Hamas (Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamat al-Islāmiyyah, meaning “Islamic Resistance Movement”) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist paramilitary organization and political party which holds a majority of seats in the elected legislative council of the Palestinian National Authority.

Hamas was created in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi and Mohammad Taha of the Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood at the beginning of the First Intifada. Notorious for its numerous suicide bombings and other attacks on Israeli civilians and security forces, Hamas also runs extensive social programs and has gained popularity in Palestinian society by establishing hospitals, education systems, libraries and other services[4] throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Hamas’ charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Hamas describes its conflict with Israel as political and not religious or antisemitic. However, its founding charter, writings, and many of its public statements reflect the influence of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Hamas’s political wing has won many local elections in Gaza, Qalqilya, and Nablus. In January 2006, Hamas won a surprise victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, taking 76 of the 132 seats in the chamber, while the previous ruling Fatah party took 43. Many perceived the preceding Fatah government as corrupt and ineffective, and Hamas’s supporters see it as an “armed resistance” movement defending Palestinians from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. \owever, since Hamas’s election victory, particularly sharp infighting has occurred between Hamas and Fatah.

Following the Battle of Gaza in June of 2007, elected Hamas officials were ousted from their positions in the Palestinian National Authority government in the West Bank, replaced by rival Fatah members and independents in an action that many Palestinians and other experts considered illegal. On 18 June 2007, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah) issued a decree outlawing the Hamas militia and executive force.

Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by Canada, the European Union,Israel, Japan, and the United States,and is banned in Jordan. Australia and the United Kingdom list only the military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organization. The United States and the European Union have both implemented restrictive measures against Hamas on an international level.

Origins:

Hamas was created shortly before the December 1987 Intifada as a more militant, Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious, political and social movement founded in Egypt and dedicated to the gradual victory of Islam. Since the mid-1970s, the Brotherhood had been expanding its influence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip through its vast array of social services. Hamas advocacy of an immediate holy war to liberate Palestinerendered the Brotherhood’s policy of gradual Islamicization ineffectual.

Ideology:

Hamas preaches and engages in violence and terror in order to destroy the state of Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. Its virulent hatred of Jews and Judaism is deeply rooted in the anti-Semitic writings of Muslim Brotherhood theologians. 

In August 1988, Hamas issued its Covenant laying down its ideological principles and goals. Replete with anti-Semitism, it echoes the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion and charges Jews with an international conspiracy to gain control of the world. In Hamas’ worldview, Islamic precepts forbid a Jewish state in the area known as Palestine, the Jewish people have no legitimate connection to the land of Israel and Yasir Arafat is a traitor to the Islamic Palestinian cause. As the Hamas Covenant proclaims, “The landof Palestine is an Islamic trust… It is forbidden to anyone to yield or concede any part of it… Israel will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it…”

Organizational Structure:

Hamas is both a terrorist organization and a mass social, political and religious movement. The military branch is reportedly divided into three wings: an intelligence arm which gathers information about Palestinians suspected of collaboration, an arm which pursues those who have violated Islamic law and the Izzedine al-Qassam squads who are responsible for most of the terror attacks. The al-Qassam squads are comprised of a few dozen activists loosely organized into small, shadowy terror cells, at times operating independently of each other. Hamas’ military and political leaders are based throughout the West Bank and Gaza and the organization maintains offices and representatives in Teheran, Damascus and Amman. The connections and levels of coordination between the military and political branches are concealed. 

The division of Hamas into military and political/social wings has led many observers to erroneously assume that the social wing of Hamas is completely separate from its military wing. However, funds raised for the social programs of Hamas free up other funds for the military wing and there is no open accounting system whereby the international community can ascertain whether or not the social wing finances the military wing.  For instance, so-called humanitarian donations reward the families of Hamas suicide bombers.  

Hamas’ military wing also utilizes the organization’s social wing for indoctrination and recruitment. The social, cultural, religious and educational institutions of Hamas are well-known venues for anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred and serve as recruitment centers for Hamas suicide bombers. For example, a Hamas-sponsored soccer team in Hebron provided a ready supply of several Hamas suicide bombers.  In early 2006, Hamas began operation of a television station based in Gaza, Al Aksa TV, which broadcasts primarily religious and children’s programming.  Al Aksa TV – which Hamas says it hopes to soon broadcast via satellite to broaden its audience – is likely to become a key tool in propagating Hamas’ extremist message.  Indeed, the host of the station’s children’s program told the New York Times that his show “will teach children the basics of militant Palestinian politics.”

