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

 Day 52 Israel-Hamas War

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness

    because of my enemies—

    make your way straight before me.

 

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

    their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;

    with their tongues they tell lies.

Declare them guilty, O God!

    Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,

    for they have rebelled against you.

 

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

    let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;

    you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5: 8-12

It is a cold, wet day today here in Israel, perfect for writing blogs! My cat angrily and very vocally decided it was not an outdoor day (he blames me for the rain), and is now tucked up in my bed. Oh for the life of a spoiled cat! I would love to join him, but there is work to do. 

THE HOSTAGE RELEASE

Today is the 52nd day of the war and the 4th day of the so-called 'ceasefire'.  We are all suffering deep emotional turmoil. On one hand we are happy to see some of the hostages being returned, but even that is mixed with sorrow as we know that some are injured and ill, and others are coming back only to learn that their parents or other loved ones were cruelly murdered and their homes destroyed. Some have left mothers or fathers behind in cruel captivity still. We know too that even those hostages who have been returned have endured deep trauma and their road to recovery will be long and hard. 

On the other hand our fears increase with every passing day for those still being held hostage by Hamas . The smallest babies, including one aged only 10 months, and their mothers have not yet been released. There are at least another 170 men, women and children still being held captive in the cold, damp tunnels under the Strip, and we have heard that food is running out and they are not receiving any medical care. Every day their conditions worsen.  I cannot even begin to imagine the pain their waiting, ever waiting, loved ones are going through. With every group of released hostages, the fears for the remaining ones increase. 

As I write we are anxiously waiting for the 4th group of hostages to arrive in Israel. Reports are that 9 children and 2 mothers are now in the hands of the Red Cross. As has happened on other days, Hamas failed to carry out the agreements by not including all the mothers of the children being released, and this has caused long delays while negotiations are held.  It is now 8PM which means today's release was 4 hours late. Can you imagine how agonizing that is for both the hostages and the families waiting for them?  

Reports are coming in that there are negotiations taking place to extend the ceasefire allowing for the release of more hostages.  There are still around 170 hostages in Gaza, men, women and children. At least 10 children will remain after today's release. Now too we are learning that at least 50 of the hostages are not actually in the hands of Hamas but scattered throughout the Strip being held by Islamic Jihadists and even by individual crime families. Their exact whereabouts are unknown. We do not know if they are alive or dead. We are negotiating with the Devil, and he is playing psychological games with us. He cannot be trusted. He is the father of lies and of unimaginably heartless cruelty.

Today information is slowly being released about how the released hostages were treated in captivity.  They were not treated well. They all lost about 7 kg weight because they received very little food, only rice and pita bread once a day. The elderly, the sick (including a woman suffering from cancer) and the injured received no medicine. One of the hostages, a woman 85 years old, released in the first round is fighting for her life in hospital. She arrived in Israel with a heart rate of 44 and a temperature of 28 degrees F. A young woman who had been shot in the leg had had her leg operated on in Gaza but sepsis had set in and had not been treated. She has undergone surgery since arrival in Israel and is expected to recover.  The hostages were held in dirty tunnels with little, if any, access to hygiene facilities.  This all raises grave concerns for the welfare and fate of the many hostages remaining. 

 An Israeli-Russian dual national was released yesterday by the intervention of Russian President, Putin. He had at one point escaped when the building he was being held in was bombed by Israeli forces and collapsed. For 4 days he tried to find his way back to Israel, but Palestinian citizens caught him and handed him back to Hamas.  There are several other Israeli-Russian dual nationals amongst the hostages. I do not know why they were not also released. (I should explain that most immigrants to Israel retain their original nationality alongside their Israeli citizenship, therefore many of the hostages have dual nationality).

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

For every day of the ceasefire that passes, the harder it will be for Israel to 'restart' the war, not because of military reasons but because of the steady and increasing international pressure being exerted upon Israel.  Israel however has no real choice. With or without international support we MUST destroy Hamas once and for all. The alternative is unthinkable. Hamas has already boasted that the massacre of October 7th will be repeated over and over. They must be stopped, not only for Israel's sake but also for the sake of the Palestinian people, whom they have brutally oppressed for 16 years, and for the sake of all the world. Their ultimate goal is not only the total destruction of Israel but the destruction of the Western world and world domination.  They are a cancer that must be cut out. 

THE THIRD FRONT - JUDAH AND SAMARIA (THE WEST BANK)

The ceasefire is holding and we have had a welcome respite from the continual volleys of incoming rockets and missiles, coming from the Gaza Strip and also from Lebanon.  There have however been many violent 'incidents' in the West Bank (Samaria and Judah), resulting in the 'neutralization' and arrest of many terrorists there, some of whom were attacking our forces and others who were preparing to carry out terror attacks against Israelis. 

THE FOURTH FRONT - YEMEN

Also of concern is the more-or-less daily firing of cruise missiles and armed suicide drones from the Houthis in Yemen aimed at southern Israel, especially the city of Eilat. Thankfully all these missiles and drones have been shot down either by US, Saudi or Israeli defense systems before they entered Israeli airspace. The cruise missiles, should they manage to get through, carry massive warheads capable of  destroying whole city blocks. It is in Eilat where many of the evacuees, around 50,000, from the towns around the Gaza strip have taken refuge. There are also approximately 50,000 permanent residents living in Eilat. 

