Terrorism

BREAKING NEWS – PLEASE PRAY!

January 21, 2023 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

The massacres against Israeli citizens by Palestinian terrorists continue. Since the September 1993 Oslo agreements that Israel hoped would lead to lasting peace until September 2000, nearly 300 Israelis were murdered in terrorist attacks. Since September 2000, Palestinian terrorists murdered another 1,403 Israelis.

Last Friday night, at least seven innocent Jewish citizens were shot dead at close rage with a handgun outside an East Jerusalem synagogue by a 21-year-old Arab Palestinian from E. Jerusalem.

The attack took place on international Holocaust Memorial Day, which is dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust. The Israeli police called the attack a slaughter of innocent Jewish civilians. The Jews were observing the holy day of Shabbat.
After his shooting spree at innocent Israelis, the terrorist fled the scene. When Israeli security personnel intercepted him, he tried shooting at them, but they neutralized him.

The very next day – Saturday morning, a 13-year-old Arab boy from E. Jerusalem opened fire on people visiting the City of David. A father and son were seriously injured. Others were injured as well. The shooter was neutralized.

Please “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem”.

Terror Attacks Since 2015 – a History

September 18, 2022 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

We ask for prayer against terror attacks especially during the holidays. Here is a partial history. So far this year (2022) 312 significant terror attacks were foiled and 2,110 arrests have been made. Operation Break the Wave has been instrumental in this effort.

The following is a list of major terror attacks against Israelis since September 13, 2015, the eve of Rosh Hashanah. This is a partial list that does not include most of the daily instances of riots, rock-throwing and Molotov cocktails in which no one was hurt.

2022

July 2022
135 terror attacks. Of these, 113 attacks took place in Judea and Samaria, 120 in Jerusalem and the Green Line and 2 in the Gaza Strip.

Three Israeli citizens were injured in the attacks, there were no fatalities:

July 5^th, an Israeli man was stabbed in Givat Shaul.
July 15^th, a Jewish woman was injured in a stone-throwing attack in Samaria.
July 19^th, an Israeli man was wounded in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem.

The attacks included 1 stone-throwing incident, 75 firebomb attacks, 27 pipe bomb attacks and 15 incidents of small-arms fire. There were also 12 arson attacks and 2 assaults.

June 2022
189 terror attacks. 147 attacks took place in Judea and Samaria, 41 in Jerusalem and the Green Line and 1 from the Gaza Strip. The attacks included 2 assaults with knives, 117 firebomb attacks and 42 pipe bomb attacks. There were also 11 incidents of small-arms fire and 16 arson attacks.

Three civilians were injured in a shooting attack at Joseph’s Tomb on June 30th.

May 2022
208 terror attacks. Of these, 171 originated in Judea and Samaria and 37 in Jerusalem and the Green Line area. No terrorist attacks originated in the Gaza Strip.

Four people were killed in the May attacks; an additional six were injured:

May 5^th, Three people were killed and two others wounded in a stabbing assault in Elad.
May 13^th, an Israeli security force officer was killed in a shooting in Burqin (Palestinian town in north Samaria).
May 8^th, an Israeli security force officer was injured in a stabbing attack at the Damascus Gate in E. Jerusalem.
May 24^th, Three Israelis were wounded (two moderately, another sustained minor injuries) from stone-throwing near Huwara, a Palestinian town in north Samaria.

April 2022
268 terror attacks. Of these, 217 originated in Judea and Samaria, 42 in Jerusalem and the Green Line area and 9 in the Gaza Strip.

April 7^th, three Israeli civilians were killed and six injured in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv.
April 29^th, an Israeli civilian was killed in a shooting attack in Ariel.
April 10^th, an Israeli security forces officer was injured in a stabbing attack at the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
April 11^th, two Israeli civilians were injured in a shooting attack at Joseph’s Tomb.
April 12^th, an Israeli security forces officer was injured in a stabbing attack in Ashkelon.
April 15^th, an Israeli civilian was injured in a stabbing attack in Haifa.