Terrorism and Violence:

Hamas launched its campaign of violence in 1989, first against Israeli soldiers and suspected Palestinian collaborators, and then against Israeli civilians. In the wake of the Oslo agreement, Hamas leaders intensified their rhetoric and vowed to derail the peace process through violent attacks. Drive-by shootings, firebombings and stabbings increased.  Suicide missions began in April 1994, when a Hamas suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a bus in Afula killing eight and wounding 50 others.   

Since that time Hamas has claimed responsibility for hundreds of attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets.  Israeli security sources have thwarted scores more.  Following Israel’s unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in August 2005, Hamas carried out dozens of rocket attacks against civilian targets in southern Israel.  According to the Israel Defense Forces, through suicide bombings and other violent attacks,  Hamas has killed nearly 300 Israelis since September 2000, and wounded over 2,000.   

While Hamas agreed to a ceasefire or “tahdia” on terrorist operations in March 2005, according to Israeli sources, Hamas continued to plan and perpetrate terrorist attacks, and helped provide support for attacks claimed by other terrorist organizations.    

Through systematic religious and political indoctrination and social pressure, Hamas leaders recruit young Palestinian men for suicide missions and other attacks. Hamas has also recruited beyond the West Bank and Gaza. According to Israeli sources, Hamas has recruited and operated a number of Israeli Arab terror cells. In June 2003, Israel indicted five senior officials of the Israeli Arab Islamic Movement, including movement leader Sheikh Ra’ad Salah, on various terrorism-related charges including membership in Hamas and raising funds abroad for Hamas agencies in the West Bank and Gaza. According to Israeli sources, two British Muslim suicide bombers who blew up a pub in Tel Aviv in April 2003 were Hamas recruits dispatched by the Hamas military command in Gaza.

Financial Support:

Hamas enjoys strong financial backing from Iran (an estimated $20 - $30 million), private benefactors and Muslim charities in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, Palestinian expatriates across the globe and American donors. Its budget has been estimated at $70 million and 85 percent of it reportedly comes from abroad; the remaining 15 percent is raised among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.  A number of Americans and U.S.-based charities have been implicated in funneling money to Hamas.  It is estimated that Saudi Arabia continues to channel between $12 - $14 million to Hamas annually. At a June 2003 press conference, Adel al-Jubeir, a senior adviser to the Saudi Crown Prince, did acknowledge that many Palestinian institutions funded by the Saudis may be run or managed by the political wing of Hamas. 

Syria remains a key center for Hamas operations, and the Assad regime provides support and protection to key Hamas leadership based inDamascus. 

Hamas and Palestinian Politics:

Hamas had tremendous success in the January 25, 2006 parliamentary elections, routing Fatah, and winning 74 seats in the 132-seat legislature, with Fatah earning a disappointing 45 seats.  Hamas will thus form the next Palestinian Authority government, with Mahmoud Abbas remaining as Palestinian Authority President.  

Although the “Oslo II” agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority in September 1995, outlining the modalities of Palestinian elections, bars candidates who “commit or advocate racism; or pursue the implementation of their aims by unlawful or non-democratic means,” President Abbas did not prevent Hamas’ participation in the political process. 

Hamas began large-scale participation in the Palestinian political scene in 2005, and they did extremely well in the series of municipal elections held throughout the year, gaining more than a third of municipal council seats.  As a result of the fourth round of Palestinian municipal elections held in December 2005, over one million Palestinians live in municipalities governed by Hamas (while only 700,000 live in municipalities governed by Fatah). 

Hamas candidates appeal to Palestinian voters as the alternative to the perceived corruption, inaction and weakness of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority leadership.  Candidates promised improved socio-economic conditions for Palestinian families, and greater social services.  They also pledged an end to the “Israeli occupation,” the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of all Palestinian refugees. 

Through the 2006 election campaign, Hamas candidates and leadership did not disavow their commitment to an “armed struggle” against Israel, their refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and the precepts of the Hamas Charter.  Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar declared on Palestinian TV, “We do not recognize the Israeli enemy, nor his right to be our neighbor, nor to stay (on the land), nor his ownership of any inch of land. . . . We are interested in restoring our full rights to return all the people of Palestine to the land ofPalestine. Our principles are clear: Palestine is a land of Waqf (Islamic trust), which can not be given up.”  At the same time, a number of Hamas candidates did make pragmatic statements, indicating that they might deal with Israelis in certain situations, or via a third party. 

The entry of Hamas into Palestinian politics has been somewhat controversial.  Some Hamas ideologues argue that involvement with the Palestinian Authority will lead to comprising the party’s goals, and the legitimization of the Palestinian Authority’s dealings with the State of Israel.  Indeed, for these reasons Hamas did not participate in the last Palestinian elections in 1996.

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Thanks to http://muqata.blogspot.com/

Please say a prayer for the safety of our soldiers.

Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.

As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Main Stream Israeli Media we will report them as well.

