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Wars and Rumors of Wars

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The Lord said to me [Jeremiah], “From the north calamity shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.” 

Jeremiah 1:14 NKJ

The Dangerous Scope of the War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said recently that Israel is fighting battles in seven sectors across the Middle East – against Hamas in Gaza, against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against the Houthis in Yemen, against the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, against Iran itself and against Palestinian terrorists in Judea and Samaria.

Furthermore, the Jewish state faces a diplomatic battle against the International Criminal Court, whose chief prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and even the IDF itself.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu insists that he will resist international pressure in pursuit of the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, bringing the hostages home, and ensuring Palestinian terrorists never again pose a threat from Gaza.

“We are committed to total victory,” Netanyahu said. He emphasized that he was not prepared to accept Hamas’ demand that Israel halt the war without achieving war goals.

“Our future will not exist here against the axis of evil of Iran and its proxies if we simply fold our hands,” he said. He reiterated that among those war goals was the safe return of all the hostages.

Since Oct. 8, Hezbollah – Iran’s greatest proxy on the northern Israeli border – has been firing rockets and drones from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. The attacks have escalated over recent days, forcing more than 100,000 Israelis in northern Israel to evacuate their cities, farms, and villages. 

Photo from Buzzkue – Hezbollah Rocket and Drone Attacks Spark Fires in Northern Israel.

Tragically, in the Galilee area, Hezbollah rockets have caused many fires, consuming thousands of acres of forests.

Israel is rightly concerned that a full-blown war with Hezbollah would cause many deaths and much destruction in Israel. Unfortunately for Lebanon, already a failing state controlled by Hezbollah, it also faces great destruction from which it might never recover.

There is pressure on Israel from the Biden administration that is increasing its efforts to de-escalate the growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in order to prevent a full-scale war. 

Hezbollah is using the war against Hamas as an excuse for its attacks in order to achieve its goal of taking from Israel the Har Dov strategic area, a region lying one hundred feet south of the Lebanese border. However, Har Dov is already recognized by the UN as Israeli territory. 

Nevertheless, Lebanon (Hezbollah) claims the area as its own. The US administration has been involved in talks with Lebanese officials to resolve the conflict. Unfortunately, the Lebanese government is powerless against Hezbollah. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he is committed to returning the evacuated Israeli citizens to their homes by finishing the fighting either by diplomatic or military efforts. 

“Hamas, and the other Iranian proxies, understand very well that we will fight with all means against their terrorism . … “Whoever tries to hurt us, whoever finances and organizes, whoever dispatches terrorists against Israel – will pay the full price,” Netanyahu said.

In response, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that any Israeli military action in Lebanon including the assassination of Lebanese, Palestinian, or Iranian officials would drive his organization to retaliate.

In his recent visit with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant stressed the urgent need for immediate UN intervention in de-escalating tensions by strengthening UN peacekeepers’ authority in the region, ensuring their freedom of movement, and implementing their mandate. “Israel will not tolerate increasing threats to the security of its citizens, and will act as required in their defense,” Gallant added.

While Israel seeks first a diplomatic solution, it is obvious that the Proxies of Iran (including Hezbollah) will violate any and every ceasefire or peace agreement as they have always done in the past.
 

Our Past Treaty with Lebanon

Following the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, the ceasefire agreement and Security Council Resolution 1701 demanded from Israel a complete cessation of hostilities against Hezbollah in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the establishment of a zone from Lebanon’s border with Israel to the Litani River “free of any armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon” and a U.N. force presence. 

While Israel honored the agreement, Hezbollah did not. The 10,000 U.N. troops deployed to enforce the demilitarization of southern Lebanon were powerless against Hezbollah’s blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement as Hezbollah hid thousands of missiles in mosques, hospitals, schools, and homes. Gradually, with the help of Iran, Hezbollah has increased in power in Lebanon, politically and militarily.

The question now is, how long can Israel allow Iran’s proxy on its northern border to continue its daily attacks, turning the Galilee region into an uninhabitable fire zone?

For now, the Israeli army continues to battle Hamas in Gaza in the south, while preparing for all-out war against Hezbollah in the north. 

Eventually, Israel must end the attacks from both terrorist jihadist groups.
 

With God’s Help

As Netanyahu has said in many of his speeches: “With God’s help we will win.”