The attacks in April included 187 firebomb attacks, 35 pipe bomb attacks, 17 attacks using small firearms, 11 arson attacks and 2 assaults.

March 2022:
190 terror attacks. 11 people were killed (two young Israel Border Police officers, 2 Ukrainian nationalist and 7 Israeli citizens) 27 were injured.

February 2022:
187 terror attacks. An Israeli civilian and a member of the security forces were injured.

January 2022:
141 terror attacks. An Israeli civilian and a member of the security forces were injured.

2015-2021 Attacks

Since the beginning of the wave of Palestinian terrorism that started in October 2015, there were 620 attacks (483 in the form of firebombs) in one month. Eleven people (one foreign national and 10 Israelis) were killed that month and 80 were injured, 37 of them moderately or more severely (one foreign national, 18 Israeli civilians, and 18 members of the security forces).

2015

November 2015, 10 people (one Palestinian and 9 Israelis) were killed in terrorist attacks. Among the non-fatal casualties, 22 were wounded in stabbings (including 5 in Jerusalem and 10 within Israel), 24 in vehicle attacks, and 12 in shootings.

December 2015, 3 civilians were killed. All three of the fatalities were caused by stabbings.

2016

January 2016, 5 Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks. In the major shooting attack in Tel Aviv two civilians were killed in stabbing attack.

February 2016, 3 Israelis were killed in Arab terrorist attacks. In March 2016, terrorists killed one foreign national in a stabbing attack in Jaffa and injured 26, 9 of which were injured in the abovementioned stabbing attack.( Among the non-fatal casualties, 13 civilians and 13 security forces personnel were wounded.

April 2016, Arab terrorist attacks caused 18 non-fatal casualties, most of which (16) were injured in an IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) attack in Jerusalem on 18 April. In addition, on 3 April, one civilian was injured in a stabbing attack in Rosh HaAyin and one border-police member was injured in a firebomb attack in Isawiya (Jerusalem neighborhood).

May 2016, terrorist attacks did not result in any fatalities. However, 12 Israelis – 4 civilians and 8 security personnel – were injured.

June 2016, five Israelis were killed and 21 injured. Most of the fatalities were registered during the shooting in Tel Aviv on 8 June that left four dead and 15 wounded. An Israeli teenager was stabbed to death on 30 June in the Jewish neighborhood in Hebron, and another civilian was moderately injured. On June 24, 2 civilians were injured in a vehicle-ramming attack near Hebron; a member of the security forces in a firebomb attack in north Jerusalem, (29 June); 2 civilians in a stabbing attack in the Israeli city of Netanya on 30 June.

July 2016: 316 terrorist attacks; 1 person murdered and 17 injured. There were 6 stabbings or attempted stabbings, 6 shooting attacks, 1 ramming attack, 8 pipe/roadside bombs, 231 stone-throwing incidents, 51 petrol bombs. Several attacks occurred in Jerusalem; the rest in Judea and Samaria.

August 2016: 414 total attacks caused by an increase of stone-throwing (339 in number) 5 stabbings, 3 shooting, 9 pipe/roadside bombs, 34 Molotov cocktails bombs.

September 2016: 480 total attacks: 14 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 3 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 11 roadside bombs/grenades; 365 stone-throwing attacks, 63 Molotov cocktails.

October 2016: 410 total attacks: 6 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 10 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 10 roadside bombs/grenades; 265 stone-throwing attacks, 71 Molotov cocktails.

November 2016: 423 total attacks (mostly stone-throwing): 5 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 2 shootings; 0 ramming attacks, 12 roadside bombs/grenades; 346 stone-throwing attacks, 41 Molotov cocktails.

December 2016: 258 total attacks; 6 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 8 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 5 roadside bombs/grenades; 199 stone-throwing attacks, 27 Molotov cocktails.

2017

January 2017: 3 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 9 shootings; 2 ramming attacks, 9 roadside bombs/grenades; 293 stone-throwing attacks, 44 Molotov cocktails.