12:12 PM Air Raid Siren Test in Netivot, Yavneh, Gedera, Ashdod and Ashkelon. No rockets launched — it was only a test.

12:11 PM Photos of IAF helicopters around the Negev area. You can see the IDF zeppelin in the middle picture which keeps a watchful eye on everything going on in Gaza.

Source of photos)

12:07 PM Huge barrage of missiles hit Asheklon, Sderot, Ashdod, and Yavneh area. Magen David Adom and United Hatzala treating people for shell-shock. No physical injuries reported.

11:34 AM Pro-IDF Demonstration at entrance to Petach Tikva (Central Israel) — over a hundred people waving flags and cheering for IDF forces. Passing motorists honking in support.

11:09 AM Israel TV Channel 2 broadcasting classes for high school students stuck at home because schools are closed in the South.

11:03 AM We’ve reported on it in the past, but Noah Pollak makes a good point.

From the JPost:
[IDF officials] said that it was likely that a number of senior Hamas operatives and terror chiefs were hiding and conducting their operations from within Shifa Hosptial in Gaza City.

“Hamas operatives are in the hospital and have disguised themselves as nurses and doctors,” one official explained.
Now the Israelis have done it — they’ve forced Hamas leaders to dress up like nurses. Zionist cruelty knows no bounds.

10:58 AM 36 hours with a Fire fighting crew in the south of Israel.

10:49 AM YR sends in some pictures from Pro-Israel rally in Miami.

 10:44 AM A link to the video of Dvir Emmanualoff’s funeral. Hope it works. (h/t MB)

10:37 AM 20 residents of Wadi Ara arrested for rioting.

10:36 AM Sirens and 2 rockets fall in Ashkelon.

10:21 AM Mortar shell falls near Kibbutz Sha’ar HaNegev.

10:17 AM Humanitarian aid being transported to Gaza.

10:11 AM 2 Grad rockets fall near Gadera.

10:07 AM Security sources report that 80 terrorists killed so far in ground action.

10:06 AM Army radio reports that there is serious worry about rocket threat in the North.

10:05 AM Rocket falls in Gadera.

9:09 AM 5 soldiers and 1 officer wounded in attack in the early morning.

Reports say that as IDF soldiers approach known terrorist targets in Gaza that Hamas gunmen pop up out of the ground from underground tunnels.

IDF soldiers are prepared for this. K-9 units, unmanned drones, and soldiers with night vision goggles are deployed throughout to identify potential mole holes. Hamas are using anti-tank missiles, and heavy machine guns from their entrenched positions as well as mortars and roadside bombs. 

(We’re waiting for the online game to be released)

6:30 AM Golani soldier single-handedly foils kidnapping attempt in a tunnel before rejoining with IDF forces during the night. B’H. Once again, do not trust reports put out by Hamas of kidnappings (latest claim was that they kidnapped two soldiers). The IDF dismisses those claims and notes that they would report any kidnappings to the public in a proper and timely manner.

Bunkers and tunnels entrances are reported to be built right inside civilian homes!

5:16 AM IDF states it controls 73% of the areas previously used to launch rockets.

3:27 AM Fighting at eastern Gaza border including Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. Grenades thrown at IDF soldiers.
IDF takes control of Hamas TV station, broadcasting message to Gaza residents not to be shields for the Hamas gunmen.

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., January 5, 2009) — Last night, “Armageddon Week” began on The History Channel. This is a series of several documentary films every night dealing with different angles on — and different perspectives of — the End Times. 

In August, I was interviewed by a producer and film crew for this series and asked to describe an evangelical Christian perspective on Bible prophecies regarding the last days. The producers have emailed us to say portions of my interview will appear on tonight’s (Monday) broadcast at 9pm eastern in a special entitled, “Seven Signs of The Apocalypse.” 

The description of the program reads: “The Seven Signs are clear: We will be struck by deadly plagues, famines and earthquakes, the sky will turn dark and oceans will turn to blood, and the antichrist will emerge to fight the final battle between good and evil. Could this all be true? Experts decode this powerful prophecy and come to a startling conclusion: there is now scientific evidence that many of these catastrophes could, in fact, be occurring….To reveal the ultimate truth behind the prophecy, this investigation will turn to the past to reveal why the prophecy was written, and why it keeps such a powerful hold on our imagination today.” 

I have no idea how the program has turned out, as I have not had the chance to see it. Moreover, I’ll be traveling all day so I won’t have a chance to watch tonight. But I did want you to be aware of the week-long series, and tonight’s show, if you’re interested. 

God bless.

UPDATE ON HOW THE JOSHUA FUND IS HELPING ISRAELIS IN THE WAR ZONE

The Joshua Fund is moving quickly to bless Israeli caught in the crossfire of this escalating war between Israel and Hamas. 

