WORLD AT WAR: 1.6.24 - The War Grinds On

 The War Grinds On - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2023/12/30/the-war-grinds-on-by-daymond-duck/ I started this article on Dec. 21, 2023 (the 76th day of the Israel-Hamas war and 21 days after Hamas broke the ceasefire and the war resumed). I have the impression that the leaders of Hamas and Muslims everywhere are begging world leaders to pressure Israel to stop the destruction of Hamas. Several Arab nations have tried to get the UN Security Council to impose a permanent ceasefire; Germany, the UK, France, and others have called for a sustainable ceasefire;U.S. Pres. Biden, U.S. Sec. of State Blinken, several members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have criticized Israel’s tactics; many in the mainstream media and Hollywood have been critical of Israel; people have demonstrated againstIsrael in several countries, etc. Nevertheless, on Dec. 19, 2023, Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu said: •Whoever thinks that we will stop is detached from reality. We will not stop the fighting until all of the goals that we have set are achieved: The elimination of Hamas, therelease of our hostages, and the removal of the threat from Gaza. •All Hamas terrorists, from the first to the last, are dead men walking. They have only two possibilities: Surrender or die. So, despite the antisemitism, criticism, and disapproval, the war grinds on. The war might end sooner if world leaders would admit the truth, recognize that Hamas is causing the death of innocent people by hiding behind human shields, stop trying toprotect Hamas, and get behind Israel, but that is not likely to happen, and forcing Israel to be more careful may even cause the war to last longer. Here are some reports that appear to be significant: One, concerning wars and rumors of wars (specifically the Israeli-Hamaswar): on Dec. 20, 2023, it was reported that Israel has discovered a large tunnel network underneath the homes of Senior Hamas leaders in an affluent neighborhood near Gaza City. Senior Hamas leaders used it as an underground headquarters, for shelter, to travel to other locations before coming up above ground, to travel to some of the hospitals, tosurface at a hospital and get an ambulance to travel to other above-ground locations, and more. The Israeli military is calling this large underground network “Commander’s Square,” and they say it was operating as a “terror city.” It reportedly contained descending spiral stairs, an elevator, apartments, offices, meeting rooms, living quarters, surveillance cameras, ventilation systems, and heavy blastdoors that were used by some Hamas leaders. Some areas had food products, electricity, water, and weapons. Israel has posted pictures and videos of the complex. One military official said Israeli troops will continue to go after Hamas above ground or underground. (More.On Dec. 21, 2023, it was reported that Israel blew up the tunnels.) (My opinion:Hamas can run and hide, but Jehovah knows where they are and how to get them. Calling on world leaders to protect them is a waste of breath if Jehovah wants Israel to wipe them out. Think about it: Hamas has spent years building miles of elaborate tunnelsto hide from Israeli aircraft, and it was a waste of time, labor, materials, and money. “Commander’s Square” was destroyed in one day.) Here is a link with a picture that shows the massive explosion that happened when “Commander’s Square” was destroyed. https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-blows-subterranean-city-gaza-132347103.html Two, the Bible teaches that there will be wars and rumors of warsat the end of the age (Matt. 24:6), that the Promised Land will be divided, and God will respond by dragging the nations into the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation Period (Joel 3:2; Rev. 19:11-21). On Dec. 22, 2023, the UN Security Council passed a resolution requesting Israel and Hamas to cooperate with a UN coordinator to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the Palestinianswithout delay. There was no mention of a ceasefire in the resolution. Prior to the vote, there was a report that said the resolution also: •Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. •Demands that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations to international law. •Reiterates the UN Security Council’s commitment to the Two-State Solution (the division of the Promised Land). •Stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank and giving the Palestinian Authority “a governance role.” (More:A few hours after the UN Security Council vote, Israel announced that it is expanding the war, so the war grinds on.) (More:On Dec. 25, 2023, a writer for the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) said before the Palestinians can govern themselves, Israel must get rid of the Hamas terrorists that control Gaza. This is something the UN, the international community, and the Arabs should havedone, but they did not do it.) (More:On Dec. 25, 2023, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said, “I would not invest 15 cents in a future Palestine where Hamas is still standing.”) Three, concerning a departing from the faith at the end of theage and the establishment of a one-world false religion: in a LifeSiteNews.com article posted on Dec. 21, 2023, Roman Catholic Archbishop Vigano said Pope Francis’ recent approval of blessings for homosexual couples shows that Francis is “a servant of Satan.” Vigano called the pope’s hierarchy “false shepherds.” Vigano mentioned two things that he thinks Pope Francis wants: The damnation of homosexual couples, and To provoke Catholics to abandon his church and set him free to transform his church into “the concubine of the New World Order.” (My opinion: I have pointed out before that the pope’s age and health make it unlikely that he is the False Prophet. But if he is not the False Prophet, he is most surelya forerunner of the False Prophet. Pope Francis has clearly departed from the Scriptures on several issues.) Here is a link to Vigano’s article. https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/abp-vigano-bergoglios-approval-of-blessings-for-homosexual-couples-shows-he-is-a-servant-of-satan/?utm_source=daily-usa-2023-12-22&utm_medium=email Four, concerning the decline of America and a borderless worldgovernment: on Dec. 18-19, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel processed 26,751 illegal immigrants. 