Many in Israel, Arabs and Jews, and around the world join the effort to cover our country with prayers following the escalation security situation in the face of the treat of full-out war with Hezbollah are praying for this situation, including us in the Prayer and Worship tent on our roof here in Ashdod. Please join us in this effort. 

Pray for the protection of the citizens in the Galilee and our soldiers who are fighting on all fronts.

This is not just a physical war but mainly a spiritual war, as our chief enemy, is determined to annihilate the Jewish people. We trust the God of Israel and the world, Adonai Tzevaot will not abandon His people.

…For You [Lord] have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

Psalm 3:7-8 NKJ

Other image: Photo from the Wall Street Journal. The Iron Dome in action.

The U.S. Administration – Friend or Foe of Israel?

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“It will come about on that day
that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples;
all who lift it will injure themselves severely.
And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”

Zechariah 12:3 NAS

Pledging Total Victory over Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still pledging “total victory” against the Palestinian jihadists of Hamas.

“We will finish the task with our brave soldiers,” he said, “and ensure the civilian population has corridors to safety.”

For the last few months, Israel has been preparing to extend its activities to Rafah, Gaza’s south most city, with the intent to continue its full-scale operation in the Gaza Strip, ‘paving the way for a shift to a lower-intensity phase of targeted airstrikes and special forces operations.’ According to an Israeli military chief, this will happen after significantly damaging Hamas’ last remaining stronghold.

In order to achieve victory, Israel must dismantle Hamas’ control in Rafah. However, world leaders are more concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Rafah even though Israel encourages Gazans to evacuate their homes in order to avoid civilian casualties. While planning Operation Rafah, targeting Hamas fighters, command centers, and tunnels, the IDF is also taking extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties.

“There were 24 regional battalions in Gaza – we have dismantled 18 of them. Rafah is the last Hamas stronghold,” a top military Israeli stated. A Hamas official based in Qatar told the press that some 6,000 terrorists have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7; about half of the 12,000 IDF claims to have been killed. The Hamas source claimed the terrorist group is prepared for a long war in Rafah.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s options are difficult and ours are too. He can occupy Gaza but Hamas is still standing and fighting. He hasn’t achieved his goals to kill the Hamas leadership or annihilate Hamas.”
 

Who Decides for Israel?

In every Israeli war a coalition of world leaders along with some Israeli traitors, have tried to sabotage a full Israeli victory in military operation, or all-out war. They unite for the sole purpose of Israel’s defeat, especially when Israel is very close to complete victory. And this is exactly what is happening right now with world leaders, even Israel’s supposed ally, U.S. President Biden.   

Picture from Times of Israel.

While at the beginning of the war, Biden was supporting Israel in eliminating Hamas in Gaza, he is now doing everything in his power to ensure the survival of Hamas. By providing Gaza with fuel and humanitarian aid that Hamas steals at gunpoint, as well as unending pressure on Israel for a long cease-fire, Biden ensures Hamas’ survival over total Israeli victory and the release of Israeli hostages.                                                                                                     

Naturally, this aligns with Hamas’ aspirations for a long cease-fire that will prevent a full Israeli operation and Hamas’ defeat in Rafah.

Hamas hopes for a long cease-fire that will prevent a full-scale Israel operation and Hamas’ defeat in Rafah, Israel last crucial phase of the battle, which will ensure Israel’s complete victory.

Israel’s future as a sovereign, Jewish nation in the land of Israel is at stake. Not entering Rafah was a risk Israel could not afford to take. Not entering Rafah would have been a military disaster preventing Hamas’ complete destruction as a military and political ruler in Gaza.

Victory is so close, as PM Netanyahu said. It is a matter of weeks, not months.

President Biden worries that an Israeli ground operation crossing into Rafah through the Egyptian border will harm his relationship with Egypt as he says, “I’ve worked very hard to make sure we have a relationship and help. I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet that they’re not going to get our support if, in fact, they go into these population centers.”

Rafah is the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip with an estimated million displaced people. It is also the entry point for much of the humanitarian aid into the Strip. Moreover, most of the Hamas leaders and remaining military forces are there, Israel says, along with the remaining hostages, both alive and dead.