On Friday, TJF helped fund a project to care for 150 elderly Israeli Jews trapped in the city of Sderot, right on the border with Gaza, which is receiving a seemingly never-ending barrage of rocket attacks. TJF paid for hot meals that were delivered personally by dozens of volunteers to these elderly shut-ins. The project was organized and run by Eeki Elner and Calev Myers, co-founders of AFFI, the Alliance for the Future of Israel. Several other allies provided logistical assistance as well. 

Here is an email we just received from Calev on how the project went: 

“We have just returned from the project in Sderot. It went very well. Eeki Elner…was able to bring between 50-60 volunteers from Tel-Aviv and the North. I brought about 11 volunteers from the Jerusalem Institute of Justice in Jerusalem. 

Eeki received from the Mayor of Sderot the names and address of about 150 elderly people in Sderot who can not leave their homes. Many of them suffer from health problems and all of them suffer from poverty. Through the generous donation of the Joshua Fund we were able to give a hot meal to each individual, together with a brand-new down blanket (provided by JIJ). 

“All of the volunteers split up into about 14 teams with a list of names and homes, and we were able to distribute all of the gifts within about 2.5 hours. The volunteers were instructed to enter peoples home and to take their time asking if everything is okay and trying to encourage the recipients as much as possible — to give them the feeling that they are not alone. This was a little challenging at times. Most of the recipients were Russian or Ethiopian new immigrants. Out of six homes that my team covered, we only found one Hebrew speaker. However we heard a lot of hearty “thank you”s in Russian and the tears and smiles on the faces of the recipients clearly expressed their appreciation regardless of language limitations. 

“As we were going from home to home it was hard to ignore the Israeli fighter jets flying over our heads and the artillery fire in the background. It is inconceivable to me what must be going through the mind of an elderly new immigrant who does not speak Hebrew, lives in abject poverty and listens all day to the sound of war about a mile from his/her house (not to mention the Kassam rockets which frequently fall in the vicinity). 

“Eeki was also able to procure a donation of tens of boxes of brand new educative toys and games, from a toys and games factory in Israel. After we finished the distribution to the elderly, each team of volunteers filled up their cars with educative games and toys and we went door to door asking if the homes had children, and distributing the games and toys to the ones that do. This really meant a lot to the recipients because the children of Sderot do not have school due to the war, and the kids need to need to interesting games, etc, to occupy them (as they try to ignore the bombings and gunfire which they hear throughout the day). 

“We want to thank you so much for helping us bring a ray of light and encouragement into the darkness and fear of the residents of Sderot today.” 

Please pray for all of these elderly shut-ins, as well as all of the people of Sderot, that the Lord would protect them as rockets keep raining down on their homes and communities. 

Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with John Moser, our executive director, just a few hours ago. I gave him authorization to fund another project to care for Israelis in the war zone. The Joshua Fund, working closely with our Jewish allies on the ground, will begin helping Israeli families who live near the border of Gaza to move out of their homes and to a safer city for the next week or so. We are paying for the buses, the accommodations and the food for these families. Lord willing, these families will start moving out of harm’s way within the next 24 hours. I will update you as soon as I possibly can. 

Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” The Lord commanded us to love our neighbors. He commanded us to bless the people of Israel in real and practical ways, including to feed those who have no food. We are seeking to obey in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I have also spent this afternoon praying with an Arab ministry leader, discussing how we can especially help Palestinian followers of Jesus trapped in Gaza. It’s not yet clear how to help given how tightly Hamas controls the situation and how violent the situation is at the moment. For now, we will keep assisting Jewish Israelis since we have clear access to them. If an opportunity presents itself to bless our brothers and sisters in Gaza, we will move as the Lord leads us. 

* Please continue praying for real peace — not just the absence of conflict but the presence of true justice and true security on both sides of the fence. 

* Please also continue praying for the scores of children on both sides who are being traumatized by all the rockets and bombs — pray for the Lord to comfort and care for them in a supernatural way. 

* Please pray for the followers of Jesus in Israel and Gaza, that they will have courage and hope from the Lord, that they will hear from the Holy Spirit how best to love their neighbors and their enemies, and that by their words and actions they can communicate the good news of God’s great love and plan for Israel and her neighbors. 

* Please continue praying for wisdom and discernment for The Joshua Fund leadership team, as well. We are in contact with our allies on the ground in Israel and readying relief supplies to help them care for those in severe need. 

* Please also pray that we can recruit 100,000 allies who are willing to pray knowledgeably, faithfully and consistently for the people of the epicenter. Already some 80,000 have signed up from around the world. 

* Please also pray about helping us financially as this war escalates. 

