SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 84

Jerusalem, Israel

 PRAYER UPDATE -- MID-JULY 2014

Israel and the Nations

SIGNIFICANT TIMING OF EVENTS:

*This is the period of Ramadan.

*The 17^th of Tammuz, which began July 15th this year, marks the beginning of the three week period known as Dire Straits. It ends on the 9^th of Av, which is August 5^th. Historically, this is a time of catastrophe for the Jewish People. Religious Jews fast from dawn till dusk. The 9^th of Av is Tisha B’av, the time when both the first and second Temples were destroyed. The book of Lamentations is read during this time.

ISRAEL’S HISTORICAL CONFLICT WITH HAMAS:

·         More than 9,000 rockets have been fired on Israel since the Gaza Disengagement in 2005.

·         Israel’s major battles with Hamas were in 2006, 2009, and in 2012.

·         June 12, 2014, began this recent firing of rockets by Hamas. It happened the same time as the three Jewish boys were kidnapped by Hamas in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

·         A short time before the recent conflict began, the Palestinian Authority declared a Palestinian-Hamas unity government. Hamas wanted to establish itself strong in the West Bank, and exert its authority over Gaza. It also wanted to come out of isolation, and increase its popularity, worldwide.

·         Israeli ground troops entered Gaza on Thursday night, July 17, 2014 in Operation Protective Edge.

·         During the past month, more than 1,800+ rockets have been fired at Israel, including at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.

·         Currently, about 2/3rds of the country is under the threat of rocket fire. 

·         More than 3.5 million Israelis are suffering from rockets hitting their communities almost daily. About 2 million more are subject to rocket threat.

·         It is a clear violation of international law – Hamas targeting Israel’s civilian population.

·         Hamas has infiltrated Israel by sea and tunnel in an attempt to murder and kidnap Israelis.

·         It’s a huge financial investment for Israel to protect its citizens. Each Iron Dome battery cost $50 million. At least eight batteries have been used so far.

·         Shelters have to be built, people are out of work; some businesses are closed.

TACTICES OF THE ENEMY/THE TERRORIST STRATEGY:

·         Hamas would like to draw Israel into a cycle of violence; and, keep Israel in a state of constant warfare.

·         To Increase Public Discontent: Southern communities are constantly dealing with rocket fire; Israelis living there are getting little or no sleep; and no quiet or peace. Ground forces are sustaining deaths and injuries. The terrorist strategy is to “bleed” Israel. This is the enemy’s tactic.

·         Hamas uses its population as human shields. They deliberately tell their citizens to stay at home when the IDF tells them to leave. Hamas puts their own citizens in harm’s way so that the death toll in Gaza will increase. Hamas knows this will cause a backlash in the international community against Israel.

·         Hamas positions rocket launchers, rockets, and weapons near homes, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, and mosques.

·         Though it has been reported that half of Hamas’ arsenal of rockets has been destroyed, they still have thousands of rockets in their stockpile. And, they have built an extensive terrorist infrastructure underground.

·         It is not being widely reported, but Israel has also sustained hits from some rockets being launched from Lebanon and Syria; the IDF has retaliated. Israel does not want to open up another front in the north.

 HAMAS TUNNELS:

·         Israel sent in commando units to identify where Hamas tunnels are located. Now, ground troops have been sent in to destroy the tunnels. So far, the IDF has destroyed about three dozen tunnels. There are hundreds more!

·         The tunnels have become sophisticated since the last conflict in 2012. There are now underground cities with bunkers and fortifications in these tunnels. They are hooked up to electricity and oxygen.

·         The tunnels run 30 meters deep.

·         Iranian and Hezbollah engineers helped build the tunnels. But, Hamas was mostly inspired by Vietnam and how they used these tunnels to fight the Americans during the Vietnam War.

·         Hamas stores weapons and ammunition in the tunnels; uses them as command, control, and communication posts; and, also as safe “houses” for Hamas’ military and political leadership.

·         In these tunnels, Hamas has stored long-range rockets. Originally, they came from Iran, through Sudan, to the Sinai, and then were smuggled into the tunnels. Some also came from Syria, Hezbollah and Libya.

·         Hamas has underground launching capability, and can operate the rockets electronically, via remote-control devices in these tunnels. So, they do not have to be in the tunnels when they launch the rockets!

We have a God who sees all and can expose all!

Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Jeremiah 16:17: “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from Me, nor is their sin concealed from My eyes.”

Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

ISRAEL’S STRATEGY/OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE:

·         The IDF is operating based on Hamas’ pain map. That means, the IDF sets out to target the most valuable entities of the Islamist movement.

·         The IDF is trying to impair Hamas’ abilities for the future. The harder the IDF hits Hamas now, the longer and more difficult the Hamas rehabilitation process will last. Then, Israel’s deterrence will be more effective and remain in place for a longer period of time.

·         Israel’s aim is for peace and quiet to be restored; stop the rocket fire; re-build deterrence in the south; weaken Hamas.

DIFFICULTIES FOR ISRAEL:

·         Israel cannot cut off the head of the snake. The snake is Hamas. Hamas knows Israel won’t do it.

·         If Israel topples Hamas, it will create a vacuum and who will replace Hamas? Israeli leaders are concerned that ISIS or Al-Qaeda will fill the vacuum.

Israeli generals always say they need an “address”; they want to know their enemy; they want to know who they are fighting and who to pinpoint. Who is the adversary? For Israel, Hamas is the “address” in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for all terrorism, regardless of what terrorist group launches the rockets.

PRAYER POINTS: 

Pray for new strategies for Israeli defense leaders who are overseeing this battle. Intercede that Israel will win the war on all battlefronts: military; diplomatic; political; media; social networks, public opinion

Suggested scriptures to read:   Psalm 18:33-35; Job 29:20; Psalm 144:1-2 (He trains our hands for war!)
 

Continue to PRAY:

• That God would miraculously protect and save the lives of IDF soldiers

• That the IDF has a good exit strategy for Israeli ground troops when they need to leave Gaza

• That all the tunnels are found and destroyed. Pray for heightened Israeli intelligence

• That there is a cease fire only if long-term deterrence has been achieved

• That the Lord will put endurance and resilience in the heart of the Israeli population; and, hope and courage. Declare Psalm 91 over Israeli citizens daily! 

• That the media will stop ignoring Hamas’ violations of international law and basic morality.

• That the international community will act to put an end to Hamas’ demonic behavior towards their own citizens and towards Israelis.

• That there will be no more kidnappings! 

• That the IDF will not stumble, and will always hit their target, to avoid the loss of human life.

• That the enemy will not be able to open up another front in the north of Israel.

 Intercede, daily, for those in Israel,and those in the cross-fire in Gaza, who have been seriously wounded; and, pray comfort for families who have lost loved ones.