Friday, October 11, 2024

Defiant Israel Stands Firm in Turmoil, One Year On

by Jennifer Teale ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 8 October 2024 | On the first anniversary of October 7, 2023, we are still living in an unprecedented time. Hostages are still held captive in the Gaza Strip and their families continue to live in excruciating uncertainty.

Nearly 100,000 Israelis are still evacuated from their homes, particularly in the north, where the situation is concerning, living in temporary accommodation. Their lives are still in flux, and their futures are uncertain. Our reservists, still fighting or stationed far from home endure the strain of extended separation from their homes and loved ones.

We are Pushed into Impossible Moral Dilemmas

The atrocities committed by the terrorists last year on October 7 defy imagination. The human rights violations from the day alone encompass a terrifying spectrum: sexual violence, torture, and the burning of people of all ages.

One year on, Israel continues to be confronted with duplicitous tactics by terrorist Hamas. Our remaining hostages serve as human shields and the Palestinian civilian populations are deliberately pushed into the crossfire by Hamas, forcing Israel into often almost impossible moral dilemmas.

The International Community Needs to Wake Up to Reality

On the international stage, Israel has stood firm despite pressure including at the International Criminal Court [ICC]. The Chief Prosecutor of the ICC caused outrage in May by accusing Israel of deliberately starving or killing civilians in the Gaza Strip.

This claim stands in stark contrast to the reality that thousands of food aid trucks pass the border into the Gaza Strip daily. What the ICC did not take into account was that Hamas immediately confiscates these deliveries and sells them at extortionate prices to the civilian population.

UN Representation Initially Appeared to Justify October 7

 If the horror of October 7 had taken place anywhere else but Israel, the unequivocal condemnation for the mass murder and subsequent international efforts for the return of hostages would have been immediate.

Instead, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, wrote on X the same day of the Hamas attack: “Today’s violence must be put in context. Almost six decades of hostile military rule over an entire civilian population are.. an aggression.” Such a statement constitutes nothing but a vile attempt to justify Hamas’s terrorism on the very day of the attack by a UN representative.

The UN’s Failure to Formally Condemn Hamas Further Fuels Antisemitism

The UN General Assembly [UNGA] has since failed to pass any resolution condemning Hamas for the October 7 butchery. Their refusal to issue a straightforward condemnation risks its credibility internationally even further. Any responsible, well-reasoned person—let alone world leaders—cannot deny the pain and suffering inflicted on the Israeli people in the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust.

By refusing to officially condemn Hamas for the massacre of 1,200 people and the torture, rape, mutilation, and kidnapping of hundreds more on October 7, the UNGA has signaled to the world that violence against Jews is justifiable. Their tacit acceptance of this violence has emboldened the carrying of Hamas flags in marches the world, chants of “Long live the Intifada” and targeted attacks of Jews on the street, in the marketplaces, and places of worship.

Hostages From the 20+ Nations Held by Hamas Deserve Action

With Hamas still holding captive citizens of 20 other countries in addition to Israel—including Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Nepal, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tanzania, Thailand, the UK, Ukraine and the US, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum— an unequivocal call for the unconditional release of the hostages is the most basic of actions we should be able to expect from the UN that is allegedly committed to human rights and the rule of law.

To conclude: One year on, we have seen the resilience of the Israeli people, overcoming the odds to rescue and serve. Despite the lies on the international stage, Israel stands resolute in the face of terror. Israeli society will continue to demonstrate its resilience and counter antisemitism and discrimination in our ongoing quest for justice.

Jennifer Teale is a researcher at the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF).

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on October 8, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Hanay/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
In the face of unimaginable pain and suffering on the part of the hostages and their loved ones, unjust accusations from world bodies like the ICC and the UN and outright lies on social media, Israelis have shown incredible resilience. Thank the Lord that you can stand in support of this people and nation who are demonstrating His faithfulness each and every day. Pray for continued unity and endurance in the Jewish community, both in Israel and around the world.

Scripture

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

- Proverbs 17:17

Is Jerusalem Keeping DC in the Dark About Plans for Iran Attack?

by Joshua Marks ~ JNS

Thursday, 10 October 2024 | Jerusalem is not sharing with Washington its plans to respond to Tehran’s missile offensive against Israel last week, US officials told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

According to the report, Biden administration officials are frustrated at the lack of details conveyed to them after the White House publicly expressed its opposition to strikes on the Islamic Republic’s oil fields and nuclear facilities.