As always, we will do our best to keep you up-to-date on the kinds of projects we are doing, and brief you on how those projects are proceeding. We will also let you know about the kinds of projects we are developing for the future. In no way do we want to pressure anyone to give financially. We fully believe the Lord will provide for the needs of the people we seek to serve. But if you or others wish to help, we welcome your support, and all financial gifts are tax-deductible. 

If you would like to make a year-end contribution to the on-going work of The Joshua Fund please make your check payable to “The Joshua Fund” and send to: 

The Joshua Fund 

18950 Base Camp Road 

Monument, Colorado 80132-8009 

Thanks so much and may the Lord richly bless you and your family as you bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus — especially at critical moment in history of the epicenter.

To visit Joel’s weblog site and get the latest developments in the war between Israel and Hamas — including links to stories mentioned in this Flash Traffic report — please click here 

To join more than 80,000 other >> FLASH TRAFFIC << subscribers who are receiving (free) geopolitical and prayer updates from Israel and the epicenter, please click here. 

To help The Joshua Fund care for the victims of war and terrorism in Israel, you can make a secure tax-deductible financial contribution right now — please click here. 

To visit Joel’s website — www.joelrosenberg.com — please click here

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., January 3, 2009) — The State of Israel has just dramatically escalated its war against the terrorist forces of Hamas. 

Israeli tanks, armored personnel carriers and heavily armed ground forces have begun fighting their way into the Gaza Strip to hunt down and destroy Hamas missile and mortar launches, capture Hamas terrorist fighters, and create a real measure of safety and security along Israel’s southern border. As of 1:30am Israel time, “Army officials confirmed that dozens of terrorists were hurt in clashes with IDF ground troops, some of them were killed. In several cases, armed terrorists approached Israeli forces and were shot at by ground troops and IDF gunships. There are no reports of Israeli casualties at this time.” 

“The objective is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations,” said Major Avital Leibovitch, a military spokeswoman, confirming that incursions were under way, according to Ynet news, an Israeli news service. “We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas.” 

“It won’t be easy and it won’t be brief,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told reporters. ‘We’re continuing to expand the operation while being well aware that this move will include challenges, difficulties, and also victims. We are doing it because of the faith that at this time this is our duty to citizens of the country.” 

“Several hours ago, IDF troops entered the Gaza Strip,” Barak added. “So far in the operation, the IDF, the Air Force, and the Intelligence Corps delivered a harsh blow against Hamas. 

The Joshua Fund is working with Jewish and Christian allies on the ground to begin caring for Israelis caught in the crossfire. For more information, see below.
To visit Joel’s weblog site and get the latest developments in the war between Israel and Hamas — including links to stories mentioned in this Flash Traffic report — please click here

 
To join more than 80,000 other >> FLASH TRAFFIC << subscribers who are receiving (free) geopolitical and prayer updates from Israel and the epicenter, please click here.

 
To help The Joshua Fund care for the victims of war and terrorism in Israel, you can make a secure tax-deductible financial contribution right now — please click here.

 
To visit Joel’s website — www.joelrosenberg.com — please click here
 
UPDATE ON HOW THE JOSHUA FUND IS HELPING ISRAELIS IN THE WAR ZONE

The Joshua Fund is moving quickly to bless Israeli caught in the crossfire of this escalating war between Israel and Hamas. 

On Friday, TJF helped fund a project to care for 150 elderly Israeli Jews trapped in the city of Sderot, right on the border with Gaza, which is receiving a seemingly never-ending barrage of rocket attacks. TJF paid for hot meals that were delivered personally by dozens of volunteers to these elderly shut-ins. The project was organized and run by Eeki Elner and Calev Myers, co-founders of AFFI, the Alliance for the Future of Israel. Several other allies provided logistical assistance as well. 

Here is an email we just received from Calev on how the project went: 

“We have just returned from the project in Sderot. It went very well. Eeki Elner…was able to bring between 50-60 volunteers from Tel-Aviv and the North. I brought about 11 volunteers from the Jerusalem Institute of Justice in Jerusalem. 
Eeki received from the Mayor of Sderot the names and address of about 150 elderly people in Sderot who can not leave their homes. Many of them suffer from health problems and all of them suffer from poverty. Through the generous donation of the Joshua Fund we were able to give a hot meal to each individual, together with a brand-new down blanket (provided by JIJ). 

“All of the volunteers split up into about 14 teams with a list of names and homes, and we were able to distribute all of the gifts within about 2.5 hours. The volunteers were instructed to enter peoples home and to take their time asking if everything is okay and trying to encourage the recipients as much as possible — to give them the feeling that they are not alone. This was a little challenging at times. Most of the recipients were Russian or Ethiopian new immigrants. Out of six homes that my team covered, we only found one Hebrew speaker. However we heard a lot of hearty “thank you”s in Russian and the tears and smiles on the faces of the recipients clearly expressed their appreciation regardless of language limitations. 