26,751 illegal immigrants were the most ever in two days, and the number would have been higher because there were more illegal immigrants waiting to be processed, but Customsand Border Protection personnel did not have enough people to process more than they did. Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars (Psa. 83, Isa. 17, Ezek.38-39): on Dec. 26, 2023, Israel’s Defense Min. Gallant told Israel’s political leaders, “We are in a multi-front war and are coming under attack from seven theatres: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (West Bank), Iraq, Yemen and Iran. We have alreadyresponded and taken action in six of these theatres.” Out of the seven attackers, the one group that Israel has not acted against is Yemen. The six that are attacking Israel are agreeing more and more with the list of nations that the Bible says will attack Israel at the end of the age. Gallant added, “We have already responded and acted in six of these areas, and I say here in the clearest way: Anyone who acts against us is a potential target, there is noimmunity for anyone.” As the war grinds on, prophecy is moving closer and closer to the prophesied scenario. (More:On Dec. 25, 2023, an Israeli strike near Damascus killed a high-ranking Iranian commander. On Dec. 27, 2023, Iran vowed that Israel will pay for that.) Six, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog and the destructionof Damascus: on Jan. 4, 2024, Iranian Pres. Raisi will visit Turkey to discuss three things: •The situation in Syria. •The situation in Gaza. •Improving the relationship between Turkey and Iran. (More:On Dec. 27, 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran has increased its production of highly enriched uranium.) Seven, concerning corruption in the UN: on Dec. 27, 2023, PrimeMin. Netanyahu said, •For too long, international officials have been deflecting blame onto Israel to cover up for the fact that they are covering up for Hamas. In failing to condemn Hamas forhijacking aid and failing to condemn it for waging war out of hospitals, they have been complicit partners in Hamas’s human shields strategy. They have let the world down. We are demanding global accountability, and now we are leading by example. The Ministryof Foreign Affairs has announced that visa requests by UN employees will no longer be granted automatically and will instead be considered on a case-by-case basis. Israel will stop working with those who cooperate with the Hamas terror regime’s propagandamachine, and we urge our allies to do the same and stand up for basic integrity in the global institutions that should serve, and not sabotage, international security. Israel believes the UN was collaborating with Hamas against Israel – overlooking the fact that Hamas was oppressing the Palestinian people, stealing foreign aid, food, fuel,etc.; and that is one of the reasons why the Israeli-Hamas war broke out. Here are some daily updates on the Israel-Hamas war. Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 (Day 75): The twentieth day of the resumed war. •Israel has come close to catching Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif, but they escaped through tunnels. •The U.S. and its allies are considering a military attack on the Houthis in Yemen following a Houthi capture of another ship in the Red Sea. Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 (Day 76): The twenty-first day of the resumed war. •Israel said they will not agree to another pause unless some of the hostages are released. •Hamas said they will not swap any more hostages for Palestinian prisoners unless Israel agrees to end its attacks. •Israel has repeatedly warned the international community (UN, EU, U.S, etc.) that Israel will act if the international community does not get Hezbollah away from Israel’sborder with Lebanon. Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 (Day 77): The twenty-second day of the resumed war. •Because of the expanding war, Israel urged the residents of central Gaza to leave and go south. •A hostage with dual citizenship (U.S.-Israel) died in captivity. •Iran is providing the Houthis in Yemen with tracking information that allows them to attack and seize ships in the Red Sea. •After Hezbollah fired 20 rockets into one location in Israel and several more at other locations, Israel struck several targets in Lebanon. Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 (Day 78): The twenty-third day of the resumed war. •Israel said it has arrested 200 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in the last week (700 since the war began). Many were hiding among civilians and surrendered without afight. •Israel said it has achieved full operational control in northern Gaza. •Iran threatened to close the Mediterranean Sea if the U.S. and Israel do not stop their crimes in Gaza. •Hamas said they have lost contact with a group that was holding 5 hostages, and they believe Israel may have killed them. •Israel is under fire from Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza (wars and rumors of wars). •The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee announced plans to investigate the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for its alleged ties to Hamas. Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 (Day 79) The twenty-fourth day of the resumed war. •Israel found 5 dead bodies of hostages (3 soldiers and 2 civilians) in a tunnel. •Israeli jets struck a Hezbollah command center in Lebanon. •Israel started constructing a half-mile buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip to be occupied by Israeli troops to separate the Palestinians from Israel. Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 (Day 80): The twenty-fifth day of the resumed war. •Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar said Hamas will not be subject to the conditions of occupation (proposals to establish a different government in Gaza). •An Israeli strike near Damascus, Syria, killed a high-ranking Iranian official. •Hezbollah rockets struck several locations in northern Israel. •Israeli jets conducted “wide-scale” strikes in Lebanon. •Netanyahu said the war in Gaza isn’t close to being finished. •The U.S. struck several Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Iraq that have attacked U.S. troops many times since the Israel-Hamas war began. •A vehicle owned by an Israeli that was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, was found at a hospital in Gaza. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 (Day 81): The twenty-sixth day of the resumed war. •Israel started arresting leaders of Palestinian terrorist groups in the West Bank (inside Israel). •An anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon hit a church in Israel and injured a man who was guarding the building. While Israeli troops were treating him, Hezbollahfired a second anti-tank missile at the church, injuring 9 Israeli soldiers. •Netanyahu said if Hamas survives, more war and bloodshed will be guaranteed, and the expectation that the PA will demilitarize Gaza is a pipe dream. So, after more than 80 days of intense fighting, the war grinds on. FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born witha sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6). Finally, are you Rapture Ready? If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believethat Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this. ------------------------------ For The Middle East, There Is No Turning Back Now� - by MichaelSnyder - https://endoftheamericandream.com/for-the-middle-east-there-is-no-turning-back-now/ There is no way to avoid an apocalyptic war in the Middle East now. Too much has been said and done, and both sides have pushed things past the point of no return. It won�tbe too long before thousands of missiles are flying back and forth, and that is going to have enormous implications for all of us. This war is going to look far different from anything we have ever seen in the Middle East before, and the level of death anddestruction that we will witness will shock the entire globe. On Wednesday, two massive explosions killed more than 100 people that had gathered in the Iranian city of Kerman on the fourth anniversary of Qasem Soleimani�s death� At least 103 people were killed Wednesday and 188 injured in the Iranian city of Kerman after twin blasts near the burial site of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani,in what officials called a terror attack. The blasts, at least one of which was caused by a bomb, state TV said, came on the fourth anniversary of Soleimani�s death in a US air strike, and threatens to acceleratetensions in the region that have spiked since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The first explosion was 2,300 feet (700 meters) from Soleimani�s grave, and the second was 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away as pilgrims visited the site, IRNA added. This was one of the deadliest attacks in modern Iranian history, and the Iranians are basically treating it as their own version of 9/11. I do not believe that Israel was involved in this attack, but no matter how hard you try you will never be able to convince Iran�s leaders otherwise. In the aftermath of the explosions, Iran�s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised that there will be a �harsh response�� Harrowing video showed scores of bloodied victims lying on the floor as others stumbled away from the blast scene close to the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque where Soleimani is buried,in what Iran has described as a �terrorist attack�. �The evil and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation once again created a disaster and martyred a large number of dear people in Kerman,� Khamenei said in a statement. �Thisdisaster will have a harsh response, God willing.