The administration has been caught off guard multiple times during Israel’s year-long war against Tehran’s terror proxies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Journal reported, including by the recent assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

President Joe Biden has emphasized throughout the war that the United States wants to avoid an escalation into a regional war.

American officials said that they don’t know the timing of Israel’s planned strike on Iran or its targets. They were hoping to learn more from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a planned visit to Washington on Wednesday, but that trip was postponed.

Gallant was set to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon, but on Tuesday night Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nixed Gallant’s trip.

“We were just informed that Minister Gallant will be postponing his trip to Washington,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told a news briefing on Tuesday.

As of late Tuesday night, Gallant’s flight to the United States had not been approved. According to Hebrew media reports, Netanyahu set two conditions for greenlighting Gallant’s trip: a phone call between Netanyahu and Biden and Security Cabinet approval of Israel’s next steps.

A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Netanyahu–Biden call about plans to strike Iran is expected to occur on Wednesday.

During the one-day trip to Washington, Gallant was also supposed to meet with senior Biden administration officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

On October 1, over 180 ballistic missiles were fired from Iranian soil in two waves in the second-ever direct attack by Tehran against Israel. The Israeli military with the assistance of the United States and Jordan shot down most of the missiles, with the sole casualty of the attack being a Palestinian man from Gaza who was struck by falling missile debris near Jericho.

Jerusalem has vowed a significant response to the Iranian attack.

NBC News reported on Tuesday, citing two US officials, that the US does not believe that Israel has made a final decision on how to respond to the Iranian attack and hasn’t provided the Americans with any details.

According to the officials, Gallant and Austin have discussed potential options for a response, which according to the sources, could include military and intelligence complexes, air defense systems and energy infrastructure. The two military leaders did not discuss attacking nuclear sites.

US, Arab countries discussing comprehensive ceasefire

Channel 12 reported on Tuesday that the United States and Arab countries are in secret talks with Iran on a proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire. However, Israel is not involved in the discussions at this point, according to the report.

“We are currently in a position of strength. A ceasefire will be on our terms, including a withdrawal north of the Litani River and the dismantling of all Hezbollah military compounds in areas near the border,” senior Israeli officials told Channel 12.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on October 9, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Give thanks that it is the Lord who defends Israel and not the US or any world power. Pray that Israel’s leaders, both political and military, will continue to seek Him alone rather than put confidence anywhere else.

Scripture

And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”

- Exodus 14:25

Sister Enlists in IDF after Brother Killed in Battle

by Shilo Fried ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 9 October 2024 | “We lost an exceptional soldier, we lost Amsalem,” said Avichai’s commander after he died. I thought to myself, there’s no way Hamas wins and there’s no soldier Amsalem; there was a soldier Amsalem, and now there isn’t? I am a soldier Amsalem,” shares Shira Emuna Amsalem, sister of the late Master Sergeant (Res.) Avichai Amsalem, who fell in battle in the south a year ago. Despite dealing with a chronic lung disease, Shira Emuna chose to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] following her younger brother’s death. She joined the Military Rabbinate at the age of 35.

Avichai Amsalem was called up for reserve duty on October 8 and fell the next day, October 9, during an encounter with terrorists who had infiltrated and planned an attack. His father, Col. Gabi Amsalem, also joined the reserves in the Military Rabbinate at the start of the war. During the conflict, he was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel by the IDF Chief of Staff.

Shira Emuna serves in the Military Rabbinate in the Jewish Consciousness Values department located near Lod, in central Israel—the military base where many bodies from the October 7 massacre were taken.

“This year was complex,” she reflects. “I think the first year of mourning brings various challenges, experiencing everything for the first time: his birthday, every holiday without him. We threw ourselves into many commemorations, and everyone started to find their place. It was a year of waves, with many ups and downs.”

Gabi Amsalem knows the military from the inside, but this year was different for him due to the war’s scale and the personal loss: “There is life before October 7 and life after October 7. Life changes, perspectives shift. The military activity helps me keep my head above water in this situation imposed on us.”

A year of longing for a brother and son turned into action for them. The family says this is how Avichai would have wanted them to act after his death. “Avichai was a very principled person. He left behind many values I lecture and discuss—values of kindness, integrity, excellence—at home, in studies, work and the army,” says his father. “He always aspired to achieve more. He reached a special unit and excelled there, yet remained humble and modest. He never flaunted his achievements, and he had quite a few. In his work at Elbit, in his studies, and he never boasted about it.”

