By Marney Blom
Hamas’ barbaric massacre of more than 1,300 Israelis and the capture of 160 hostages earlier this week was met with a large-scale aerial bombing campaign targeting Hamas strongholds within Gaza. More than 300,000 Israeli troops amassed along Israel’s southern border are now poised for a large-scale incursion into Gaza. The goal is to eliminate all Hamas terrorists and terror cells with minimum loss of civilian life.
Along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, tensions remain high. With its stockpile of 150,000 rockets, missiles and mortars, the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, is threatening to ignite a war with Israel’s northern command.
Here are some of the potential outcomes of these two warfronts along with directives to help Christians pray effectively for Israel — the tiny, sole democracy in the region now braced for war.
THE GAZA INCURSION
Once the air campaign is deemed successful, Israel will launch a large-scale Israeli land incursion into Gaza to eliminate Hamas and bring home Israeli hostages. This war will either be quick, ending in one to two weeks, or become a long, drawn out, bloody campaign resulting in a large number of casualties of Israeli soldiers and Palestinian Arab civilians alike. Nightly images of death and destruction in Gaza could also escalate a worldwide propaganda war against Israel.
Pray for a quick and decisive war to destroy Hamas strongholds with minimum loss of life and the safe return of the Israeli hostages. Please also pray for the safe return of missing citizens representing 34 other nations.
ISRAEL’S NORTHERN WAR WITH HEZBOLLAH
The firing of Hezbollah’s 150,000 rockets, missiles and mortars into Israel from southern Lebanon would overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system and result in casualties and the destruction of Israeli infrastructure.
Pray for a dome of God’s protection over the people of Israel and the innocent Lebanese caught in the cross-fire of conflict. Please pray for confusion within Hezbollah’s command centres and for the malfunctioning of their military arsenal.
HAMAS CALLS FOR WORLD-WIDE JIHAD
Hamas leader, Khalad Mashal, has instructed Muslims worldwide to stage a Jihad — a day of rage and a holy war against Israel on Friday, October 13, 2023. The streets in Israel are currently quiet as Israelis remain at home fearing another intifada — the indiscriminate attack of Israeli citizens by Arabs living in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Judea and Samaria (i.e. the West Bank).
Please pray for peace and calm within Israel’s borders. Pray that Arabs will not heed the call for Jihad.
THIRD PARTY NATIONS ENTERING THE WAR
U.S. warships and aircraft carriers are currently headed towards the Mediterranean Gulf to bolster Israeli war efforts by supplying a carrier strike group, F35 and F15 fighter jets and needed ammunition for Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile systems. Russia has warned that a U.S. presence in the region could trigger a third party presence of their own. Turkey and Iran are also closely eyeing their options.
Please pray for a de-escalation. The presence of third parties, particularly that of super powers, could create a WWIII scenario.
To be continued: Israel’s 911: The unfolding events Part 3
Marney Blom is news director for the Acts News Network
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