February 2017: 1 stabbing or attempted stabbing; 5 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 7 roadside bombs/grenades; 260 stone-throwing attacks, 53 Molotov cocktails.

March 2017: 10 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 3 shootings; 1 ramming attack, 2 roadside bombs/grenades; 243 stone-throwing attacks, 62 Molotov cocktails.

April 2017: 7 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 5 shootings; 2 ramming attacks, 4 roadside bombs/grenades; 218 stone-throwing attacks, 40 Molotov cocktails.

May 2017: 9 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 6 roadside bombs/grenades; 284 stone-throwing attacks, 63 Molotov cocktails; no shootings or ramming attacks.

June 2017: 5 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 6 roadside bombs/grenades; 131 stone-throwing attacks, 27 Molotov cocktails; 4 shootings; no ramming attacks.

July 2017: 5 stabbings or attempted stabbings; 14 roadside bombs/grenades; 210 stone-throwing attacks, 61 Molotov cocktails; 6 shootings; 2 ramming attacks.

August 2017: 3 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 7 roadside bombs/grenades; 128 stone-throwing attacks, 23 Molotov cocktails; 1 shooting; no ramming attacks.

September 2017: 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 5 roadside bombs/grenades; 135 stone-throwing attacks, 27 Molotov cocktails; 1 shooting; no ramming attacks.

October 2017: 3 stabbing/attempted stabbings; 4 roadside bombs/grenades; 170 stone-throwing attacks, 32 Molotov cocktails; 2 shootings; no ramming attacks.

November 2017: 2 stabbing/attempted stabbings; 1 roadside bomb/grenade; 207 stone-throwing attacks, 25 Molotov cocktails; 1 shooting; no ramming attacks.

December 2017: 3 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 9 roadside bomb/grenade; 478 stone-throwing attacks, 111 Molotov cocktails; 3 shooting; no ramming attacks.

2018

January 2018: Terrorist events –Total 332: resulting in one murder and 16 injured. The incidents included 2 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 2 shootings; 1 ramming attack; 4 roadside bombs; 251 stone-throwing attacks; 45 Molotov cocktails.

February 2018: Terrorist events –Total 384: 4 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 2 shootings; 4 roadside bombs; 283 stone-throwing; 49 Molotov cocktails.

March 2018: Terrorist events –Total 300: 2 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 6 shootings; 3 roadside bombs; 240 stone-throwing; 24 Molotov cocktails, 2 ramming attacks.

April 2018: Terrorist events –Total 386: 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 4 shootings; 17 roadside bombs; 216 stone-throwing; 33 Molotov cocktails, 0 ramming attacks.

May 2018: Terrorist events – Total 684 (including 190 rockets/mortar bombs): 10 shooting attacks, 2 attempted ramming attacks, 15 roadside bombs, 251 stone-throwing events; 134 fire kites.

June 2018: In Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria – Total 94 attacks: 14 IEDs; two small-arms shootings; 77 firebomb attacks; and one vehicular attack.
Gaza: 29 rocket-launching* attacks (with 76 launches).

July 2018: Terrorist events – 2 killed, 17 injured; 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 5 shooting attacks, 0 ramming attacks, 9 roadside bombs, 118 stone-throwing events; 202 arson terror events.

August 2018: Terrorist events: 24 injured; 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 2 shooting attacks, 0 ramming attacks, 10 roadside bombs, 125 stone-throwing events; 99 arson terror events (includes petrol bombs and incendiary kites/balloons).

September 2018: Terrorist events: 1 killed, 10 injured; 4 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 2 shooting attacks, 0 ramming attacks, 17 roadside bombs, 128 stone-throwing; 120 arson terror and petrol bombs.

October 2018: Terrorist events: 2 killed, 18 injured; 4 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 1 shooting attack, 0 ramming attacks, 19 roadside bombs, 138 stone-throwing; 139 arson terror and petrol bombs.

November 2018: Terrorist events: 2 killed, 12 injured; 4 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 5 shooting attacks, 1 ramming attack, 8 roadside bombs, 178 stone-throwing; 42 arson terror and petrol bombs.