“As we were going from home to home it was hard to ignore the Israeli fighter jets flying over our heads and the artillery fire in the background. It is inconceivable to me what must be going through the mind of an elderly new immigrant who does not speak Hebrew, lives in abject poverty and listens all day to the sound of war about a mile from his/her house (not to mention the Kassam rockets which frequently fall in the vicinity). 

“Eeki was also able to procure a donation of tens of boxes of brand new educative toys and games, from a toys and games factory in Israel. After we finished the distribution to the elderly, each team of volunteers filled up their cars with educative games and toys and we went door to door asking if the homes had children, and distributing the games and toys to the ones that do. This really meant a lot to the recipients because the children of Sderot do not have school due to the war, and the kids need to need to interesting games, etc, to occupy them (as they try to ignore the bombings and gunfire which they hear throughout the day). 

“We want to thank you so much for helping us bring a ray of light and encouragement into the darkness and fear of the residents of Sderot today.” 

Please pray for all of these elderly shut-ins, as well as all of the people of Sderot, that the Lord would protect them as rockets keep raining down on their homes and communities. 

Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with John Moser, our executive director, just a few hours ago. I gave him authorization to fund another project to care for Israelis in the war zone. The Joshua Fund, working closely with our Jewish allies on the ground, will begin helping Israeli families who live near the border of Gaza to move out of their homes and to a safer city for the next week or so. We are paying for the buses, the accommodations and the food for these families. Lord willing, these families will start moving out of harm’s way within the next 24 hours. I will update you as soon as I possibly can. 

Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” The Lord commanded us to love our neighbors. He commanded us to bless the people of Israel in real and practical ways, including to feed those who have no food. We are seeking to obey in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I have also spent this afternoon praying with an Arab ministry leader, discussing how we can especially help Palestinian followers of Jesus trapped in Gaza. It’s not yet clear how to help given how tightly Hamas controls the situation and how violent the situation is at the moment. For now, we will keep assisting Jewish Israelis since we have clear access to them. If an opportunity presents itself to bless our brothers and sisters in Gaza, we will move as the Lord leads us. 

* Please continue praying for real peace — not just the absence of conflict but the presence of true justice and true security on both sides of the fence. 

* Please also continue praying for the scores of children on both sides who are being traumatized by all the rockets and bombs — pray for the Lord to comfort and care for them in a supernatural way. 

* Please pray for the followers of Jesus in Israel and Gaza, that they will have courage and hope from the Lord, that they will hear from the Holy Spirit how best to love their neighbors and their enemies, and that by their words and actions they can communicate the good news of God’s great love and plan for Israel and her neighbors. 

* Please continue praying for wisdom and discernment for The Joshua Fund leadership team, as well. We are in contact with our allies on the ground in Israel and readying relief supplies to help them care for those in severe need. 

* Please also pray that we can recruit 100,000 allies who are willing to pray knowledgeably, faithfully and consistently for the people of the epicenter. Already some 80,000 have signed up from around the world. 

* Please also pray about helping us financially as this war escalates. 

As always, we will do our best to keep you up-to-date on the kinds of projects we are doing, and brief you on how those projects are proceeding. We will also let you know about the kinds of projects we are developing for the future. In no way do we want to pressure anyone to give financially. We fully believe the Lord will provide for the needs of the people we seek to serve. But if you or others wish to help, we welcome your support, and all financial gifts are tax-deductible. 

If you would like to make a year-end contribution to the on-going work of The Joshua Fund please make your check payable to “The Joshua Fund” and send to: 

The Joshua Fund 
18950 Base Camp Road 
Monument, Colorado 80132-8009 

Thanks so much and may the Lord richly bless you and your family as you bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus — especially at critical moment in history of the epicenter.
Would you consider making an emergency donation of $100, $500 or $1,000 to The Joshua Fund to help us care for Israelis in the war zone along the Gaza border? Please click here to find out more, and/or to make a secure donation on-line.
 
To get the latest prayer requests and updates on TJF’s work in the war zone, please visit The Joshua Fund’s weblog
 
Three webcasts from San Diego and Jerusalem

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Thanks to http://muqata.blogspot.com/

10:20 PM Immediate warnings of possible launches in the coming minutes to Ashdod and Ashkelon.

The Muqata refuses to publish any messages from the Gaza and Hamas websites, which are designed purely for psychological warfare (and are highly unreliable). We stand by our reports and accuracy.

10:15 PM Gaza’s primary fuel depot has been hit and is currently ablaze.