� He did not name a suspect, nor has any group yet claimed responsibility for the attack. There is so much fury in Iran right now, and they will never be satisfied until they taste revenge. Of course this attack came just one day after the assassination of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in the heart of Beirut very close to Hezbollah headquarters. This was extremely humiliating for the leadership of Hezbollah, and on Wednesday Hassan Nasrallah ominously declared that his organization is ready for war �without restraint,without rules, without limits and without restrictions�� Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against waging war on Lebanon in a televised address Wednesday, a day after a strike blamed on Israel killed Hamas�s politicalnumber two, terror chief Salah al-Arouri, in a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern Beirut suburbs. �If the enemy thinks of waging a war on Lebanon, we will fight without restraint, without rules, without limits and without restrictions,� Nasrallah said in his address, whichhad been pre-planned to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of Iran�s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp general Qassem Soleimani. �We are not afraid of war,� Nasrallah said, but did not issue a concrete threat. �For now,� he said, �we are fighting on the frontline following meticulous calculations.� Not too long after Nasrallah�s speech was concluded, the IDF conducted an airstrike on a residential building in Lebanon which resulted in the death of several Hezbollah fighters� Within hours after the Nasrallah speech, Israel has conducted another major airstrike on Lebanon, this time against a residential building which housed Hezbollah members. �Two security sources told the Reuters news agency that four Hezbollah members were killed in the attack on what had been described as a residential building,� Al Jazeerareports. Importantly, �It brings the number of Hezbollah members killed on Wednesday to nine� � which suggests we are witnessing a significant escalation. I don�t think that Hezbollah was actually eager to fight a full-blown war with Israel. But after everything that has happened, there is no way that one is going to be avoided now. For security purposes, Israeli politicians are absolutely determined to push Hezbollah back beyond the Litani River. And according to the agreement that ended the last war in Lebanon, that is exactly where they are supposed to be. But Hezbollah will never agree to withdraw willingly, and so a full-blown war on the northern front is coming. The Israelis would prefer to put that conflict off until operations on the southern front are finished, and this week quite a bit of progress is being made. Here is just oneexample� Israeli forces took control of a Hamas stronghold in Gaza City, including more than 30 buildings, underground bunkers and tunnels located near civilian homes, schools andhospitals, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday. Hamas�s Eastern Military Post in Gaza City included 37 buildings featuring operational command and control rooms, the IDF said. Hamas is no match for the IDF. But Hezbollah is another matter entirely. Hezbollah has a very large army and a vast arsenal of highly sophisticated missiles that it can fire at Israeli cities. So the war on the northern front is going to look completely different from the war on the southern front. Elsewhere, western powers have issued a �final warning� to the Houthis in Yemen� The U.S., Britain and key allies issued what officials described as a final warning to the Houthi Yemeni rebel group Wednesday to cease its attacks on international shippingin the Red Sea or bear the consequences. �Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing,� says the statement issued by more than a dozen nations. �The Houthis willbear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region�s critical waterways.� The U.S. military has prepared options to strike the Iran-backed rebel group, U.S. officials say. I do not expect the Houthis to back down. And so it appears that it is likely that the U.S. military will soon be striking targets inside Yemen. In case you haven�t figured it out yet, World War III is here, and the year ahead is going to be absolutely packed with conflict. The war in the Middle East is going to be one of the biggest stories of 2024, and it is going to be absolutely horrifying. But there is no turning back now. We have been building up to this moment for decades, and soon all of the major players are going to be putting their cards on the table for everyone to see. -------------------------------- If Only the Thousands of Hamas Sympathizers Could Have Seen What I Saw� - By Rev. Franklin Graham - https://harbingersdaily.com/franklin-graham-if-only-the-thousands-of-hamas-sympathizers-could-have-seen-what-i-saw/ As we begin a new year, storm clouds continue to gather heavily around the world, even darkening our own doorsteps. As I write this, the conflict in Gaza is continuing, andthe reverberations are felt across the globe. I was there just before Thanksgiving, and what I saw greatly moved and disturbed me. I visited several kibbutzim that Hamas terrorists had attacked on the morning of Oct. 7, killing men, women and children�eveninfants. I walked through some of the homes that had been burned and scarred with hundreds of bullets. I saw craters in the floors where the terrorists had thrown hand grenades, andshrapnel pieces embedded in the walls. It seemed like every demon in hell had been let loose. I had the privilege of meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He welcomed my prayers for God�s wisdom, guidance, and peace. I also met with a young mother whose husbandwas murdered by Hamas, and a wife whose husband was taken hostage. They were so traumatized. If only the thousands of Hamas sympathizers who paraded here at home and other countries could have seen what I saw, perhaps they would realize that Hamas is nothing morethan evil, wicked men who are bent on killing as many Jews as they possibly can, ever seeking to eradicate the state of Israel�God�s chosen people, the only democracy in the Middle East and our closest ally. These