December 2018: Terrorist events: 3 killed, 28 injured; 3 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 3 shooting attacks, 4 ramming attack, 8 roadside bombs, 270 stone-throwing; 30 arson terror and petrol bombs.

2019

January 2019: Terrorist events: 13 injured; 3 stabbings/attempted stabbings; 4 shooting attacks; 19 roadside bombs; 145 stone-throwings; 30 arson terror events.

February 2019: Terrorist events: 1 killed, 6 injured; 1 stabbing/attempted stabbing; 20 roadside bombs; 129 stone-throwing events; 35 arson terror events.

March 2019: Terrorist events: 2 killed, 24 injured; 2 stabbing/attempted stabbings; 1 shooting (together with stabbing); 1 ramming attack; 36 IEDs; 126 stone-throwing events; 55 arson terror events.

April 2019: April 2019 saw a significant drop in the number of terrorist attacks, compared to March: 126, as opposed to 308.

In Judea and Samaria, 88 attacks were executed in April, compared to 110 in March. 12 attacks took place in Jerusalem, as opposed to 15 in the preceding month.

No attacks were executed within the Green Line in April, similarly to March. Finally, 26 attacks originated from the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in April, down dramatically from 181 in March.

There were no casualties from terrorist activity in April 2019.

May 2019: May 2019 saw a dramatic increase in the number of terrorist attacks, compared to April: 449, as opposed to 126. Out of these 449 attacks, 362 were instances of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in the latest round of fighting.

389 attacks originated from the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in May, up from 26 in April. In Judea and Samaria, 50 attacks were executed in May, compared to 88 in April. 10 attacks took place in Jerusalem, as opposed to 12 in the preceding month. Finally, no attacks were executed within the Green Line in May, similarly to April.

Four people were killed and ten were injured due to terrorist activity in May 2019.

June 2019: June 2019 saw a significant drop in the number of terrorist attacks, compared to May: 123, as opposed to 449.

42 attacks originated from the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in June, down dramatically from 389 in May. In Judea and Samaria, 63 attacks were executed, compared to 50 in May. 18 attacks took place in Jerusalem, as opposed to ten in the preceding month. Finally, no attacks were executed within the Green Line (Israel prober,) similarly to May.

There were no casualties from terrorist activity in June 2019.

July 2019: Five non-fatal casualties and no fatalities from terror attacks in July.

Five members of the security forces were wounded in a vehicle attack at the Hizme checkpoint in Binyamin (Judea.)

August 2019: Two people were killed and eight injured in terrorist attacks in August 2019.

September 2019: Seven people were injured (no fatalities) in terrorist attack.

October 2019: Two non-fatal civilian casualties and no fatalities from terror There were 108 attacks in Judea and Samaria.

November 2019: Eleven non-fatal casualties, no fatalities. Overall, there were 159 attacks in Judea and Samaria.)

December 2019: There were 106 attacks in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem. There were no casualties.

2020

January 2020: There were 225 terror attacks. There were three non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

February 2020: There were 161 terror attacks from the Gaza Strip including 127 instances of shelling (rockets and mortars). 171 terror attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. There were 16 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

March 2020: There were two rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip during March. 87 terror attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 79 were bomb attacks (Firebombs and pipe bombs.) There were 5 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

April 2020: There was a single incident of small-arms fire from the Gaza Strip. 71 terror attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 66 were bomb attacks (Firebombs and pipe bombs.) There were 4 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

May 2020: A single rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel. 80 terrorist attacks were carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 66 were firebombs. There were also two knifing attacks. There were two casualties, one of which was a fatality.

June 2020: Four rockets and one mortar were launched from the Gaza Strip. 91 Terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. Of these, 70 were firebomb attacks. There were also 12 cases of arson and two stabbings. Three people were injured in the terror attacks; there were no fatalities.

July 2020: Two rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip and a total of 92 terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Of these, 61 were firebomb attacks and 14 were pipe bomb attacks. There were no casualties or fatalities in July.