Pictured left: Rafah Crossing from Wikipedia

Biden said a potential invasion of Rafah was ‘a red line’ for him.

In an interview, U.S. President Biden said he believes Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in his approach to the war, adding “He must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.”

Finally, the IDF has begun conducting what it describes as ‘targeted strikes’ against Hamas operatives in eastern Rafah. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli aircraft struck more than 50 terrorist targets in Rafah amid the evacuation of residents in the area and the expansion of the humanitarian area in other parts of Gaza.

However, it was with limited force, which would not overtake all the Hamas forces there. In this first stage, Israeli soldiers attacked the east side of Rafah, which is mainly sand with little population and not many tunnels. It is obvious that this stage will not conquer Hamas but may bring them into agreement with Israeli terms to release the hostages.

Pictured Right: Map of Rafah Crossing from Twitter, Jordan News Daily

PM Netanyahu faces another problem in bringing into the war cabinet his rival, former defense minister, Benny Gantz. At the start of the war, this was essential in order to form an emergency, united coalition to unite the nation in the war effort. However, Gantz sides more with Biden than with Netanyahu.

It seems that Biden is more interested in removing Netanyahu as PM than in destroying Hamas. Netanyahu made it clear that his government will not allow for a Palestinian state under the current Palestinian authority in the West Bank and/or Gaza, which is part of Biden’s administration’s ‘regional

Integration’ policy. This policy allows Iran to continue operating through its proxies in the Middle East, with the goal of destroying Israel.

Biden sees Netanyahu as an obstacle to his plan to ‘share the neighborhood’ with Israel’s enemies. Hence, Biden and his administration want Netanyahu’s opponents to do the work for them – to defeat Netanyahu by interfering in Israel’s politics and war effort.And There is Benny

Biden has found a partner in Benny Gantz, hoping Gantz will replace Netanyahu as Israel’s next PM and form a left-wing coalition more favorable to his Two-state Solution, giving Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians.

Never before has a U.S. administration so undermined Israeli democracy and sovereignty, dictating to an Israeli PM and army how to fight its enemies who seek to destroy the one and only Jewish state.
 

Why is Israel So Concerned?

Trusting in the U.S. presidential declarations – Obama’s and Biden’s included – to always support Israel, Israel stopped heavy precision ammunition productions decades ago and relied on its ally, the U.S. for unconditional supply of the ammunition. But this has backfired.

Now, dependent on American ammunition, Israel has given in to Biden’s demands to supply the Gazan enemy with massive humanitarian aid – the U.S. is even building a seaport to subvert Israel’s control of the flow of goods into Gaza – and respond with minimum force to Iran’s massive missile attack thereby, according to Biden’s request, preventing an escalation in the region.

President Biden and many Democrats publicly used foul language against Netanyahu. The Jewish Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, called on Israel to hold new elections, saying he believed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ‘lost his way’ and was an obstacle to peace in the region.
 

What Can the President Gain or Lose in this War?

By using Israeli and American Jewish leftists who oppose Netanyahu, Biden desires to disassociate himself from an anti-Israel or anti-Semitic image which could damage his re-election in key states like Florida, Arizona, and Michigan in light of anti-Jewish and pro-Hamas mobs across U.S. campuses.

Sadly, there exist anti-Zionist government Israeli officials who seem to be U.S. administration collaborators, likewise using mob demonstrations against Netanyahu. The Israeli organizers of these anti-Bibi demonstrations admit that they are in constant communication with the White House.
 

Where Do We Stand Now?

Last week, U.S. President Biden ordered PM Netanyahu not to enter the City of Rafah. During their 30-minute phone conversation between them, that Biden warned that should Israel go forward with the ground operation in Rafah, he would withhold military aid to Israel. Netanyahu made it clear that to defeat Hamas there was no choice but to conduct the ground operation in Rafah, wherein remain Hamas’ last four terrorist battalions.

Biden stated he is willing to supply Israel with defensive weapons such as the Iron Dome, but not weapons and artillery shells capable of destroying the vicious Hamas enemy.

“We will fight with our fingernails if we have to” responded PM Netanyahu.

Picture by M&AB// Mahsanai Hashuk

Please pray!