terrorists are fueled by demonic hatred forthe Jewish people. In Ukraine, the conflict continues as the so-called summer offensive failed to take back much ground. Millions are suffering mightily as a cold, long winter takes hold andcritical infrastructure is targeted. Tens of thousands have died since the war began, and much of Europe still remains wary that the war will spread outside Ukraine. That would lead to a nightmare scenario. Here in the U.S., we are facing yet another election year as both parties ramp up their efforts. Crucial moral issues like abortion and the LGBTQ agenda are again front andcenter, with pro-abortion, anti-life forces working hard to counter the landmark Supreme Court ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade, leaving the issue to the states. Voters in Ohio, for example, recently �enshrined� abortion into their state constitution. MightI say it is a pagan shrine they have so enthusiastically embraced, upon which are sacrificed the innocents who are slaughtered in their mother�s womb. Our nation meanwhile continues to lay debt upon debt, with a deficit now approaching $35 trillion. That�s just hard to believe, and it seems Congress is now regularly facedwith chaotic months and weeks trying to keep the government from shutting down. Yet despite these ever darkening and threatening clouds, I remain hopeful. Not the kind of tepid, wishy-washy hope that things might improve, but the Biblical kind of hopethat is fully confident in the Lord Jesus Christ. A firm, sure, settled hope that our God is working out His plans and purposes according to His perfect will and timing. I don�t put my hope in any political party or any gathering of Congress. Only the Lordis worthy of my full hope and trust. I have hope because our God is a sovereign God. This means that He rules over every nation, every head of state, every known military power. There is no prime minister, president, parliament, congress, nation nor personover whom God does not reign. �The king�s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes�(Proverbs 21:1). One well-known Bible teacher said, �There is not one maverick molecule in the universe over which God is notsovereign.� �Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases� (Psalm 115:3). �The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations� (Psalm 33:10-11). �It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers � He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of theearth useless� (Isaiah 40:22-23). The Lord is not only the all-powerful God Almighty; He is a wise God. Everything He does, He accomplishes in perfect wisdom, though we may not understand it for now. His plansare expertly and perfectly crafted in divine omniscience. No military, political or financial strategy can even begin to outwit Him. No scheme of man or demons can touch His supreme wisdom. All the wisdom of the world put together is but a grain of sand comparedto God�s infinite wisdom. �To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever� (Romans 16:27). �O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all� (Psalm 104:24). �In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge� (Colossians 2:3). The Lord is not only all powerful and all wise, but He is also all loving. For His children, all that He does�even hard discipline�flows from His love for us. He saved usbecause of His great love (Ephesians 2:4), He sent His Son to die for our sins that we might receive eternal life because He so loved the world (John 3:16), and we can count on the fact that He works everything together for good�all the circumstances of ourlife�for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). One of the most oft repeated refrains in Scripture is in the 136th Psalm: �Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever� (Psalm 136:1). Nothing, absolutely nothing�no war, no wicked rulers, no failed government, no death, no disease, no demonic power, no created thing�can separate us from the love of God inChrist Jesus our Lord. So as the New Year is upon us, I am completely confident that our powerful, wise and loving God will work all things together for the good of His children, even those thingswhich are evil and not good. I am hopeful that as we preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, He will bring thousands to repentance and saving faith�people who will receive the marvelous, unsurpassed giftof eternal life. In this world, in this coming year, we will all face various trials and challenges. It won�t be easy. Life never is. The world may seem like it is unraveling before our eyes.But we can have an overarching and abiding joy, since in the words of our Lord, �I have overcome the world� (John 16:33). ------------------------------- Israelis Are Heartbroken and Wounded� But We Are Not Defeated � By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/amir-tsarfati-israelis-are-heartbroken-and-wounded-but-we-are-not-defeated/ (Galilee, Israel) � Shalom from Israel! Along with the rest of the world, many in my country celebrated the beginning of a new year. However, instead of the sound of champagnecorks and the singing of Auld Lang Syne, we rang in the turn of the calendar to the tune of air attack sirens and the deafening sounds of our low-flying fighter jets. Lest that sound pessimistic, let me tell you that I in no way feel negative about the future of Israel. We are sorrowful, wounded, and heartbroken. But we are not defeated.In fact, it is just the opposite. The Israeli people are filled with a scowling, jaw-clenched determination that should have those who are set on harming us running deeper into their