10:14 PM IDF HomeCommand special national broadcast on Channel 33 to residents of Israel with directions for behavior in event of rocket attacks. (Going to watch, be back in a few)

10:12 PM Lachish, Western Negev region go on alert for possible rocket launches at them from Gaza in the immediate minutes.

10:01 PM Reports of dozens of Hamas terrorists already killed in first contact gunbattles with IDF ground forces. (Israel Channel 2 TV)

9:57 PM Reports from Israeli sources that the government agreed this afternoon to the additional call up of tens of thousands of IDF reservists, in addition to the previous 9000 from last week.

My uniform, boots and dog-tags are already laid out in my bedroom.

9:54 PM Reports of Israeli Arabs stoning Israeli cars on highway 85 in northern Israel (in response to the IDF war on Gazan terror). Damage reported, no injuries.

9:47 PM CNN reports: Reacting to the [IDF] incursion, chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority Saeb Erakat said: “What this will do is undermine the peace process.”

Thanks Saeb — if you define “peace process” as the weakening of Israel, then I guess you are correct. If it means stabilizing the Middle East for democracy, them I would have to disagree with your erudite analysis.

9:41 PM Israel’s Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak orders total naval embargo on Gaza

9:34 PM Reports that in addition to IDF ground force incursion, the IAF is also hitting additional Gazan targets from the air, and providing air-cover for ground troops.

9:30 PM Israeli Leftists end their Tel Aviv demonstration against the IDF war on Gazan Terror.

Over a thousand people were demonstrating against the IDF’s Operation Cast Lead at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square on Saturday evening. In response, about 600 activists gathered in the same place to show support for the army and for residents of the South.Witnesses told the Jerusalem Post that many of the demonstrators were wearing Kaffiyehs and waving combined Israeli-Palestinian flags. (JPost)

 

I don’t understand why these people had their anti-IDF demonstration in Tel-Aviv. Wouldn’t it be much more appropriate to do it in downtown Ashkelon or Sederot while the Gazans continue to fire rockets at Israel?

9:27 PM Gunfire exchanges between IDF troops and Hamas terrorists in the Beit Hanoun area of Gaza (Beit Hanoun is one of the primary locations that shoots mortars and Qassam rockets at Sederot and the Western Negev towns)

9:24 PM Organized Prayers being said for the welfare of IDF troops in Israel and around the world.

9:17 PM Al-Alksa Gazan TV goes “off-air”. Hope their advertisers get a refund…

8:53 PM IDF starts massive military call up of reserve forces, (Emergency Call up #8 (Tzav-8.) (This information permitted by IDF censor). Close to 9000 reserve soldiers permitted to be called up by last week’s government decision.

8:45 PM Reports of at least 3 simultaneous IDF ground incursions into Gaza.

8:44 PM Air Raid Sirens in Western Negev

8:42 PM First clash reported between IDF ground forces and Hamas terrorists in Gaza, heavy exchange of gunfire.

8:41 PM IDF Solider critically wounded last week in Nachal Oz, has regained consciousness.

8:38 PM All Israeli News channels reporting ground incursion — it is still under military censorship to disclose where the incursion has started.

Prayer for the Welfare of Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces 

May He who blessed our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless the soldiers
of the Israel Defense Forces who keep guard over our country and cities of
our Lord from the border with Lebanon to the Egyptian desert and from the
Mediterranean Sea to the approach to the Arava, be they on land, air or sea.

May the Almighty deliver us our enemies who arise against us, may the Holy
One, blessed be He, preserve them and save them from all sorrow and peril,
from danger and ill.

May He send blessing and success in all their endeavors, may He deliver to
them those who hate us and crown them with salvation and victory, so that
the saying may be fulfilled through them, “For the Lord, your God, who walks
with you and to fight your enemies for you and to save you”, and let us say,
Amen.

8:24 PM Breaking News: Nissim Keinan, reporter for Reshet Bet, Israel Channel B Radio announced that the IDF Ground Offensive into Gaza has commenced. Sending a prayer and good wishes to our IDF forces — much success and safety.

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

(IsraelNN.com) Ground troops moved into Gaza Saturday night for the first time since last February. IDF flyers warned Gaza residents to leave terrorists’ homes. Artillery fire rained on terrorist targets before tanks roared in.

The Arabic language Al Jazeera network reported there was a clash between IDF soldiers and terrorists in northern Gaza. No other source confirmed the report, and there were not reports of injuries.