  • Israeli forces have gone into east Rafah. Along with killing about 50 Hamas terrorists, there were also Israeli casualties at the time of this writing. Please pray for the safety of the Israeli fighters.
  • Some brave Israeli citizens are blocking the entrance of “humanitarian aide” trucks “until our hostages are returned”. Please pray for the success of Israel in finding and rescuing the hostages.
  • Rockets continue to come into the north and the south, aimed at Israeli civilians. Please pray for protection of our forces and for them to be able to stop the attacks.
  • There are terror events in Judah and Samaria. Please pray for Israeli forces success of the counter-terrorist fighting.
  • Please pray for an increase of Israeli forces in Rafah and complete victory over the remaining Hamas forces.

Netanyahu’s Impossible Choice

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“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever…” Exodus 14:13


“The LORD is a man of war…“Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.” Exodus 15:1, 6 (NKJ)

Picture from facebook: The title on this photo translated is: “With God’s help, there is going to be a great miracle”. The most repeated photographs of those who were kidnapped are of the red-headed boys of the Bibas family. Yarden and Shiri Bibas and their 9-month-old and 4-year-old sons Kfir and Ariel were kidnapped from their home on October 7th. They are still held hostage.

Choices and Decisions in Wartime

     Educated at a top private school in England, the Britisher Alan Turing was considered a mathematics genius from an early age. He entered the University of Cambridge to study mathematics in 1931. He was already working part-time for the British Government’s Code and Cypher School before World War II with Germany broke out in September 1939. Turing then accepted a full-time, top-secret post at the British Army War-time Headquarters in Buckinghamshire, along with a team of other mathematical geniuses to head the development of a code-breaking machine that would decipher the military codes of the Enigma, the German devise used to encode strategic messages during the war.

     After many unsuccessful tries, and very close to the deadline given by his employer, Turing’s machine was finally able to crack the German Enigma code just as the Germans planned to blow up a British war vessel with 500 hundred men on board. The team members were excited at the possibility of saving the men’s lives and hurried to make a phone call to inform headquarters of the good news. However, Turing grabbed the phone and said: “No, we are not going to disclose this breakthrough that would let the Germans know that we have decoded the Enigma. They will then destroy it and build another one. We must guard this secret even from our military.” All agreed except one whose brother was on board the vessel. He begged Turing to save his brother’s life. It was a difficult decision for Turing but with much determination, he declared that winning the war and saving millions of lives took precedence over saving a few hundred lives.

     Subsequently, for the rest of the war, Turing’s machine supplied the Allies with large quantities of military intelligence. By early 1942, it had decoded monthly about 39,000 intercepted messages, a figure that rose to over 84,000 per month—two messages every minute, day and night. In 1942, Turing also devised the first systematic method for decoding messages encrypted by the sophisticated German cipher machine that the British called “Tunny.”

     In the end, thanks to Turing, the war was shortened by two years, and about 14 million lives were saved.

A Similar Dilemma

     In today’s war between Israel and Hamas, Israeli PM Netanyahu and the war cabinet now face a similar dilemma.

     On October 7, 2023, on the last day of the holiday of Succoth, Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel via land, air, and sea, committing atrocities upon residents in the entire region. During the massacre, the terrorists murdered in cold blood more than 1,200 innocent civilians, including infants, young and old, and youth who were partying at a peace music festival. Additionally, Hamas abducted 240 Israelis into the Gaza Strip.

     It was a declaration of war that Israel has since been fighting. Israel has three main goals:

  1. destroying Hamas as a military and ruling force in Gaza;
  2. the return of the hostages; and
  3. ensuring Hamas will no longer threaten Israel’s security.

     Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed again a few days ago to continue the offensive war in the Gaza Strip until achieving a “crushing victory” against Hamas.

     At the end of November 2023, a week’s ceasefire was declared. Hamas released 105 hostages and Israel freed 240 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, after Hamas violated the pause, the Israeli army resumed fighting. To date, there remain some 136 hostages, some alive and some murdered (the IDF has so far confirmed 31 hostages who have been killed, including the bodies of 2 soldiers kept by Hamas since 2014.)

     Presently, Netanyahu refuses to accept another so-called “deal” with Hamas for the release of the remaining abducted Israelis, claiming that Hamas’ new conditions are unacceptable.

