Newsmax reports that captured Palestinian terrorists, Nabeel Rajab Abed Shteivi and Bakr Ahmed Bakr Qanita, have admitted to Israel Defense Forces (“IDF”) interrogators that 600 to 1,000 Hamas operatives have been hiding out in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital. Shteivi, who worked to produce missiles for the Palestinian Jihad, told the IDF that “Shifa, or schools and places like that, are our shelters.”
IDF Spokesman, Rear Admiral Danile Hagari, stated during a press briefing on Sunday evening (3/24/2024) that Hamas hijacked the Shifa Hospital and was hiding behind the sick and injured. He said that Hamas was destroying the Shifa Hospital by firing mortars at IDF troops from within the hospital – and specifically that weapons were being fired from within the emergency room and the maternity center, and that explosive devices were being thrown from the burn ward.
The Newsmax report may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, there is a reason that Hamas, and other groups such as the Palestinian Jihad and Hezbollah, are labeled as terrorist organizations.
What sort of government would initiate the murderous rampage of October 7, 2023; take, torture, behead, rape and murder hostages; terrorize its citizens; create circumstances in which its citizens are grossly malnourished and/or starve; cause and then allow the destruction of virtually all essential infrastructure; engage opposing forces in the middle of urban centers, hospitals or schools using civilians as human shields; infiltrate medical facilities pretending to be hospital employees; and brainwash children (and its citizens) into believing that Jews are animals deserving of death and destruction of their nation?
Of great concern to this writer is the Biden Administration’s growing disdain for allowing Israel to complete the mission of routing and destroying Hamas. The complete removal of Hamas is necessary so that residents of Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank can effectively work to resolve security, cultural, religious and geographic issues inherent in Israel (i.e., the Holy Land).
It seems only reasonable that in the middle of an ongoing war predicated by a merciless and bloody attack against Israel by Hamas, that this is a ridiculous time – as suggested by the United Nations and the Biden Administration – to be insisting upon an untimely cease fire and forced discussions about a “two-state solution,” which has been rejected by the Palestinians several times in the past.
As followers of Christ, let’s pray for the swift and decisive end to this war, and that the Palestinians would no longer be subject to terror from within nor enticed into committing terror by countries or organizations such as Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. Every single person involved, Palestinian, Jew (or otherwise) was created in the image and likeness of God Almighty and is greatly loved by God. The evil one has blinded eyes and ears to the truth, love and salvation only found in Christ Jesus (see John 14:6)!
Many of our own elected officials in the United States seem completely out of touch with the fact that terrorism is evil and needs to be ended. Simply consider the comments from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on March 14, 2024, who effectively called for the overthrow of the democratically-elected prime minister of Israel, by calling on Israel to hold new elections – saying that he believed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost his way” and was an obstacle to peace in the region amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More HERE as reported by ABC News.
The United States would NEVER tolerate this sort of commentary from a high ranking official from any of its allies! Yet, the Biden Administration seems to agree with Senator Schumer’s comments and feels that it is somehow entitled to dictate to Israel how it should conduct its war with Hamas! Following the Biden Administration’s shameful departure from Afghanistan, the United States should step much more lightly, privately and supportively in its engagements with Israel.
It is important to remember that the Jews are God’s chosen people (see Genesis 12:3, Deuteronomy 7:6 and Zechariah 2:8-10). And, in a practical and political sense, Israel is the only free country and ally in the Middle East that the United States can truly depend upon!
Let’s remember that Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the truth and the way to salvation:
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Let’s also remember what scripture has to say about God’s chosen people:
Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)
The LORD said to Abram (later Abraham): “I will bless those who bless you, [a]nd I will curse him who curses you; [a]nd in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)
“For you [the Jews] are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself [emphasis mine], a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
Zechariah 2:8-10 (NKJV)
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion [Jerusalem]! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the Lord.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
