Who would have thought Israel would still be at war with Hamas 10 months after Oct 7 atrocities
Had I written in January 2024 that Israel would still be engaged in a war with Hamas in Gaza at this time, I suspect few, if any, of you would have believed me.
But the reality comes as no surprise: The US is has been fighting Al-Qaeda since November 2011, and ISIS is likewise not yet fully eliminated.
Hamas has had more than ample time to create its unparalleled and extensive subterranean infrastructure and to educate a whole generation of children in consequence to which it enjoys – to the surprise of the uninformed and the willfully blind – the support of an overwhelming part of the population in Gaza.
That is why so many thousands of “innocent civilians” followed Hamas’ murderous militants into Israel and partook of the looting, raping and hostage taking.
To date, 115 abductees are still in Hamas’ clutches. It is estimated that about half of them have died in captivity, many having succumbed to their wounds or their ill health for lack of proper medical treatment, to torture and to the lack of food, water, the light of the sun and clean air.
Some of the abductees were murdered by Hamas on October 7, and their bodies were taken to Gaza to serve as bargaining chips.
Among the abductees are two brothers, who were abducted at the age of 9 months and 4 years respectively.
Israel has successfully gained control of most of the Gaza strip, with a minimum of civilian casualties in spite of Hamas’ efforts to increase these and its slanted reporting, echoing by much of the international press.
Israeli forces are now engaged in the process of discovering and destroying the subterranean infrastructure, including tunnels that served to replenish Hamas’ ammunition and weaponry and an important source of income (Hamas imposed on all imports via the tunnels a 20% tax).
Israel has agreed to bring an end to the war in exchange for the return of all the abductees. Hamas continues to stall, now awaiting the results of Iran and Hezbollah’s promised attacks on Israel in response to the assassinations in Beirut of Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff and Hamas’s “political” leader in Tehran.
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ military leader, the architect of the October 7 atrocities, has now been elected to the post of its political leader as well.
Do Al Qaeda or ISIS have “political leaders”? What does such a title imply?
Simply this, that Sinwar is now the international propaganda chief and formal representative of the murderous organization he represents. The façade with regard to Hamas’ supposed moderate political image has been removed by the joint appointment Sinwar now enjoys.
There is no denying that Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu’s irresponsible government and his efforts at the overhaul of Israel’s form of government and its judicial system, which provoked widespread opposition in Israel, was deemed to have created an opportune moment for Hamas to attack.
Hamas believed – wrongly as it discovered – that Israeli society was weakened to the extent it would be unable to defend itself.
Sinwar therefore laid plans for the division of Israel into regions, governed by Hamas appointees.
He prepared for the murder and deportation of millions of Israelis, including Arab citizens of Israel who would not submit to Hamas’s rule, with the exception of those deemed necessary for the running of the essential infrastructure until such a time that they would be replaced by Hamas loyalists.
Hamas actually approached various individuals to inquire as to their willingness to undertake the government of the various regions into which the organization planned to divide the conquered country. The goal was the utter destruction of Israel and its replacement by a radical Islamic regime.
Netanyahu’s irresponsible government is still in power, although it has long lost the support of the general populace.
The Attorney General, senior administration officials and the heads of the security forces have all stated that Netanyahu’s decisions are politically motivated, part of his effort to preserve his government for as long as possible. They are not driven by concern for the nation.
Tensions between himself and Yoav Gallant, the Minister of Defense, the Attorney General, the Chief of Staff and the heads of what are Israel’s equivalents to the US’s FBI and CIA are the product of that set of priorities.
In consequence, Netanyahu is in search of an opportunity to rid himself of these critics and to appoint his own set of loyalists.
His Minister of Justice and the Head of the Parliamentary Judicial Committee continue their efforts to overhaul the judicial system and rid Netanyahu of a pesky institution that has blocked his most radical legislative efforts.
Israel is now on high alert following Iran and Hezbollah’s vow to avenge the assassinations mentioned above. Iran enlisted its proxies in Yemen, Iraq and Syria.
Following Israel’s stern response to their attack on Tel-Aviv the Houthis in Yemen have so far been restrained from repeated provocations, but they are likely to join Iran in its effort to “teach Israel a lesson.”
A coalition of the USA, Italy and Britain, together with an assortment of moderate Arab countries, are preparing to stymie Iran’s efforts.
Israel has warned both Iran and Hezbollah that it will respond with force to any successful attack and indicated it is considering a preemptive attack. The latter option is unlikely but must not be ruled out altogether.
Although local and international pressure has been put on Iran and Hezbollah to avoid a major confrontation, and there seems to be some effect of that pressure, there is no way to ensure that such will be the result.
Iran and Hezbollah’s attacks could lead to a major conflagration that will involve the whole Middle East. No one would be well served by such a development.
Israel, Iran and Hezbollah indicated their desire to avoid such, but things could easily get out of hand and the extremists may well have their day.
Should that happen, I will seek to make my way to Israel and be of as much help as I can to the country and to the churches. So long as I can be useful, it is wrong for me to be away, in comfort and in safety, while my people struggle – literally, for their lives.
Copyright Baruch Maoz. Reposted with permission.
www.themaozweb.com
Baruch Maoz served for thirty-three years as pastor of Grace and Truth Christian Congregation near Tel Aviv and field leader for Christian Witness to Israel. He is senior editor of the Modern Hebrew Bible, coeditor of the Annotated Hebrew New Testament, and founder and former co-editor of Mishkan: An International Theological Forum on Jewish Evangelism.