     In protest, the families of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip are protesting and have recently shut down a vital road in Tel Aviv to demand an immediate deal with Hamas for the release of their loved ones. On the other hand, thousands of Israeli right-wing demonstrators protested in Jerusalem and demanded the government not stop the fighting in Gaza, even for the negotiations with Hamas, which would result in Israel losing the war.

     PM Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting public pressure, including from some politicians affiliated with his War Cabinet. However, Netanyahu is standing firm. He said at a news conference a few days ago: “Giving in to the outrageous demands of Hamas will not only fail to bring about the release of the hostages but will invite an additional massacre and disaster for Israel. The day after the war is the day after Hamas; not part of Hamas, not half of Hamas,” meaning ALL of Hamas. According to Netanyahu, the Israeli army is on the way to a complete victory that will take not years but months. “We will continue until the end,” he said, “There is no other solution besides complete victory.”

     As Turing’s decision was in WWII to win the war and save millions at the cost of several hundred lives, so is Netanyahu’s decision to win the war and save the entire Jewish nation, unfortunately, at the cost, if necessary, of less than a hundred precious lives.

Our Prayer Focus

     In this vein, we at the prayer tent are now meeting four times a week in prayer, supplication with thanksgiving, believing for a miracle, the release of the hostages, and complete victory over Israel’s vicious enemy. As with God’s miracle when He saved the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, when He parted the Red Sea and the Israelites crossed over on dry land and He then drowned the Egyptian army that pursued them. As the Lord said then to Israel: “the Egyptians you see today, you will see no more.” The enemy of Israel was completely destroyed, while Israel was saved.

     We pray for a similar miracle today, for God to bring the Israeli hostages home safely, while Hamas is completely destroyed by the collapse of their own tunnels. Hamas in Gaza we will see no more. Amen!
 

News Flash

Monday we got the news that 2 hostages were rescued by the IDF in a daring mission in the southern Gaza Strip. Today is the 129th day of the war – and of their captivity. This is much-welcomed news and so encouraging. Please pray for more of the same.
 

Please Join Us in Prayer

  • Please pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu – strength, health, divine guidance.
  • Pray that the objectives of this war are accomplished.
  • Pray that the objectives of the Lord concerning the salvation of souls will be accomplished.
  • Pray for our soldiers, our hostages, and the many wounded, widowed, and orphaned by the war.
  • Pray for the evacuees who are unable to return to their homes.
  • Pray for those of us called to pray, that we will not grow weary but continue in strength to intercede as we see things unfolding.

War of Words

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Israel vs. South Africa

O God…See how your enemies growl… With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab…and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them… who said, “Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God.” Psalm 83: 1-8, 12    

Picture: "The Israeli delegation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel, January 11, 2024. (Photo: International Court of Justice)" Picture and caption from Mondoweiss.net
Picture: “The Israeli delegation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel, January 11, 2024. (Photo: International Court of Justice)” Picture and caption from Mondoweiss.net

Israel is facing another line of battle – a war of words. South Africa has petitioned The International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. Now Israel must defend itself in words and not in deeds. It accuses South Africa in turn of an “absurd blood libel,” that the allegations are baseless and inciteful of antisemitism. Moreover, if anyone is guilty of genocide, it is Hamas who carried out a genocidal attack on October 7.

In this war of words, the accusing South Africa must convince the ICJ that Israel acted with specific intentions to bring about the destruction of a nation, race, or religion – in this case, Gazan Palestinians. Were that Israel’s intention, there is no doubt that Israel has the military power and means to bring about the complete destruction of Gaza in a short time. Despite the sophisticated legal arguments accompanied by abstract concepts and elevated language, a simple truth emerges:   

  • Hamas declared war against the entire nation of Israel whereas Israel responded by warring against the Hamas terror organization only. 
  • Hamas uses its own Gazan citizens as human shields in an effort to show the world that Israel targets women and children. In fact, the Israeli army does its utmost to avoid civilian casualties.
  • During the three-month battle, out of a population of about 2 million, approximately only 14,000 civilians and around 9,000 Hamas fighters died, all within one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
         Tragically, civilians are killed in all wars. In this war, however, the relatively small number of civilian deaths cannot support any intent on Israel’s part to commit genocide nor that genocide is taking place.


What is the International Court of Justice?

The ICJ, or World Court, based in the Hague, the Netherlands, was established in 1945 as the United Nations’ judicial arm to resolve international disputes between states and to issue advisory opinions on matters of international law at the request of UN entities.