After Avichai’s death, his older sister sought to follow in his footsteps and eventually enlisted for reserve service as a content writer. Her enlistment was part of the “Stage B” program, which allows those who served in civilian or national service outside the military to undergo a short basic training and join the reserve force. “After 12th grade, I did national service, and I think it complements,” she says. “When you’re directed to help the people of Israel, you need to know your strengths. At 18, I knew what I could offer the people of Israel and what strengths I had. I was the coordinator of the Oz children’s movement in the north and spent a year as an emmisary in the US. Avichai’s death caught me between jobs. My profession is writing and editing content, and there was a need here for a content writer in the unit, so I came to do what I could.”

Strengthening the Spirit

Initially, the IDF was hesitant to place her in a role, but Shira Emuna was determined to enlist. “When she enlisted, I felt the excitement of a father taking his child to first grade for the first time. The truth is, when she started first grade, I was the principal of her school,” says the emotional father, whose daughter serves close to his office. “I helped her find a uniform, and we sent the photos to friends. Shira is known in the family for achieving the goals she sets for herself. They didn’t want to enlist her, they showed her the door, she came through the window, they closed the window and she found another way in.”

The Late Avichai Amsalem

“All the kids in the neighborhood asked me where the rifle was, and I had to explain that my role is to encourage those in uniform,” she shares. “I remember when my dad saw me in uniform for the first time, he was very emotional. For me, it’s significant because I hadn’t worn a uniform until now. I always admired soldiers I saw on the street, and now I’m in uniform. A hundred years ago, we dreamed of a Jewish army. The fact that initially they didn’t want to enlist me and I fought for it makes it even more emotional.”

Why didn’t you say ‘We lost Avichai, we paid a heavy price, now we are focusing on mourning and our recovery.’

Gabi says that “Avichai would have told Shira Emuna and me—continue to do for the people of Israel. He wouldn’t have said, ‘I did, I gave, I finished my inventory.’ We are there contributing to the people of Israel. On a personal level, I feel I receive much more than I give. The very fact that I do a lot, am busy a lot, allows me to cope with the pain and feel the camaraderie of the people of Israel.

“I feel I managed to channel my pain into action for the greater good,” says Shira Emuna. “The evil acts of October 7 were also done to weaken our spirit, and I took on a role whose essence is to strengthen the spirit for myself and for religious female soldiers who sometimes feel a bit isolated in the places where they serve and need this reinforcement.”

A reminder of the historical significance: Both have embraced the role of uplifting the spirit—supporting soldiers, boosting morale and providing talks and materials on the importance each soldier holds in history.

“Beyond everything the Military Rabbinate does, including handling casualties, there’s a whole branch dedicated to the fighting spirit,” Gabi explains. “When we lift the spirits of the troops, it enhances our ability to cope in tough times, and with this strength, we will also reach Simchat Torah [rejoicing in the Torah]. Our main focus this past year has been nurturing the fighting spirit. Shira Emuna creates content for female soldiers, there are multimedia products, and we bring lecturers, artists and actors to the units to help elevate the soldiers’ morale.

“The goal is to reach every soldier with our content,” Gabi says. “We are focused on strengthening morale. You wouldn’t believe how many soldiers desire and need this. We come during their limited free time and find the right moments for them, which is of tremendous importance.”

“When soldiers are overwhelmed with continuous tasks, at some point it becomes exhausting,” Shira Emuna says. “It’s tiring. The sleeping conditions aren’t always five-star hotel quality. When someone arrives and gives you a pamphlet, a page or even a file via WhatsApp, suddenly you are reminded that you’re part of a historical process spanning thousands of years, known as the people of Israel. Everything you do gains perspective, especially for a religious female soldier who sometimes enlists alone, sometimes in combat roles where there aren’t many others like her. I create content for them to give them the spirit they need.”

She continues: “My writing draws inspiration from Jewish women throughout history. For Hanukkah [Feast of Dedication], we wrote about Hannah and her seven sons, and for Purim about Esther. These are stories of heroism that were often behind the scenes until they succeeded. The writing can speak to a religious girl who may be alone on base.”

“When I’m in the field,” Gabi adds, “I also see non-religious female soldiers who engage with Shira Emuna’s content, and it resonates with them, and they connect to it.”

They are now preparing for the anniversary of Avichai’s death, carrying mixed emotions from the past year. “My message is that we need to strengthen unity and togetherness within the people of Israel,” Gabi states. “In the army, we create unity among soldiers, and it’s important that we also connect all types of populations in the nation. Connection, embraces and closeness are crucial, and we hope it reaches all of Israel. There are disagreements, but they will diminish, and unity will prevail.”

“I believe everyone has a responsibility for connection and unity in the nation,” Shira Emuna says. “The home front and the frontlines are two sides of the same coin. A strong home front empowers the frontlines.”