More israel news

Ground operation underway: Following heavy artillery bombardment, IDF soldiers enter Gaza Saturday evening; forces invade northern section of Strip; earlier, army fires hundreds of shells at areas adjacent to Gaza fence

Twitter reports! follow @growline

• ISRAEL CALLS UP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESERVISTS - TV. (BULLETIN)
• ISRAELI TROOPS EXCHANGE GUNFIRE WITH HAMAS MILITANTS IN GAZA - TV. (BULLETIN)
• Israel foreign ministry spokesman tells Al Jazeera ground forces to “target Hamas objectives until ground situ. transformed”. 
• Israeli government approves call up of thousands of reservist soldiers as ground troops exchange fire with Hamas gunmen in Gaza - Israeli TV
• IDF sending out emergency reserve call up 
• Israeli cabinet okays call up of tens of thousands of reservist soldiers (Channel 10)

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Ground operation is coming the question is when and how.
Different mediastreams are reporting that the groundoperation in only a few hours away. 

DEBKAfile’s Washington source report that in a telephone conversation with prime minister Ehud Olmert, US president George W. Bush gave Israel the final okay for a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He promised the US would veto a resolution condemning Israel at the UN Security Council meeting next Monday. Early Saturday morning, Jan. 3, Day 8 of Israel’s Gaza operation, US and British media described the Israeli invasion as hours away.

In his weekly radio address - brought forward by a day, the US president spoke with exceptional firmness: “Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable,” he said. “This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas – a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel’s destruction.”

He noted that “Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a coup and routinely violated an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire…” and went on to define the exit point for Israel’s military operation:

“Promises from Hamas will not suffice,” he said. There must be “monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end.”

This left Israel the option of sustaining its military activity against Hamas until such a mechanism was installed. He implicitly criticized Egypt for failing to control the smuggling of rockets and other munitions through its territory.

In his radio address, President Bush noted that president-elect Barack Obama is being kept up to date on the latest developments. With just over two weeks left in power, the Bush administration is preparing to hand over the problem to his successor.

DEBKAfile’s military sources list 9 pointers to an imminent Israeli incursion:

1. Israel’s three decision-makers, the prime minister, defense minister Ehud Barak and foreign minister Tzipi Livni, met Friday, Dec. 2, and resolved “to keep up the military pressure on Hamas” – a decision that gives the IDF a free hand.

2. Hamas’ conduct Friday: After 9 Grad Katyusha rockets were fired against Ashkelon, destroying two buildings and injuring five Israelis, the tempo slowed to 40 launchings the whole day - half the week’s daily average. The Palestinian terrorists were evidently reserving stocks for a grand climax when Israeli tank and armored infantry crossed into Gaza.

3. Hamas threats have mounted to a new pitch: Damascus-based Khaled Meshaal, who is in hiding, warned Israel (in a taped speech) of a “black fate” if it invades Gaza, including more kidnapped Israeli soldiers. Underlying his words was the threat of guerrilla action behind Israeli lines to snatch hostages.

4. Israeli air strikes against the empty homes of Hamas leaders continued early Saturday after 45 were destroyed Thursday and Friday. Their objective is to demoralize the Hamas command echelon and break its will to fight.

5. The Hamas military wing reported thwarting an Israeli special forces’ attempt to steal into the Sejaya refugee camp in Gaza City early Saturday. This is the third such claim in three days. The IDF spokesman denied knowledge of the incident.

6. DEBKAfile’s military sources report mass-desertions by teenagers who form the backbone of Hamas’ fighting rank and file. They are going home to their parents.

7. Early signs that former Palestinian security officers unaffiliated with Hamas are getting together to seize control of Gazan districts in which Hamas rule has collapsed.

Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets from Friday night advising people living in the northern and eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City to leave their homes. Defiance of this curfew directive carried the risk of being shot.

8. Cairo forwarded an urgent request to Hamas leaders in Damascus to make known their conditions for a ceasefire.

9. The arrival in Damascus of the chairman of Iran’s national security council and nuclear negotiator Said Jalili for urgent talks with Syrian president Bashar Assad and the leaders of Hamas and Jihad Islami.

Bush’s speech followed his conversations with Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi leaders as well as Olmert. He said he was concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza and noted that “Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian population which puts innocent Palestinians at risk.”

(IsraelNN.com) The Palestinian Authority jihadist organization Hamas and its global twin, Al-Qaeda, have threatened Jewish

“All options are open… including suicide bombings and attacks on Zionist interests everywhere.” — Hamas leader

interests around the world. Hamas and Fatah both called for a “day of rage” on Friday, as security analysts warn of “lone-wolf” attacks by Muslims incited by the international calls for jihad.

In reaction to the elimination of a leading Islamist in Gaza on Thursday afternoon, a top PA terrorist, Ismail Redwan, threatened “revenge” in the name of Hamas. On PA television, he declared that “all options are open to Hamas, including suicide bombings and attacks on Zionist interests everywhere.” Redwan added that the PA militias “will end the occupation.”

More israelnn

 Powered by Max Banner Ads