Christian World News — Israel at War. Compiled from news sources by Ed Smith
All eyes and hearts are on Israel where the terrorist group, Hamas attacked that nation and killed over 1200 people and wounded at least 3000. Those numbers continue to climb. Some 150 people are reported taken as hostages and still listed as missing.
Israel is in a state of war. Prime Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address a few days ago,
“Citizens of Israel, we are at war … And we will win …the enemy will pay a price like they have never known before,”said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu five days after the brutal attacks on Israel.
The brave men and women of MAGEN DAVID ADOM, Israel’s emergency medical services, have been giving it their absolute all, moving with haste to save every single life possible. But the desperate cries for help continue to pour in and the traumatic scenes are heart wrenching.
Israel’s paramedics and EMTs have not faced such a horrific and overwhelming mass casualty situation like this ever before. They drive toward the shootings, the explosions, the fires, and the screams, fueled by courage and compassion. But the dangers are many …
MAGEN DAVID ADOM Senior EMT Aharon Chaimov was murdered by terrorists. He was shot in his ambulance while driving to rescue and save others who were wounded in the attacks. His family and friends grieve the loss of a true hero. Please pray for them and for all of Israel … and other EMTs that have been critically shot.
Israel is fighting back. The last operational power plant in Gaza went offline on Wednesday, running out of fuel after Israel fully closed the two entry points into the area, prohibiting the transport of food, fuel, water, and more. The lockdown followed a surprise assault by Hamas over the weekend and the subsequent taking of hostages back into Gaza.
The fate of an estimated 150 hostages taken into Gaza remains unknown. Hamas officials threatened to execute hostages in response to unannounced airstrikes (no reports of such acts have surfaced as of this writing). Some number of Americans are believed to be among the hostages.
Reports of atrocities from Hamas’ initial Saturday attack continue to mount as Israeli forces sweep through small towns near the Gaza border, most notably in the kibbutz villages of Kfar Aza and Be’eri.
Meanwhile, intense Israeli airstrikes have forced hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents to flee their homes. Egypt has thus far rejected the idea of an evacuation corridor across its border with Gaza.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prominent opposition figure Benny Gantz agreed to form an emergency unity government. The partnership will expire when the current war ends.
Analysts say the prospect of a ground invasion of Gaza by Israel appears increasingly likely.
We’ll have more as information becomes available.