Three ships with links to Israel have been taken hostage or attacked by the Houthis of Yemen, another fanatical Muslim terror organization supported by Iran. Although partly owned by Israeli interests these ships are not registered in Israel, have no Israelis amongst the crew and are neither travelling to nor from Israel.  A day or two ago the Houthis also fired missiles at an US Aircraft carrier though they missed and no damage was done. These ongoing incidents threaten shipping in the Arabian Sea and through the Suez Canal.  This could precipitate a widening of the arena of war, even potentially a world war. The Suez Canal carries 12% of the world's trade.

     THE 5TH FRONT - THE WAR OF WORDS

Multitudes, multitudes

    in the valley of decision!

For the day of the Lord is near

    in the valley of decision.

Joel 3: 14

       The world's media and social networks are being flooded with lies, misinformation and fake news. I plead with all my readers to filter the information they receive and double check everything before passing it on. Hamas and its supporters are master propagandists and have no scruples whatsoever about twisting truth, making false claims, fake videos and uttering downright lies. Israel on the other hand, is at a big disadvantage because we try to stick to the truth and we protect our citizens, especially those already suffering deep trauma,  by not publishing the worst of Hamas' atrocities. For example, Israel has not made public the footage from captured Hamas terrorists' own body cams, showing women being 'gang' raped until their pelvises are broken, babies being beheaded or a pregnant woman being ripped open while still alive and her fetus being shot to death. This video footage has been shown only to Knesset members and some diplomats and media persons. Many of those who saw it vomited and some had to have medical treatment afterwards. You don't forget those images - ever. 

If you are a Christian believer you have a responsibility in these days to pray for Israel and speak out on her behalf. Silence is assent. 

Are you sitting on the fence? 

14 

 Not sure whether you should support Israel or the 'poor, oppressed Palestinians'? Do you want to 'be fair', and 'see both sides'? 

 I want to warn you that very soon this position will become untenable. You are going to have to choose sides. This goes against our Western mentality, even our 'Judeo-Christian'  sense of 'fair play' and our tendency to support the 'underdog'. It is hard for us to take sides.  But, I ask you, does God take sides? And the short answer is a resounding 'yes'. 

This is a war between good and evil. At its essence it is a spiritual war, between the God of Israel, Yahweh, and the false god of Islam, Allah. On whose side do you stand?

I want to make it very clear that this war is not between Israel and the Palestinian or Gazan people, it is a war between Israel and the fanatical, fundamentalist Islamic ideology espoused by the terror organizations of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis all of whom are funded, equipped, trained and controlled by  Iranian regime. It is a war between spiritual realms. It is a war between good and evil, between savagery and civilization, and between truth and lies. 

 The whole of human history has been a battle between the realms of good and evil, and God raised up and chose the little nation of Israel to play the key role. When God called Abram out of Ur and told him to go to the land of Canaan, He said,  

“I will make you into a great nation,

    and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

    and you will be a blessing.

3 

I will bless those who bless you,

    and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

    will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12: 2-3

Many times throughout history, Israel sinned against God, and God used various nations to punish her, but God will always repay those nations for what they have done to Israel. Israel is the 'apple of God's eye', not because she is perfect or better than the other nations, but rather because she is chosen and bears His Name.  Whoever dares to touch Israel calls upon himself a curse and will be judged.

 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye—  I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me. 

Zechariah 2: 8-9

In the times of the end, the nations will all be judged on the basis of how they have treated Israel. 

“In those days and at that time,

    when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 

I will gather all nations

    and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

There I will put them on trial

    for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,

because they scattered my people among the nations

    and divided up my land...

Joel 3:  1-2

God will judge every nation according to how it has treated Israel. The prophecy goes on to specifically mention 'Tyre and Sidon' (Lebanon) and the 'regions of Philistia' (the Gaza Strip) :

“Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done... 

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,

    a stronghold for the people of Israel....

“Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,

    dwell in Zion, my holy hill.

Jerusalem will be holy;

    never again will foreigners invade her.

 

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine,

    and the hills will flow with milk;

    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.

A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house

    and will water the valley of acacias.

1 

But Egypt will be desolate,

    Edom a desert waste,

because of violence done to the people of Judah,

    in whose land they shed innocent blood.

20 

Judah will be inhabited forever

    and Jerusalem through all generations.

21 

Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?

    No, I will not.”

The Lord dwells in Zion!

Joel 3

In a Fox News interview, shortly after the October 7 massacre, a friend of mine, Tal Hartuv, herself a victim of a brutal terror attack, put it this way, " We are talking about a war where there are two sides, and the sides are this: it's savagery or civilization, it's a war against (sic: between) evil and good, it's dark against light, it's cruelty against kindness, and it's death against life... I am now absolutely convinced... that (the media) by giving a platform in the name of balance and hearing both sides, that is irresponsible, and it could be the death blow to Western civilization, and I mean that with all seriousness". To see the whole interview go to

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGwHfqTsKNFxHfGZbhzZQqTSgSL?projector=1

If you do not speak out in your churches, communities, and nations, you become complicit in the evil. If you don't understand what is happening, study your Bible and then filter the news through it. If you do not pray against this tide of darkness, you may very soon be overcome by it. This is a time of reckoning. Do you stand with God or against Him? With God's chosen people or against them? There is no middle ground. We must all choose our sides.