August 2020: 120 terror attacks, compared to 94 in the previous month. A civilian was killed in a stabbing attack in Petah Tikva (a city in Israel), 6 others were wounded. 106 terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.) Of these, 85 were firebomb attacks, 6 pipe bomb attacks. There were also two terror attacks using firearms. 25 rockets were launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip, 5 incidents of small arms fire and one IED.

September 2020: 100 terror attacks. There were no fatalities, although five people were injured, including two members of the security forces. The three civilians were injured by rocket fire from Gaza into Ashdod.

86 terror attacks took place in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. Of these, 70 were firebomb attacks. There was one stabbing attack, one vehicular attack and eight arson attacks. Six rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel; there were also seven firebomb attacks.

October 2020: 124 terror attacks. No fatalities resulted from these attacks, but two members of the security forces were injured in a pipe bomb explosion in Nablus. 117 attacks took place in Jerusalem and the West Bank in October. Of these, there were 95 incidents of firebombing, 14 of pipe bombing and six arson attempts. Of the seven attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip, four were rocket attacks.

November 2020: 83 terror attacks. There were no fatalities or casualties.

December 2020: 98 terror attacks. There was one fatality: An Israeli citizen was killed in an assault near the settlement Tal Menashe in Judea on December 20^th. In addition, a member of the security forces sustained slight injuries in a firebomb attack in Issawiya on December 15^th.

2021

January 2021: 131 terror attacks, with one person injured and no fatalities

February 2021: 92 terror attacks. One person was injured and there were no fatalities.

March 2021: 89 terror attacks, resulting in 5 non-fatal casualties and no fatalities.

April 2021: 130 terror attacks took place in April; there were no fatalities or casualties.

May 2021: Approximately 4500 rockets were launched from Gaza, targeting Israeli civilian facilities in cities, towns and villages. Major cities were also targeted, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. A total of fifteen people were killed in terror-related incidents during May; of these, thirteen were directly related to the rocket arracks from Gaza. In addition, there were 168 non-fatal injuries during the round of fighting and other terror incidents.

June 2021: 185 terror attacks. Of these, 37 originated in the Gaza Strip. The attacks resulted in one non-fatal casualty.

July 2021: 142 terror attacks. These resulted in two non-fatal casualties; there were no fatalities.

August 2021: 142 terror attacks. One member of the security forces was killed in a shooting attack from the Gaza Strip on August 30th, a civilian was moderately injured in a stone-throwing attack in Binyamin on August 31^st.

September 2021: 251 terror attacks. These resulted in no fatalities and six non-fatal casualties.

October 2021: 159 terror attacks. One person was injured, there were no fatalities.

November 2021: 142 terror attacks. One Israeli and eight others were injured.

December 2021: 137 terror attacks. One Israeli civilian was killed and six others were injured.

August 5-7, 2022: Israel Under Attack

August 22, 2022 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

On August 1st, Israel arrested the senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Judea and Samaria; his name is Bassam al-Saadi.

Israel then learned from its intelligence agency that the PIJ in the Gaza Strip was planning a retaliatory terror attack with anti-tank (AT) missiles and snipers against Israeli civilians near the Gaza border.

Thousands of Israeli residents who live near the Gaza Strip border were instructed to stay in their homes and remain close to secure rooms. Social gatherings were canceled and roads and railways were closed for fear of rocket attacks. Two crossings that allow civilians and goods to enter the Gaza Strip were also closed by Israel.

On August 3rd, Khaled al-Batsh, head of the political wing of the PIJ in Gaza said: “We have every right to bomb Israel with our most advanced weapons and make the occupier (meaning Israel) pay a heavy price. We will not settle for [only] attacking around Gaza, but we will bomb the center of the so-called State of Israel.”