tunnels. The year 2024 will see Israel at peace and without any more fearof what is just on the other side of its borders. To get there, though, it is going to take another six-to-nine months. That is what the US administration and the United Nations need to understand. Well, maybe not the UN � they�re hopeless. But the pressure and the restrictions that my government is dealing with from Washington is threatening to hobble the effort. How do people not understand that this is not just an anti-terror action? This is an all-out war against a realenemy. When the Americans and the British bombed Dresden, Germany, in February 1945, there were no restrictions demanding that the 3,900 tons of explosives be precision directedonly at military targets. There was no requirement that humanitarian aid be immediately provided as part of the assault. Instead, it was determined that the reward of shortening the war was worth the cost of the devastation. It was the same thinking used toend the War in the Pacific. But the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are not indiscriminately bombing. In fact, they are doing everything they can to avoid civilian casualties. The war in Gaza could havebeen completed before the end of October with far fewer Israelis hurt and killed if the IDF didn�t care about civilians. Instead, the military gave up the advantage of surprise in order to warn Gazans to flee areas that would soon be targeted. Also, they limitedthe size and strength of the ordnance used if civilian targets would be put at great risk. What does Israel get for their care in the prosecution of the war? The Gazan perpetrators are made victims by the press, and the US administration warns our prime ministerthat he better stop the �indiscriminate bombings�. Academics, social influencers, protest organizers, and the talking heads on television all agree that the while the Palestinians may have possibly gone a bit overboard in expressing their legitimate rage onOctober 7, it can certainly be understood after so many years of repression. What ultimately needs to happen to bring peace in the land is summed up in the catchy little phrase, �From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free!� For those of you who maynot get what is meant by �free�, just add �Jew-� in front of the word and that should clarify it. I wish there was a magic wand that Benjamin Netanyahu could wave that would give us peace on all our borders. But that kind of security only comes through perseverance, hardwork, and time. Israel is determined to see it through. While I would love to think that Washington will stand with us the whole time, I am not that na�ve. But there is a bigger, global entity that I believe is even more important to have as an ally. Thatis the church. Already, I am seeing cracks in the resolve of the worldwide church when it comes to Israel. Some are condemning the country�s actions. Many more are just ignoring it, afraid to speak of it out loud for fear of offense or reprisals. I call onthe church to pray in your services for Israel. I call on the church to pray in groups and as individuals. We show our love for God when we love that which He loves. Please, encourage your pastors to weekly bring the safety of Israel before the One who considersthis backslidden nation to be, even now, the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8 KJV � �For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of hiseye.� IDF Assassinates Major Hamas Commander Tuesday night saw a meeting of key leaders of the terrorist organization, Hamas. Among those attending the meeting was Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy chairman of the PoliticalBureau of Hamas. Born in the West Bank, al-Arouri joined early with Hamas, and in 1993 he founded the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, which is the military wing of the terrorist organization. He continued to rise in the ranks until he became the most importantperson in Hamas outside of Gaza. That came to an end when an Israeli airstrike targeted al-Arouri�s Tuesday night meeting. He was instantly killed, along with five other terrorist leaders. Not only was thisan embarrassment to Hezbollah since the meeting was taking place in their headquarters, but more importantly this is a major blow to Hamas. Al-Arouri was the number two man in Hamas and deputy to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. But his elimination is even more significant than if it had been Haniyeh taken out. Al-Arouri was a strategic terrorist. He was a creator, an initiator, and an implementer. He was also ambitious and very charismatic. The elimination of Haniyeh might havebeen more symbolic in nature, but taking al-Arouri will have far greater impact and it is a shame it didn�t happen earlier. To learn more about this attack, watch my short Breaking News Update from immediately after the event. IDF Working Hard in Khan Yunis There are five governorates to Gaza descending southwards. The first two, North Gaza and Gaza City, are firmly under IDF control. Rather than continue to the third, Deir el-Balah,the IDF has focused its attention on the fourth governorate of Khan Yunis. They are doing this to try to cut off the gradual southward retreat of Hamas. If the fleeing terrorists were able to make it all the way to the fifth governorate of Rafah, then they would potentially be able to flee across the border into Egypt. Thisis why, if you follow my Telegram, you have seen so much activity in Khan Yunis this past week. Beyond the activity in the south, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has been very busy in the north. Iranian officers