According to international law, the legal basis for the charge of “genocide” (a 1940 term introduced by Holocaust survivor Raphael Lemkin to ensure the absence of impunity for mass killings like those in the Holocaust) is a specific intention to bring about the destruction of a nation, race, or religion either wholly or partially.

It will likely take years for the ICJ to examine these claims and reach a decision on their merits.

During these lengthy deliberations, South Africa hopes the Court will force Israel to stop the war in Gaza. To this end, South Africa has asked that Israel be found in violation of the Genocide Convention, be forced to cease hostilities, and take measures to provide victims with redress.

Furthermore, South Africa alleges that Israel has failed to prevent and punish incitement to genocide committed by members of the government and others. 

Why is South Africa Accusing Israel of Genocide?

The case filed by South Africa is only the latest of a long series of anti-Israel positions the country has taken. In recent years, its historic alliance with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) has shifted to also include Hamas, the antisemitic terror organization that controls Gaza.

Present accusations represent the most dangerous and deceptive rhetoric to date. The implied hypocrisy is that the survivors of the Shoah genocide are now themselves committing genocide, making it a powerful accusation in the war of words against Israel. 

What is Behind South Africa’s Stance?

The anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian government of South Africa, the African National Congress, is likely seeking more votes in the upcoming national elections wherein the ICJ claim may provide a distraction from pressing domestic issues such as persistent unemployment, inequality, and poverty.

Last November, South Africa recalled its diplomats from Israel and called on the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders for “statements of genocidal intent” and other alleged war crimes. Israel withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria for consultation.

South Africa’s legal team is led by John Dugard, who falsely accused Israel of committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians when he served as the UN’s special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories during the 2000s. Now he seeks victory at the ICJ.

Also joining the South African delegation is former U.K. opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, a fierce critic of Israel who recently refused to call Hamas a terror group. Corbyn was ousted by the Labour Party after a report revealed rampant antisemitism that forced a number of Jewish members and lawmakers to leave the party at the time. Now he is seeking victory to redeem himself.

How will Israel Prove that the Accusation is Baseless?

Israel has recorded proof of the October 7 massacre demonstrating that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is in self-defense, a response to a genocidal attack against it by Hamas. Israel’s proof satisfies international law. This would convey to the Court that it would be inappropriate to order Israel to cease its defensive military operations. 

Israel’s team will also emphasize the extensive precautionary measures taken by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) to avoid disproportionately harming Palestinian civilians and Israel’s ongoing humanitarian relief to Gaza since mid-October to render baseless South Africa’s assertion that Israel is acting with genocidal intent.

Since the start of the war, Israel has transferred over 11,000 tons of medical supplies to Gaza. Israel has also transferred over 78,870 metric tons of food, 17,260 metric tons of water, and 16,210 metric tons of shelter equipment. 

Israel’s team will likely rebut South Africa’s accusations by pointing to oft-repeated statements by those with actual command authority that Israel’s war is against Hamas, not Palestinian civilians in Gaza. 

Officials, Leaders, and Experts Around the World Rebut South Africa’s Claim 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the accusation of genocide “meritless”. It’s particularly galling, given that those who are attacking Israel – Hamas, Hizballah, the Houthis, as well as their supporter, Iran – continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews,” he said. 

John Kirby, communications coordinator for the U.S. National Security Council, also called South Africa’s allegation “meritless, counterproductive, and completely without basis in fact whatsoever.”

In earlier statements, he said the term “genocide” to describe the Israeli operation is inappropriate: “What Hamas wants, make no mistake about it, is genocide. They want to wipe Israel off the map …That’s genocidal intentions,” Kirby said last December. “It is obvious that Israel is not trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map. Israel’s not trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat. If we’re going to start using that word – fine. Let’s use it appropriately.”

A spokesman for the German government has made it clear that Germany does not view Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide.

Retired Canadian Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella also has lambasted South Africa’s genocide case against Israel as an abuse of the postwar legal order.

Meanwhile, French historian Vincent Duclert, who examined France’s role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis, has said “a humanitarian situation, even frightening, is not enough to define genocide.”