The PIJ claims to be the indigenous people of the land of Israel that they call Palestine and aims to continue the “armed struggle” until Israel’s defeat. They do not accept the “Two State Solution,” and refuse to accept the existence of the state of Israel under any conditions. (Click here to read more about the PIJ)

Operation Breaking Dawn – Surgical Strikes

Thanks to precise intelligence, the Israeli Defense Air Force (IAF) launched a surprise operation named “Operation Breaking Dawn” on the afternoon of August 5th to eliminate the threat against Israeli citizens.

*Rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel (Photo: AFP)*

In a surgical strike on August 5th, the IAF killed Tayseer Jabari, the PIJ northern Gaza division commanding officer who initiated the AT attack. Al Jabari was staying in a hideout apartment along with his anti-tank missile expert and the PIJ head of observation posts.

These three senior officers who posed a clear and immediate danger of terrorism were eliminated by the surgical strike of the IAF. No other resident of the building was killed or injured.

On August 6th, the PIJ commander of Gaza’s Southern area, Khaled Mansour, was also targeted and killed by an IDF strike.

At the same time, the IAF destroyed PIJ military infrastructure, bombing terrorist posts, manufacturing facilities, tunnels, and weapon stashes.

In response, the PIJ began rocket fire into Israel, beginning with the villages and city closest to the Gaza Strip, called Gaza Envelope, and then to the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, and around the Tel Aviv area.

The PIJ even attacked the Jerusalem vicinity. The Iron Dome intercepted three rockets while thousands of Jews were permitted to enter the Temple Mount compound for the 9th of Av observance of Tisha B’Av (9th of Av.)

The Israeli army, “Israel Defense Force” (IDF) is the only army that has the word Defense in its name since it repeatedly faces deadly enemies all about, therefore must defend itself constantly to survive.

Hamas and the PIJ have a long history of hiding behind civilians while firing missiles indiscriminately from Gazan residences at Israeli civilians. Hence, they use their civilians as human shields knowing that Israel avoids killing the innocent as much as possible.

To this effect, the IAF practices “roof knocking” which is dropping non-explosive warning shots onto the rooftops of Gaza residential buildings so uninvolved residents can flee before the bombing begins.

Ironically, two hundred PIJ rockets (about 15%) aimed at Israel fell inside the Gaza Strip or into the sea. Sadly for innocent Gazans, one such rocket, fired from within the civilian population, fell short on a home in the center of northern Gaza city, killing 4 children. The Palestinian media immediately blamed Israel, but the Israeli army quickly issued a video providing proof that this was not an Israeli strike.

Throughout that weekend, Israel also arrested 20 Palestinians in the West Bank, 19 of whom were members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

1,175 Missiles from Gaza

After a 3-day barrage consisting of 1,175 missiles fired by the PIJ at Israeli civilians (96% were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system, thereby no Israeli was killed. Some were injured and there was some property damage.) Egypt brokered a ceasefire that went into effect at 11:30 pm on Sunday, August 7th.

Although Hamas’ military and security capabilities are superior to those of the PIJ, Hamas did not participate in this operation to prevent escalation.

Hamas is still in the process of renewing its capabilities after last year’s war. Hamas did, however, issue some statements in support of the PIJ and encouraged the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, including Israeli Arabs to take part in the resistance.

Yet, even while negotiations were ongoing for a ceasefire, fighting between the two sides continued. The PIJ even increased rocket firing at nearby Israeli residents, and Israel continued aerial strikes at PIJ targets.

On August 7th at 23:30, The PIJ announced a ceasefire. Within 10 minutes, Israel agreed and stopped the attacks, while PIJ continued firing rockets. Israel did not retaliate. Currently, the ceasefire is holding without violations from either side.

Demands and Threats

On its website, on August 8th, 2022, the PIJ announced that it reserved the right to respond to every act of “Zionist aggression.” The PIJ claims that the ceasefire is conditional upon Israel releasing prisoners from Israeli jails soon and that Egypt guarantees this claim.

Additionally, according to the PIJ, a certain prisoner on a hunger strike was to be released to a hospital on August 8th, 2022, and from there sent home. Egypt requested the date be left open, and they agreed.

