Shalom all,
Israel Update – Day 27 of the War.
The number of Israeli soldiers killed in action since the beginning of the ground offensive stands at 16, as of earlier this afternoon. This brings the total number of IDF troops killed since the 7th of October, to 331.

Continued heavy fighting took place today deep inside the Gaza Strip. One particular unit of the IDF spear-headed a certain operation and eliminated a terrorist unit that sought to ambush them. This specialized unit suffered the loss of over 40 of its comrades-in-arms on Black Saturday. 

Increased cross-border incidents took place throughout the day in the northern front, as well, with missiles being launched at IDF positions. It could be that the Hezbollah was acting at the request of its Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, who is schedule to make a speech tomorrow (Friday) in a ceremony celebrating “Martyrs who died on route to Jerusalem” (which can be interpreted to represent Hamas terrorists or other “Palestinian” factions). This will be his first public speech since the invasion and slaughter perpetrated by Hamas almost 4 weeks ago. The increase in military confrontation by Hamas naturally leads to a question that is on the minds of many, namely: if he will announce expansion of the conflict, more with missiles than with actual physical confrontation. Opinions are divided as to whether Nasrallah would risk joining the conflict, while a U.S. aircraft carrier is still anchored not far from the shores of Lebanon. In any event, the IDF Spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, warned the “we will respond forcefully to anyone who tries to destabilize the northern front”. <https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1q4sv11xp#autoplay> An all-out conflict with Hezbollah could result in the near elimination of Lebanon as a country.

Prior to the 7th of October, 2023, weekly demonstrations took place in various locations throughout Israel, sometimes with participants numbering over 100,000, against the government’s proposed “judicial reform”. Some in the media were cautioning against a potential “civil war”, particularly as the demonstrations took on a more violent character. But, since Black Saturday, there has been a nationwide stance that “We will be victorious – together”. This war has actually brought about a cessation of the politically-motivated demonstrations and has created a sense of “we are all in this, together”. It is a spirit of unity that cuts across the political divide and has energized right wing and left wing, secular and religious, Jew and Gentile. There was a widespread attitude that “Never Again!” Means “Never Again!” – not the Holocaust in Europe and not the second Holocaust that took place in Israel as a result of the terrorist invasion and slaughter of over 1,400 people and the abduction of over 240 people taken hostage by the terrorists. Some of those actually taken into the Gaza Strip by Hamas and its ilk were killed along the way and their bodies were found inside the Strip by IDF ground forces. So much for the Hamas psychological propaganda and proposal to exchange “All of the hostages for All of the “Palestinians” being held in Israeli jails”. Hamas can’t follow through on its offer to return “all” of the hostages held by it, because some are already dead and some are being held by others. It needs to be remembered that Hamas provided NO INFORMATION regarding the hostages, not their names, not their ages, not their gender, not their status of civilian or military, not their citizenship and not the status of their health and not even whether they are alive or dead. 

Yet, despite the barbarity of the terrorists’ actions, with a growing list of atrocities that have been documented and screened to select audiences, the burning, sensitive issue for hundreds of families and for the nation as a whole is: the hostages. The families want their loved ones back. Signs are posted everywhere in Israel, some stating: “Bring the hostages back – NOW!” “Release the hostages”. In other places, individual photos of some take hostage are pasted everywhere it is lawful to do so. The signs and posters and photos often appear side-by-side with “We will be victorious – together”. We cheer on the IDF, which is doing an excellent job (despite a multitude of condemnations from around the globe – based upon information released by Hamas and Hamas-controlled institutions in Gaza). The pressure is also mounting in Israel to agree to the “All for All” swap, but this would be, perhaps, the worst decision that this present government, or any Israeli government, can make.

A swap for the return of 240 hostages (less those whose bodies were later discovered in the Gaza Strip) for some 6,000 prisoners in Israeli jails, would be opening the door to perpetual abductions by terrorists, not only in Israel, but throughout the world.