The holiday season brings significant difficulty and complexity. “The annual memorial for Avichai will be two days after Simchat Torah. On that holiday, he was called up from home, leaving behind a pregnant wife and two daughters,” Gabi recalls. “On Simchat Torah, we’ll feel it was the day he left home. Will I dance with a Torah scroll in the synagogue, or will I lack the strength? I don’t know.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on October 8, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Geagea/IDF Spokesperson's Unit/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
As the people of Israel enter the second year of war, pray for those who mourn. Give thanks for the Amasalem family and all those who choose to serve and encourage others in memory of their fallen loved ones. Pray that, as a result of their example, all Israel will continue along the path Moses set out when he encouraged them to “choose life.”

Scripture

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

- Deuteronomy 30:19

Yom Kippur: When a Nation Repents

by Ilse Strauss

Friday, 11 October 2024 | Today no ordinary day for the people of Israel. The frantic hubbub on city streets as a country goes about its morning routine as they prepare for the day of rest on Shabbat will be more subdued, more focused. The reason is simple. Today, the nation prepares for the Sabbath of Sabbaths…

Schools, universities and offices will send students and employees home earlier than usual. Shops, markets and restaurants will shut their doors tight at around noonday. Busses and trains will carry their last passengers to their destination long before dusk. Traffic will die down to a trickle and then disappear altogether from the usually congested highways and streets. Radio and television stations will wish their listeners and viewers an “easy fast” before shutting down for the next 25 hours.

Then, right before the sun slips behind the while walls of Jerusalem, a holy hush will fall over the Land of Promise, as sundown ushers in Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)—the holiest day of the year for the people of Israel.

The Jewish nation is not the only ones who view Yom Kippur as sacred. Leviticus 23:26–27a tells us that this biblical festival is also holy to God. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls…’”

Today, thousands of years after God gave Moses these instructions, the people of Israel are once again preparing for God’s appointed time as per His directives: by afflicting their souls. This entails abstaining from fleshy comforts—including all food or drink—and fasting and praying for a 25 hour period.

The purpose of Yom Kippur is explained in Leviticus 23:28, “… for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.”

In biblical times, this was the only day per year on which the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies where the presence of the Almighty dwelt. There, the High Priest would call upon the name of God, offering a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins on behalf of the people of Israel. Yom Kippur is thus a special day of repentance.

Today is no different. Yom Kippur is a day of self-assessment and repentance of the sins of the past year. Synagogues throughout Israel are usually filled to capacity and snatches of prayers can be heard drifting through the quiet streets all day.

Throughout the ages, Yom Kippur has acted as a unifying and regenerating factor for the Jewish people. Regardless of physical location, conviction or belief, the Day of Atonement stirs a spark in the heart of many a Jew.

The same holds true today. Despite the severity of the fast—with complete abstinence from any food or liquids for more than 24 hours—the majority of Israelis chooses to observe Yom Kippur.

The awe and reverence that wraps itself around the country and its people on this day is spectacular to behold. For many, the concept of an entire country and its people grinding to a complete standstill to seek God’s face in repentance—in answer to an ancient command—is unheard of. Yet that is exactly what happens today, millennia after the Almighty shared His heart with the great, great, great grandparents of those who still choose to obey today.

While the Day of Atonement is observed with the awe and reverence due a day so sacred to both the people and the God of Israel, there is also an element of joyous expectation that comes with this feast. In fact, some in Israel refer to it as the happiest day of the year. The reason is simple: on Yom Kippur, the Almighty graciously bestows undeserved atonement to His people.

This Yom Kippur is endued with an added layer of reverence. It is the first Day of Atonement in the wake of October 7, the most brutal attack on the Jewish people since the end of the Holocaust, and the first since the start of what might soon be the longest war in the modern State of Israel’s history.

As the city outside grows quiet and a holy hush descends over the nation and Israel prepares to afflict their souls according to the instructions their ancestors received from God Himself, Bridges for Peace joins our hearts with the Jewish people as a nation repents.

Source: (Bridges for Peace, October 11, 2024)

Photo Credit: Len Radin/Flickr.com

Photo License: Flickr

Prayer Focus
Pray that this Yom Kippur will truly be a special and sacred time of reflection and repentance as the people of Israel seek God's face. Ask for divine protection over their hearts and minds, shielding them from distractions and war, so they can focus on the presence of the Lord.

Scripture

“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you…It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.”