The PIJ announced that it considers the ceasefire agreement as null and void and will renew attacks should “The Enemy” –Israel – not meet their demands.

According to Israel, the release of prisoners was not part of the agreement.

Restrictions Lifted

Since the implementation of the ceasefire, all security restrictions on Israeli residents in the Gaza Envelope have been lifted and roads have been reopened.

The Gaza crossings have reopened, resuming the entry of goods to Gaza and the exit of about 14,000 Gazans who hold permits to work in Israel.

For now, life in Israel is back to “normal.”
The question is, “How long?”

Please pray …

What is the PIJ?

August 22, 2022 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is a militant terrorist organization that operates mainly in the Gaza Strip where most of its military strength is located. The PIJ also operates terror cells in cities in Judea and Samaria, mainly in Jenin and Shechem (Nablus.)

The PIJ has headquarters in Lebanon and Syria and is a proxy of Israel’s archenemy, the Islamic Republic of Iran. Both are determined to eliminate Israel as the state of the Jewish people.

With Iran’s help, the PIJ has grown militarily and now has an arsenal that includes:

Rockets that reach up to 120 km (north of Tel Aviv)
Mortars of various ranges
Cornet-type anti-tank missiles
Anti-aircraft missiles
Sniping capabilities
Attack tunnels (that penetrate Israel for terror attacks)
Explosive drones and
A naval unit.

Here is a short film that shows the scope of their rockets:

These are the types of mortars and rockets in the Gaza Strip.
Half of the missiles fired this evening by the Islamic Jihad fell in the territory of the Gaza Strip… #Gaza #Israel pic.twitter.com/tWmCjX10vg
— Israel-Alma (@Israel_Alma_org) August 5, 2022

In the 1990s, the PIJ began suicide attacks against Israelis in Israel and Judea and Samaria, and carried out more than 400 bombings in the years 2000-2005, murdering 134 Israelis and injuring 880.

When in 2007 Hamas, the larger Palestinian terror group, took over Gaza, the PIJ became the secondary terror group. Yet it continued rocket attacks on Israelis across the border.

The PIJ was founded in 1981 in Egypt but was expelled from the country. Its leaders moved to south Lebanon, where they collaborated with the militant Palestinian organization of Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran is the main sponsor of PIJ. It funds the organization with tens of millions of dollars annually, as well as providing it with weapons and military training. Although the PIJ is Sunni, and Iran is mostly Shiite, they nevertheless unite to achieve their common goal, the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state.

Concerning the Middle East crisis: Iranian leader, Khamenei states that Palestine is “a part of their body and the only solution is the elimination of the root of this crisis, which is the Zionist regime – the Jewish state of Israel

The PIJ claims to be the indigenous people of the land of Israel which they call Palestine and is determined to continue the armed struggle until Israel’s defeat. They do not accept any “Two State Solution” and refuse to acknowledge Israel’s existence under any conditions.

The 9th of Av and the Weeks “Between the Straits”

July 29, 2022 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

“From the straits I called to the Lord.” Psalm 118:5

The Month of Av in the Hebrew calendar starts this coming Saturday. The three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av is known as the Dire Straits (or “distress” see Lamentations 1:3—“All who have overtaken her have done so in the midst of her distress”.)

Roman Triumphal arch panel copy from Beth Hatefutsoth, showing spoils of Jerusalem temple. Image by Wikimedia Commons.

The period of the Dire Straits starts on the 17th of Tammuz – the month before Av. Jerusalem’s walls were breached and Jerusalem fell; Jerusalem’s two Temples on the Temple Mount were destroyed on that same day, the 9th of Av, and the two Jewish exiles – first to Babylon for 70 years, and second throughout the world for about 2000 years – occurred on the 9th of Av.

The Jews have experienced many calamities over the centuries, and it is amazing to learn that most of those calamities occurred on the same day of the year, the 9th of Av.

