilled towards Israeli settlements have also been discovered and destroyed. Yesterday a group of terrorists attempted to infiltrate into Modiin Illit, a city between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, but were stopped by local security forces. They were not eliminated however and fled back into the West Bank, where they can potentially regroup and carry out another attack like that of October 7.  

THE MEDIA AND CYBER FRONT - PUBLIC OPINION

An important front in this war is the war of public opinion being fought in the media and the internet. Massive amounts of false and extremely biased information is flooding cyberspace.  In the early days of the war Israel received unprecedented support for its right to defend itself, but very quickly the tide turned as images of destruction and the suffering of Gazan civilians, some faked, appeared. Now Israel is being lambasted for 'the humanitarian crisis' in Gaza, and for 'disproportional responses'. 

The Western world does not seem to understand that Israel is fighting for its very survival. We are fighting a relentless and fanatical enemy who has publicly and repeatedly stated that it will carry out more attacks like October 7th, and take control of the Land from the River to the Sea, a mantra they repeatedly chant, and a euphemism for the intended annihilation of Israel and all her people, in other words genocide. 

Ironically it is Israel which is being accused of perpetrating genocide. This is so very far from the truth. No army in the history of the world has gone to such extreme measures to minimize civilian casualties. Before the incursion into the  northern Gaza Strip, the IDF dropped millions of leaflets in Arabic warning the civilians to move south out of the battle zone and even showed maps of safe routes. The IDF also phoned every individual household begging them to leave. But, Hamas actually fired on its own civilians who were trying to flee, preferring to keep them in the firing zones so as to use them as human shields. Hamas also dug tunnels, with openings into private homes, mosques, schools and hospitals and stored rockets and other ordnance there. RPG rounds and grenades were even found hidden in the incubators of premature babies in one hospital. Streets, tunnels, civilian homes and public buildings have all been mined and booby trapped by Hamas. 

Tomorrow (11/01) Israeli representatives will stand before the International Court of Justice of the UN to answer accusations of genocide put forward by South Africa. 

Hamas claims that around 23,000 Gazans have been killed since October 7th, a figure that has not, nor cannot, be verified by any neutral entity. This figure includes terrorists and those civilians who actively support and help Hamas, even fighting by their side. Just how many 'innocent civilians' have been killed is anyone's guess, but the blame for their deaths must be squarely laid at the feet of Hamas. It is notable that over the last days many hundreds of Gazan's have surrendered to the IDF and many of these men say they have been waiting 17 years for Israel to rescue them from the vile, oppressive and brutal Hamas regime. 

There is no doubt that the displaced citizens of Gaza are living in crowded, unsanitary conditions and suffering hunger, a lack of medical care and other privations. When a senior Hamas government official was asked by a reporter if he did not care about the fate of Gazan citizens, he said they were not his responsibility, it was up to the UN to look after them!!!! 

There is undoubtedly an 'humanitarian crisis' in Gaza but why is it Israel's responsibility to alleviate it? Even so, Israel is doing what it can to help the people of Gaza. Israel is every day clearing hundreds of trucks of supplies to enter Gaza, but only a fraction of these are actually getting through the UN controlled border crossings. Those that do make it through are instantly mobbed by Hamas operatives who steal the supplies for their own use or in order to sell it at inflated prices to the people. 

As for the accusation that Israel is using 'excessive force' in its war against Hamas, this is just ridiculous, not to mention hypocritical. If someone breaks into your home with the intention of killing your family, what degree of force would you recommend? No one cried 'excessive force' when the Allies carpet bombed Dresden, Hamburg and other German towns,  or when the USA dropped the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.  If it weren't for the use of 'excessive force' we would all be speaking German or Japanese!

BEHIND IT ALL - IRAN

You will have noticed perhaps that all the entities currently attacking Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are all backed, supplied and trained by Iran. It seems to me that we are fighting the tentacles but not addressing the head of this octopus. Will the world wake up to the threat of Islamic Jihad and its goal of world domination before it is too late? Or will Israel have to 'go it alone'? 

On the 3rd of this month, there were two bomb explosions in the Iranian city of Kerman in the midst of a large crowd at the tomb of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The crowd was commemorating the 4th anniversary of his assassination by the US.  At least 211 were killed and many injured. Of course, Israel is being blamed but it is not likely that this attack was carried out by Israel. We have no interest in antagonizing Iran at this point, and furthermore it is not Israel's style to carry out a bombing attack that would kill many civilians.  ISIS has since claimed responsibility for this attack but the Iranian Regime insists it was Israel, in spite of much evidence to the contrary. It is even possible the Iran orchestrated it itself, as a pretext to attack Israel.  

The current Iranian regime follows the Twelver Shiite sect of Islam, which has an end-time eschatology in which must come the Mahdi, who will bring about world peace and harmony. They believe that the prophet Isa (Jesus) will come after the Mahdi but he will have only a secondary role. The Mahdi is believed to have been born in 870 AD, and is still alive living in occultation (hidden by Allah) in a town in Syria, awaiting the moment when he will take control of the world. The Mahdi is called Abu’l-Qāsem Moḥammad (born Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī) who was the 12th Imam - hence the moniker 'Twelver' Shiite (1). Twelver Shiites await and expect his arrival soon. Clearly the existence of Israel and the belief in the Jewish and Christian Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), is anathema to this theology. For this reason the little Satan (Israel) and the big Satan (the USA and 'Christian' Europe) must be defeated before the Mahdi can take control. 

In recent months there has been a shift in Hamas' narrative from its Sunni Muslim roots towards the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's Shiite doctrine (2). This underlines the fact that this in essence is a spiritual war and has little to do with the fate of the Gazan or Palestinian people, or indeed their claims to the Land. As I already mentioned, Hamas couldn't care less about the people of Gaza or the West Bank. They have a bigger agenda - world domination. 

They will not succeed. In the end, Israel will be victorious because the God  of the whole world, YHWH, has chosen Israel, brought her people home from the ends of the Earth, and He will uphold us and our enemies will be defeated just as He has promised:

“But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 “All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

1. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/eschatology-iii#:~:text=Twelver%20eschatology%20is%20completely%20dominated,the%20time%20of%20these%20events.

2. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/eschatology-iii#:~:text=Twelver%20eschatology%20is%20completely%20dominated,the%20time%20of%20these%20events.