• Some of the information in this newsletter was taken from an article by Dr. Dotan Rouss, who holds a Ph.D. in Law and was a criminal prosecutor in Israel. 


Please Pray

Thank you friends for praying with us for justice. For nations and people to realize that Israel is still in the plan of God and the powers of darkness are trying to destroy her, in our time, through radical Jihadi Islam through the destruction of Israel to prevent God’s plan from being fulfilled. Thank you also for your prayers for the Israeli government, the hostages, and the many thousands who evacuated their homes along the borders where the war is still going on.

  1. Pray against the distraction of lawfare against our government – and also against anything else that brings division and disunity to Israelis.
  2. While Israel does its best to rid the land of terrorism both for the sake of Jewish and Arab Israelis and also for Palestinians including Gazans, please pray for success in this mission.
  3. Please pray that Israel rescue the hostages very soon.
  4. Pray that Hamas is Contained and Restrained in any way the Lord sees fit.
  5. Pray for protection for the IDF and all of the non-involved citizens of Israel.
  6. Pray that the plans of the enemy are thwarted in every way.

The Plan to Annihilate the Jews

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Did Iran’s Plan Backfire?

‘Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. What the enemy has purposed for destruction, God will turn around for good.’ Proverbs 19:21 NIV

As we wrote in previous newsletters, the plans and purposes of the enemies of Israel and the Jews – Hamas and other terrorist organizations – are to destroy and annihilate the Jews and steal the Land of Israel they call Palestine. These goals are stated very clearly in Hamas’ creed. They are also the plans of Iran’s Ayatollah’s regime, as they’ve declared many times. For this purpose, Iran has masterminded a diabolical plan with its proxies;

to the north of Israel

Lebanon: Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists with many thousands of missiles, some of them precision-guided, and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles.)

Syria: Seventeen armed militias of various terrorist groups ready to use a very large number of missiles and UAVs Iran has transferred to Syria:

to the east of Israel

Iraq: Dozens of militias, ready to use missiles and UAVs.

to the far south of Israel

Yemen: The Houthis, equipped with Iranian long-range missiles and UAVs capable of reaching Israel.

Gaza: Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with missiles aimed to destroy the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Air Force bases. (Hamas has also devotees in the Judea and Samaria territory and among the Israeli Arabs who would join the fighting.)

Iran is counting on the success of its above-mentioned proxies to do its bidding so it will not have to be directly involved militarily in the combined attack. However, the Ayatollahs are the leaders, proclaiming that, “It is the duty of the Muslim world to save the Al-Aqsa mosque from the Israeli/Zionist occupation and oppression, and to kill the invading Jews as instructed in the holy Koran.”

Iran planned to first launch a surprise simultaneous massive missile attack from all sides upon Israeli military bases and civilian facilities, along with cyber-attacks on infrastructure systems. Their tactic was to overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome and other aerial defense systems with a barrage of missiles and UAVs. This aerial and cyber-attack would destroy Israel’s ability to defend itself, clearing the way for the next phase: a ground attack.

As the aerial attack would be in progress, hundreds of thousands of terrorists would then simultaneously storm into Israel from all sides; from Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza on foot, on dirt bikes, ATVs (anti-tank vehicles), and with other vehicles equipped with anti-tank weapons, machine guns and other arms while shooting, murdering and abducting the mostly unarmed Jewish population. All means are legitimate: rape, cutting throats, burning people alive, murdering and decapitating men, women, children and babies.

Their simultaneous massive surprise attack would catch the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) and intelligence off-guard. Israel would need several days to mobilize and equip the reserves. Reinforcements on various fronts would take time thereby allowing the terrorists to destroy the regular forces. This coordinated massive attack would give them final victory over the Zionist enemy, free the occupied land and El-Aqsa’ and give Palestine back to the Palestinians.

Hamas was training its people for this attack for months and there were warnings from different sources in Israel that Iran planned to use Hamas and Hezbollah for a combined attack against Israel. Unfortunately, Israel was unaware of the timing and Israeli intelligence reassured the government that Hamas was deterred and would not attack in the near future.

What Actually Happened?

While, Gaza, Lebanon and the other players were waiting for Iran’s go-ahead for the perfect time for this surprise attack on Israel, Hamas couldn’t wait and miss the opportunity to carry out this surprise attack on their own and spill Jewish blood.