The destruction of the Jerusalem Temples, especially that of the Second Temple, changed the path of Jewish history and the Jewish nation as the Jews were dispersed in the Diaspora among the nations (few Jews remained in the land) and survived against all odds. They went through persecution, expulsions and relocation, suffering, and calamities. Nonetheless, the Jews as a people were preserved by Jewish tradition and a longing to return to Jerusalem.

The 9th of Av, Tisha b’Av, commemorates a list of catastrophes so severe that Jews believe God appointed this date for Jewish suffering.

Some of the catastrophes and calamities that happened to the Jews on the 9th of Av were:

586 BCE: The First Temple was destroyed on the 9th of Av in the year 586 BCE when most of the Jews from Judah and Benjamin were exiled to Babylon and Persia (Jeremiah 52).

69 CE: Five centuries later in 69 CE, the Romans attacked, torched, and destroyed the Second Temple on the 9th of Av, the same day as the first temple’s destruction. Most of the Jews were exiled to the Roman Empire. Many were sold into slavery and many were tortured and killed.

133 CE: When the Jews rebelled against Roman rule, they believed that their leader, Simon bar Kochba, would bring them victory and fulfill their messianic longings. However, in 133 CE, the Jewish rebels were brutally butchered in a final battle at Betar. The date of the massacre was the 9th of Av!
A year after their conquest of Betar, the Romans plowed over the Temple Mount and built on the ruins of Jerusalem a pagan city that they renamed Aelia Capitolina.

1290 CE: on the 9th of Av, the Jews were expelled from England.

1492 CE: the Golden Age of Spain came to an end for the Jews. The Spanish and Portuguese Inquisition forced mass conversion to Catholicism upon the Jews. Furthermore, Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand banished the Jews from Spain and Jewish property was confiscated. The edict of expulsion was signed on March 31, 1492, and the Jews were given exactly four months to leave the country. The Hebrew date when no Jew could no longer remain in Spain was the 9th of Av.

WWII and the Holocaust were actually the outcomes of WWI that were set into motion also on the 9th of Av. As we know, 6 million Jews were tortured and murdered in the Holocaust as part of the Nazi’s “Final Solution” to get rid of all the Jews. After the war, Gentiles in Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary continued to persecute and murder Jews.

1949 CE: Israel won the war of independence. Yet, the Old City of Jerusalem remained in Jordanian hands, and Jews were forbidden to go up to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall except for one day, the 9th of Av.

2000 CE: Arab terrorist attacks and violence erupted in Jerusalem while Jews observed the 9th of Av.

2005 CE: The forced evacuation of Jewish settlers from Gaza in 2005 occurred on the 9th of Av.

According to God’s plans, the 9th of Av was meant to be a day of joy and celebration. When God led Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land in the year 1313 BCE, the 9th of Av was the day they were to enter the Holy land at Kadesh Barnea (the shortest distance from Egypt to the land of Israel.) Twelve men were sent to spy out the land. However, 10 spies (besides Joshua and Caleb) through lack of faith and full of fear brought back a negative report and said it was better to return to Egypt rather than be killed by the giants in the land. Because of their unbelief, the day of joy turned into a day of mourning.

God was highly displeased by Israel’s rebellion and lack of faith and made the people wander in the Sinai desert for 40 years until that whole generation died; only their children would have the privilege of entering and possessing the Promised Land. (Num. 13-14)

God has faithfully brought back His beloved Israel to the Land He promised their forefathers, and today the nation of Israel is again in the land of Israel. One day, the people of Israel will look upon the one they have pierced, Yeshua, (Zech. 12:10,) and they will proclaim, “Baruch haba beshem Adonai” (blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord) Matt. 23:39.) Yeshua said that on that day they would see Him again, but this time they will see Him as their Messiah and Savior. They will mourn for Him as for a firstborn Son (Zech. 12:10). And then, All Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26.) On that day, God will turn the mourning into great joy again.

Please Pray With Us

This is a dangerous time for Israel and the Jewish people world-wide. We are seeing evidence of rising antisemitism in many countries, including the United States. Please pray for our people, wherever they may be, for safety and especially for salvation.