and proxy militias bore the brunt of the attacks in Syria,while Hezbollah targets were incessantly pounded in Lebanon. Extraordinary Number of Chinese Weapons in Gaza The IDF says that it has seized a �massive� amount of Chinese manufactured weaponry in Gaza. Defenders of China have said that it is impossible because China does not sellweapons to the Middle East. This short-sighted response ignores the round-about way weapons travel, particularly within what seems to be an emerging axis of evil between China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran with its minion proxy militias. So, while China may claim to have a strict control over the flow of their weaponry, it is likely that the containment practices of their arms factories are similar to thatof their biological labs. Houthis Given Stern Warning A stern warning was issued to the Houthis by a coalition of 13 countries, led by the United States. A joint statement issued by the coalition read, �Ongoing attacks in theRed Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing�. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region�s critical waterways.� In the last three months, there have been approximately 24 attacks on international shipping in the area. U.S. Bases in Iraq and Syria Under Constant Attack There have been at least 118 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since October 17. The perpetrators of these assaults are the Iranian-led proxy militias. While they�resending suicide drones toward U.S. troops, the Washington administration continues to play footsie with the ayatollahs holding out hope for some sort of nuclear deal. For those of you in America who are reading about this, how many of you knew that the attacks were this extensive? If you didn�t, then ask yourself why you didn�t? There�san event coming the first Tuesday in November that might have something to do with it. Explosions in Iran Cause Hundreds of Casualties An explosion yesterday sent shrapnel flying into the massive crowd that had gathered in Kerman Martys Cemetery, located just over 500 miles southeast of Tehran, to commemoratethe death of assassinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. The fleeing crowd funneled onto Shohada Street, where twenty minutes after the first blast took place a second bomb went off. It is here that most of the casualties occurred.So far, at least 103 are known to be dead, while another 211 are wounded. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the terror attack, but sources in the U.S. speculate it to be ISIS or a related group. It is also possible that it is one of themany disgruntled minority populations that make up between one-third to one-half of Iran�s population. Iran, however, claims that they know who the perpetrators are. Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of staff for political affairs to the Iranian president, posted on X today, �Washington says USA and Israel had no role in the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first. Make no mistake. The responsibility for this crime lies with the US and Zionist regimes and terrorism is just a tool.� The Islamic regime knows full well that it is neither the U.S. nor Israel, but their own opposition. But less than 24 hours after the assassination of al-Arouri, it�s muchmore convenient to make Israel the scapegoat. Turkey�s Skyrocketing Inflation It�s possible that Turkey�s President Erdogan needs to stop worrying about Israel�s prosecution of its war and start focusing on his own economy. The inflation rate finishedthe year near 65%. A shift in philosophy at the central bank this past June has led to interest rates lifting from 8.5% to 42.5% six months later. Unfortunately, from what we know about Erdogan, this kind of news will not quiet him on the world stage. It willonly make him more dangerous. Difficult Start for Japan�s New Year A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Ishakawa Prefecture on New Year�s Day. At least 55 people were killed, and there was widespread damage to roads and houses. The next day,sorrow compounded sorrow when a JAL jet carrying 379 people collided on the ground with a Coast Guard plane preparing to aid victims of the quake. Everyone on board the passenger plane survived, but five of the six on the smaller plane perished. South Africa Accuses Israel of Genocide The South African government has filed a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. Apparently, the country�s ANC-dominated leadership has forgotten what genocide really is. To refresh their memories, they are welcome to look back at the Hamas-led atrocitieson October 7. Or, if they prefer something closer to home, their constant turning of a blind eye to the massacring of white farmers all across South Africa speaks well of the concept. Israel has chosen to defend itself against the charges, and South Africa is demanding that the case, which would normally take several years to adjudicate, be dealt with directly. In the meantime, they are asking the court to issue a legally binding injunction for Israel to �immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza.� Should thisoccur, I am positive that the Netanyahu administration will give the demand the due that it gives everything connected to the United Nations. For all of Behold Israel�s dear friends in South Africa, especially those who have contacted us apologizing for this court case, let me assure you that we recognize that thisis your ANC-led government, not you. We pray for you as you struggle under their leadership, even as you faithfully pray for us in the difficulties we bear. --------------------------------