- Leviticus 16:29, 31

Fatah, Hamas Terrorists Hold Unity Talks in Cairo

by JNS

Thursday, 10 October 2024 | Hamas terrorists met with representatives of Palestinian Authority [PA] chief Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss establishing a joint government after the war in Gaza ends.

The Hamas delegation was led by the terrorist organization’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Qatar, a spokesman told Reuters. The deputy chairman of Fatah’s [leading secular Palestinian political party] Central Committee, Mahmoud al-Aloul, a leading candidate to succeed Abbas, headed Ramallah’s contingent.

Talks focused on the “aggression on the Gaza Strip, and the challenges facing the Palestinian cause,” Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nono said.

A PA official familiar with the discussions in Egypt told Reuters that if no unity government was agreed, the terrorist groups could try to form a “committee” to run the Gaza Strip and manage its border crossings.

The proposed committee’s form and duties remain unclear, added the PA official, who asked not to be named.

On September 25, PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced that Fatah had agreed to meet with Hamas terrorists in the Egyptian capital.

Mustafa said the discussion would focus on forging initial agreements “to arrange the situation” in Gaza. He confirmed his “readiness to administer the Gaza Strip the day after the war,” the Palestinian Maan news outlet reported, “without excluding anyone.”

The announcement came amid Saudi reports that the two factions had reached an initial deal on a joint “civil administration” in the enclave.

Among the forms of governance under discussion are an independent “administrative body,” a “government of technocrats” approved by all Palestinian terrorist groups and “a local body under the supervision of the current government,” meaning Hamas, the Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya television news channel reported.

In July, Hamas and Fatah announced a unity deal following talks in Beijing. The declaration was approved by 14 terrorist factions that took part in negotiations hosted by Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister.

“Today, we sign an agreement, and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity,” Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk said at the time. “We are committed to national unity, and we call for it.”

The United States State Department, which has been pushing for PA control over the Strip after the war, has rejected the idea of a unity government that includes Hamas.

“Hamas has long been a terrorist organization. They have the blood of innocent civilians—both Israeli and Palestinian—on their hands,” Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesman, told reporters on July 23. “There can’t be a role for a terrorist organization.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that an “effective and revitalized PA” should govern Gaza—a move that Israel rejects because of Ramallah’s overt support for terrorism.

According to recent Arab polls, 89% of Palestinians support establishing a government that includes or is led by Hamas. Only 8.5% said they favor an authority that is controlled exclusively by Abbas’s Fatah movement.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on October 9, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray for a “day after” solution that will safeguard the interests of Gazan civilians while also providing security for Israelis living along the Gazan border. Pray that any plans of Hamas to continue its terror regime will be exposed as the leaders of these two groups hold talks.

Scripture

But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?… God understands its way, and He knows its place…And to man He said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.”

- Job 28:12, 23, 28

Border Police Officer Killed, 10 Wounded in Terror Attack

by Akiva van Koningsveld

Monday, 7 October 2024 | An Israel Border Police officer was killed and 10 people were wounded on Sunday afternoon in a combined shooting and stabbing near the central bus station in Beersheva, according to police and medics.

“A report was received at Magen David Adom’s [MDA] 101 emergency call center in the Negev region of casualties near the central bus station in Beersheva,” said MDA in a statement.

MDA medics evacuated 10 victims to the city’s Soroka Medical Center, including one with moderate to serious wounds, four who sustained moderate wounds and five who were lightly wounded.

Border Police Sgt. Shira Chaya Suslik, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Israel Police announced on Sunday night.

The terrorist rampage took place in three locations: the central bus station, outside a nearby fast-food restaurant and on Shmaryahu Levin Street, where the terrorist was shot and killed.

The Israel Police announced that “the terrorist has been neutralized and many police forces of the southern district are on the scene.” Security forces were searching for possible accomplices to the attack, it said.

The slain terrorist was identified as Ahmad al-Uqbi, 29, from an Israeli–Bedouin community near the town of Lakiya. Al-Uqbi had a criminal record, and was reportedly related to Muhanad Alukabi, who carried out a deadly shooting at the same Beersheva bus station on October 18, 2015.

Israel has been on high alert in recent days as security forces fear that terrorist groups will carry out attacks to mark the one-year anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7 cross-border massacre in southern Israel.

On Tuesday, Palestinian terrorists from Hebron shot dead seven people in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Police said two gunmen exited a light rail train car and opened fire on people waiting at a station on Jerusalem Boulevard.