Additionally, despite the military gains of the IDF deep inside the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials have declared that the ‘Palestinian’ terrorist group intends to repeat its Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis. Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and a spokesman for the Iran-backed terror organization, stated in a television interview in Lebanon: “We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again…[The Oct. 7 massacre] is just the first time and there will be a second, a third, a fourth … the occupation must come to an end.” Asked if by ending “the occupation” he meant the “annihilation” of Israel, Hamad replied, “Yes, of course…The existence of Israel is what causes all that pain, blood, and tears…It is Israel, not us. We are the victims of the occupation. Period. (Emphasis mine – see below**) Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do. On Oct. 7 … everything we do is justified.” Then, to emphasize the point, Hamad added, in English: “It is justified.” <https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/11/01/hamas-official-promises-carry-out-oct-7-massacre-again-and-again-until-israels-annihilation/> Those comments prompted James Cleverly, the British Foreign Secretary, to state that Hamad’s comments were proof that there can be no peace with Hamas. “How can there be peace when Hamas are committed to the eradication of Israel?…This is an official from Hamas committing to repeat the atrocities from 07/10 again and again.”

** It needs to be remembered that, on the one hand, while a number of countries stand with Israel’s determination to eliminate the existence of Hamas, they are many anticipating “the day after”. The unstated goal behind the stated goal is the ending of what has wrongly been called “the occupation” and the eventual establishment of a “Palestinian” state. This was the plan of former President Obama and it lies behind the think of his then Vice-President, now President, Joe Biden. In simple terms, that would be a disaster and the greatest undertaking of evil designed to undue the promise of God to Abraham that he and his descendants, namely, Isaac and Jacob and from there, the children of Israel (formerly Jacob) would be given this land, and even more than this land. The repeated song of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, the “Palestine” Liberation Organization, as well as other terrorist organizations and even Arab countries, is nothing more than the perpetuation of an intentionally created “myth” that Israel stole “Palestinian” land. This will be discussed in a future update. But, for now, it should be clear that the establishment of a so-called “Palestinian” State in the region of Judea and Samaria (commonly referred to as “the West Bank” [of the Jordan River]) would be setting the stage for repetitions of the massacre of the 7th of October. See today’s cogent article by Bassam Tawil: The ‘Two-State’ Solution to Murder Jews<https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20120/two-state-solution>, where he writes, in part: “The idea of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank means turning this area into another launching pad for attacking Israel and slaughtering Jewish men, women and children. US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken can continue to argue as much as they want that Hamas does not represent the Palestinians, but everyone who lives in the West Bank and Gaza Strip knows that this is a lethal lie. Every Palestinian is aware of, and often admires, the pro-Hamas demonstrations that have been taking place in the West Bank since October 7….it is high time for Biden and other Western leaders to stop pushing delusional ideas that will quickly lead to a repeat of the October 7 massacre. How many Jewish babies must be beheaded or baked alive in an oven, one wonders, for them to see that Palestinian leaders have radicalized their people against Israel to a point where they brag about slaughtering Jews with their own hands.”

Since we are discussing God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I am closing with a quote from Dror Eydar’s incisive article, The Genesis War, which appeared today in Israel Hayom <https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/the-genesis-war/>:

“We are only at the beginning of this big event; it should have us go back to the drawing board on how we approach war, messianism, political perceptions, and especially, and the attempt to understand evil.

“This is not only Israel’s war, but also a war for the whole free world. Israel is the forward outpost in the defense of the free world. We are not asking for anyone’s permission to exist, nor are we asking for legitimacy to defend ourselves. The statements by foreign leaders who identify with us that they support ‘Israel’s right to exist’ and ‘its right to defend itself’ should be greeted with a forgiving nod rather than an expression of gratitude. What these statements mean is that they have not internalized that this war is not only ours but also theirs! We will be thankful when those leaders who wish to show their support speak out against absolute evil, support our war against the new Nazis, and take it upon themselves to act in a similar manner.” In his last paragraph, Eydar closes with: “We will always return [home to this land], even if European or Middle Eastern Nazis fight the historical process of the return of the Jews to Zion. At the end of Abraham’s vision of the future of the nation he founded, we are assured: ‘On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your offspring, I assign this land…”.’  (ibid:18). Let the world hear.” (Emphasis mine)

I am thankful for those who have taken the time to write, however briefly, and encourage me in a number of different ways regarding these updates. 

Please remember our two sons in your prayers, along with all of the members of the IDF, wherever they are and whatever service they be rendering. May they all go out in peace and return in peace.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.
Marvin