This brings us to October 7th, 2023, the last day of the celebration of Sukkot in Israel. Hamas knew of the festival that took place every two years on this date near their border with Israel. The week-long Supernova music festival was entitled ‘A Journey of Unity and Love.’ Thousands of peace-loving, young Israelis gathered on Friday evening, October 6th, on the grounds of Kibbutz Re’im, 3 miles from the Gazan border.

They spent the night listening to ear-deafening music blasting from loudspeakers, dancing, and drinking. Early the next morning, the music was still blaring and the youngsters were still dancing as they hardly noticed the boom of rockets from Gaza.

One of the survivors said the following:

“It happened in an instant. The terrorists… got out of a large white vehicle, a type of van. They shot from close range, it was terrible.”

Another survivor hid under a fruit tree; “I played dead for three hours…I saw people dying all around…”

Many young Israelis were killed and many were kidnapped and taken into Gaza, some in vans and some on motorcycles. Others were ordered to march on foot at gunpoint.

Hamas just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to rampage through Israel under the umbrella of thousands of missiles they were shooting at Israel. They couldn’t wait to murder and decapitate Jewish civilians men, women, children, and babies, rape women and burn them, and throw hand grenades into homes, murdering the occupants. That same day, blood-thirsty Hamas terrorists posted grisly scenes from the attacks while Gazan men, women, and children celebrated the massacre handing out candies and other goodies. More than 1,400 Israelis died and more than 200 were taken captive.

Shockingly, there is now a ‘Holocaust denial-like phenomenon’ circulating around the world about the truth of the atrocities.
 

Will Iran continue its plan now that it has lost its element of surprise?

Iran boasts that it has equipped the Houthis in Yemen with missiles with a range of some 2,000 kilometers (nearly 1,250 miles) and Hezbollah with advanced rockets able to target Israeli naval vessels and Tel Aviv. Also, pro-Iran Iraqi militias are entrenched in the Syrian part of the Golan Heights.

An Israeli official has said, “Such an attack could begin within days if Iran’s Supreme Leader’s demands to stop Israeli strikes on Gaza are ignored.”

However, Iran has lost the element of surprise. As of now, Hezbollah has been carrying out frequent attacks with rockets, mortars, and guided missiles on Israeli targets in the north. Thankfully, Israeli drones have been able to identify Hezbollah fighters approaching the Israeli border, kill terrorists, and bomb Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, a ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, aimed for Israel’s southernmost city of Eilat, was intercepted by the newly-developed Israeli “Chetz” (Arrow) air defense system. Citizens of Eilat reported hearing the loud sound of the blast.

As reprisal for Israeli’s downing their ‘Aerial target,’ Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi leader bragged of a ‘large number’ of drones and ballistic missiles that would hit Israel on Tuesday, and that there would be more, until ‘Israeli aggression’ stopped.

Israel announced that two ‘Hostile targets’ believed to be drones were flying in the Red Sea area Tuesday morning and were intercepted outside of Israeli territory.

In a video showing missiles from Houthis in Yemen toward Israel’s southern city of Eilat, one of the operatives can be heard proclaiming, “Death to America, death to Israel, victory for Islam.”

Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered, let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, So drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. Psalm 68:1-2

It is evident that Israel is surrounded by relentless enemies whose goal is to annihilate her. As believers, we know that behind the physical enemies is the spiritual enemy of the Most High God – satan. Satan’s plan was and is to destroy the Jewish people and Israel, thereby preventing Yeshua’s return to Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.

Yet, the Lord’s plans and purposes prevail and His Word never fails.

Then ‘all of Israel shall be saved…their acceptance be life from the dead.” It will be life from the dead for the world. Romans 11:26,13

“… My people Israel…I will plant them in their land. And no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them.” Amos 9:14-15

Amen and Amen

Please pray with us for God’s plans to prevail.

  • Stand against the “Powers of Darkness” behind The Islamic enemies around Israel and against their plans.
  • Pray for Israel’s Leadership, government, and army, to be ready and to be led by God’s wisdom.
  • Lift up in prayer the many who are mourning the death of beloved family members.
  • Pray for the many wounded.
  • Pray for intelligence, wisdom, and the ability to free those taken captive by Hamas.
  • Pray for comfort and protection for all who are suffering.