In March, an Israel Defense Forces [IDF] officer was moderately wounded in a stabbing at Beersheva’s central bus station. The terrorist was shot and killed by another soldier who was on the scene, according to the IDF.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on October 6, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Hatzalah/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray that all plans to commit terror attacks will be discovered before they can be carried out. Pray for Israel’s security personnel, border police and all those who stand on the frontlines, protecting her civilians. Ask the Lord to comfort the family of Sgt. Shira Chaya Suslik who fell as she defended Israelis in Beersheva.

Scripture

These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

- Proverbs 6:16–19

Hezbollah Calls for Unconditional Ceasefire Regardless of Fighting in Gaza

by Ron Ben-Yishai ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 9 October 2024 | Hezbollah is requesting an unconditional ceasefire, according to a speech delivered Tuesday by Naim Qassem, who until recently served as the deputy to assassinated Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah. In his remarks, Qassem stated that the group “agrees to a ceasefire without preconditions. First, a ceasefire is achieved diplomatically, and then we will discuss all the details.” Experts believe this announcement was likely coordinated with Iran.

Naim Qassem, a founding member of Hezbollah, is one of its leading figures and a member of the Jihad Council, which oversees the terror group’s operations. He is now the highest-ranking military and political leader remaining after the assassination of Nasrallah and the attack on his expected successor, Hashem Safieddine. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday that Safieddine “was likely killed.”

Given this, Qassem can be seen as the group’s official spokesperson, and it is highly probable that the ceasefire proposal he presented in his pre-announced speech in Beirut is official. Notably, Qassem did not make the ceasefire contingent on a halt to fighting in Gaza.

Qassem’s request for a ceasefire, likely to be mediated by the UN or another diplomatic channel, calls for Israel to stop its offensive before any conditions regarding the situation between Israel and Lebanon—especially in southern Lebanon—are negotiated.

His focus is on achieving an immediate ceasefire, with the details to be discussed afterward. This approach is something Israel may resist, as resuming hostilities would be far more challenging if Lebanon refuses to accept Israel’s demands.

Hezbollah’s call for a ceasefire reflects the group’s dire military situation and its desire to prevent further actions by Israel and the Israel Defense Forces, which it sees as preparing to tighten control over southern Lebanon and inflict further damage on Hezbollah’s military and civilian assets.

Although Qassem presents the proposal as Hezbollah’s agreement to a ceasefire, it is clearly a desperate request born out of the group’s difficult circumstances and may even suggest a tacit admission of defeat. The next step will be watching how Israel and potential mediators respond—and whether Lebanon steps in to help bring an end to the war.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on October 8, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Naim Kassim/ Sebastian Baryil/Magnus Manske/Flickr/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray that Israel will not yield to pressure from the international community with regard to a ceasefire but will finish removing the threat of Hezbollah’s rockets on her northern border. Pray that the Israeli families who have been displaced from their homes in northern communities will be able to return quickly and live without fear of terror attacks.

Scripture

“I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

- Amos 9:15

US Retired Generals, Admirals: No Ceasefire until Israeli Civilians Are Safe, Can Return Home

by JNS

Tuesday, 8 October 2024 | Writing on the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 terror attack in southern Israel, 85 retired US generals and admirals stated in a letter, which the Jewish Institute for National Security of America released, that “there should be no daylight between our two countries.”

“The US should fully stand by Israel, including supplying it expeditiously with the critical weaponry it needs to fight this common battle against the Iranian axis,” the retired military leaders wrote.

“Today, a year after Hamas’s barbaric attack on Israel, we remember and mourn alongside Israel. However, as retired American military leaders witnessing the threats that Israel still faces from Iran’s terror network—from Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran itself—we also urge the US to learn a fundamental lesson from the past year,” the retired leaders wrote, “the critical imperative to support Israel fully in not only defending itself but also defeating our common adversaries.”

“The war that the Iranian axis launched a year ago is not just a war against Israel, nor is it being fought only in the Middle East,” they stated. “October 7 is not an isolated incident, but one front in a much larger global civilizational struggle.”

“There should be no ceasefire until Israel’s operations have succeeded in creating the conditions necessary for its citizens to return to their homes to live in peace and security,” they added. “So, too, should the US arm and assist Israel as it responds to Iran’s latest attack against it.”

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on October 7, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: US Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase/US Department of Defense/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the clear-sighted letter of support for Israel written by retired US military commanders. Pray that their recognition of Iran’s threat to the world will be recognized by leaders in the West. Pray that the US government would return to a position of unwavering support for Israel as they fight on behalf of all those in democratic nations.

Scripture

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him” lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

- Psalm 13:3–5

How Putin Benefits from Iran and Hezbollah’s Attacks on Israel

by Yair Navot ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 8 October 2024 | In the past weeks, the Kremlin [citadel of Moscow and seat of government of Russia], seemingly unencumbered by facts, has shifted blame for the war in Lebanon to Israel, ignoring Hezbollah’s year-long assault on Israel’s northern communities.

Moscow overlooked Iran’s ballistic missile strike on Israel on October 1, choosing instead to condemn Israel for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, blaming it for the “expected escalation” and accusing it of “murdering Lebanese civilians.”

Russia made no mention of Hezbollah’s attack on October 8 last year, which led to thousands of rockets and missiles being fired at Israeli civilians near the border, internally displacing tens of thousands of residents in northern Israel.

Russia, which does not view Hezbollah as a terrorist group, regularly engages with its leaders, including its Nasrallah up until his death. Last week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov criticized Israel’s ground operations in southern Lebanon during a meeting with Lebanon’s ambassador in Moscow, underscoring the Kremlin’s opposition to Israel’s actions, which they termed as “political assassinations.”

Just before Iran’s missile attack, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Tehran, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran amid the war in Ukraine and tensions between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran.

This visit, which included a face-to-face with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, highlighted the increased frequency of high-level Russian visits to Iran, aiming to bolster security ties. Significantly, Putin agreed to a strategic partnership with Tehran.

This intensified Russian–Iranian cooperation raises concerns in Jerusalem due to its security implications. The deepening ties are largely a byproduct of the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s military reliance on Iran.

Western intelligence reports indicate that Iran has recently supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and drones. To be specific, Tehran has supplied the Russians with 200 ballistic short-range missiles, on top of thousands of Iranian-made drones, including the explosive drone called Shahed-131, as well as the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone, a supply arrangement originating in 2022, when Russia realized it needed the assistance, given the Ukrainian armed forces’ stubborn refusal to throw in the towel.

Russia’s reliance on Tehran grants it leverage, raising Western fears that Moscow might share nuclear knowledge in return for military aid. Both nations, alongside China, aim to promote a multipolar world order, reducing US hegemony, while both suffer under Western sanctions.

None of that means the Kremlin is interested in a direct Israel–Iran war. Moscow’s critical stance toward Israel aligns with its growing military dependence on Iran. The Middle East escalation serves Russian interests by diverting Western focus from Ukraine and redirecting US military resources.

While a direct Iran–Israel conflict might spike energy prices globally, benefiting Moscow financially, it could also harm Iran, a strategic ally, thus conflicting Russian interests. High energy prices could also impact US politics, as higher gas prices before the election could dampen enthusiasm with Vice President Kamala Harris, effectively handing Donald Trump a second non-consecutive term. That’s an outcome Putin is still dreaming of.

As long as the Israel–Hezbollah conflict stays contained within Lebanon and doesn’t spill over to Syria, threatening the regime of close Russian ally President Bashar al-Assad, or escalate into a direct Israel-Iran confrontation, Russia will likely continue its approach: bolstering ties with Tehran, focusing on security issues and maintaining a cold stance toward Israel, which despite an obviously strained relationship between Netanyahu and Biden, is still largely perceived as aligned with US interests.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on October 8, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Поздравление с Днём медицинского работника/Пресс-служба Президента РФ/Kremlin.ru/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will have wisdom like that of King Solomon as they seek to determine the best course for the nation amid the shifting alliances between world powers. Pray for unity in the Security Cabinet which works with these three leaders to determine foreign and defense policy.

Scripture

And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.

- 1 Kings 4:29–30

The Story of Maya Desiatnik, the IDF Soldier Who Survived the War Room of Nahal Oz

by Hadar Gil-Ad ~ Ynetnews

Monday, 7 October 2024 | “I couldn’t believe they’d hurt them in their pajamas,” says Maya Desiatnik, lookout and death war room survivor.

The Nahal Oz sector was finally quiet on October 6. When the sirens started sounding the following day, Maya suddenly noticed terrorists running toward the fence. She recalls the battle, how she lost contact with her friends in the shelter unit, and how she fled the war room that had been set on fire. “I forced myself to open my eyes.” She’s been rehabilitating ever since.

Fifty-two male and female soldiers, including 15 lookout soldiers, died at Nahal Oz on the morning of October 7 in one of the first and harshest battles fought that day.

The lookouts saw everything and reported everything. They warned and courageously directed forces. Reinforcements showed up only after several, long hours and there was no one to rescue them. Seven were kidnapped by terrorists to Gaza and one has been murdered in captivity. Only a few survived the inferno. This is the story of Maya Desiatnik, the only lookout to survive that inferno.

“On October 6, a few hours before the massacre, we were having a discharge party for the late Staff Sgt. Shahaf Nissani. She called the party “The Last Disco” and hung up of decorations around the sign reading “Nahal Oz is Home.” It’s so sad to think about it. At the time, there were lots of disturbances in the sector, and that weekend in particular was quiet. We ate together, laughed and sang. We didn’t want the evening to end.”

“I got up at 3:30 a.m. for a war room shift. The rockets started at around 6:30 a.m. The siren in the war room was incessant and we saw people running to the fence, a huge pickup truck crossing the fence. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. We declared an infiltration, and we gradually started saying invasion. It was scary just saying it out loud.”

“We’d never drilled directing the soldiers in a scenario on this scale. There was just one force in the field and one on base. In my sector, there were already several infiltration points. My friend, the late Sgt. Yael Leibushor, who was sitting next to me, saw dozens of terrorists on their way to us and to Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The commanders started huddling around her counting the terrorists on their way to the outpost. They saw them turn and go in and saw the battle at the outpost gate. I didn’t watch. I couldn’t.”

“We were scared, but we knew the only thing we could do was function. I didn’t think of myself at that moment. I told myself that I was serving in a position.”

“About a quarter of an hour later, the terrorists got past the gate and got into the outpost and we watched them go to the war room. We were told to hide in the office of our officer, the late Capt. Shir Eilat. We sat there one on top of the other. There was no space. One girl would straighten her legs, then one would crouch down. We managed to stay in contact with our friends in the shelter, until around 7:30 a.m. when they stopped responding. At the time, we thought reception was down.”

Maya and her friends hid for six hours straight in the office in the war room, as the heroic battle was raging around them, fighting to the last bullet. Fifty-two male and female soldiers fell at Nahal Oz that morning.

“I remember at some stage, the language changed from ‘We need reinforcement’ to ‘We need rescuing.’ We could hear terrorists talking, going up to the war room roof, shouting ‘Allahu AkbarThey shot at the war room from outside and threw grenades in. When they realized they couldn’t get in, they set it on fire, with all of us inside.”

“Smoke came in and it was hard to breathe. We tried blocking the office entrance to stop the smoke from coming in, but it didn’t help. We started coughing and choking and everyone left. I remember trying, and being unable, to talk. I’d open my mouth, and I’d get smoke in my mouth.”

“I knew I had to carry on walking, I heard one of the officers shouting, ‘Get out through the bathroom window’. I fell several times on the way. My eyes were burning up and I told myself I had to force myself to open them to find the bathroom. When made it there, the sink had been broken by whoever had used it before me to get out. I just legged up and jumped from the window.”

“I got out, sat down and waited. One of the male soldiers came out of the other window. He had been severely affected by the smoke. My throat was burning up too. There was gunfire, sirens and no one around. Where were the girls?”

“We moved 40 minutes later to hide somewhere else—between the bushes and the concrete barricade blocks. We spent almost two hours there, until the paratroopers came to rescue us.”

Seven people were rescued from the burning war room. Maya was the only lookout. At the Nahal Oz outpost, 15 lookouts were murdered on October 7, and seven were kidnapped. The late lookout, Noa Marciano, was murdered in Hamas captivity and Ori Megidish was rescued from Gaza by Israel Defense Forces. Five lookouts are still in captivity: Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev.

“I do think why me, and whether it could have ended differently. When I got out of there, I still held onto the hope that they might have somehow escaped, and that I hadn’t seen them. As for the girls in the shelter, I just couldn’t believe they’d hurt them like that in their pajamas, with no guns. Whenever I’d hear about another girl, my hope would burst a little more. On the day they told me about the late Sgt. Ronni Eshel, my hope completely shattered. Ronni was the last one listed as missing.

“I’m beginning to rehabilitate, but it’s hard. I had plans. After my discharge in August, I was going to go to Sinai or Eilat with the girls—whatever we’d decide. But there’s no way I’m going without them. I try finding some kind of routine, but it’s hard. It’s especially hard when they’re still there. I know that, in the meantime, I can recover 75%-80% tops, but I can only make up those last points when they come back, only when they all come back.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on October 7, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: ניב/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Cry out on behalf of all those Israelis who saw and experienced unthinkable barbarity on October 7, praying for healing of memories. Pray for the peace of God to surround them, comfort them and give them renewed hope. Pray for those in the mental health profession who are helping the survivors as well as the first responders to achieve full recovery.

Scripture

The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.

- Psalm 29:11