Push Back

In the battle for who will run Gaza once Hamas is forced to leave after disarming, one country Israel refuses to let help is Turkey as we’re told in an article from CBN.com:

Turkey is pressing to join the international stabilization force in Gaza as the ceasefire teeters and accusations emerge from Hamas. In the U.S., a different kind of battle confronts the one thousand pastors and Christian leaders returning from Israel who say they're the targets of online attacks.

We’ll talk about the pastors who gathered in Jerusalem later but key in on the refusal to let Turkey help rebuild Gaza now:

The Erdogan government in Turkey claims it's ready to join the force tasked with stabilizing Gaza, directly challenging Israel's opposition. Ankara insists its participation is critical to upholding the ceasefire. Israel believes Turkey supports Hamas.

The clash over letting Turkey help in Gaza comes while the US sends its Israeli ambassador to Israel to talk things over:

The latest development comes as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz makes his first visit to Israel, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance Trump's Gaza peace plan.

Just getting to the second phase of the ceasefire is uncertain, though:

However, Hamas now says that plans cannot move into the second phase as the terror group accuses Israel of "violations." That phase calls for an international troop deployment and the disarmament of Hamas, which the terror group is resisting.

Israel sees thing very differently:

Israel accuses Hamas of being the violators of the ceasefire due to continued attacks on troops and failure to deliver al the remaining hostages as agreed. Hamas still claims it cannot locate the body of the last remaining hostage.

You already know what I think of Hamas and the last remains and that is they know exactly where it is and they’re stalling in turning it over. The PM sees even more challenges ahead once that body is returned. Netanyahu sees the deradicalization of Gaza as one that is obtainable even as he tries to visit New York City this month:

Netanyahu expects the second and third phases of negotiations to be equally challenging, as he plans to visit New York City later this month, despite threats from the incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani that he will arrest Netanyahu.

That will be a story all by itself, but Netanyahu tells us why he thinks Gazans can learn to not hate Jews and cites recent history to support his views:

"There's a third phase, and that is to deradicalize Gaza, something that also people believed was impossible. But it was done in Germany, it was done in Japan, it was done in the Gulf states, it can be done in Gaza too, but of course Hamas has to be dismantled.”

Fighting Antisemitism

Apart from the mayor of New York City’s hatred for Jews, there are some who think that this antisemitism is even seen in online attacks on Christians who support Israel:

Another controversy has surfaced with reports of online attacks against Christian leaders who attended last week's Friends of Zion Ambassador Summit in Israel.

The founder of the group sees just how it’s happening:

Founder Mike Evans claims pastors and ministry leaders are being targeted by coordinated AI-driven harassment and antisemitism.

Evans told CBN News, "They think they're real people. They're not real people, they're bots. But they achieve the same objective. They shut (the pastors) up by marginalizing them.

Evans was also knows why it’s happening and he goes right to the one behind the attacks:

We asked Evans what the endgame was of the cyber attack.

He replied, "Listen: the terrorists kill the body; these individuals kill the soul. So, it's exactly the same. It's 'Satan's come to kill, steal, and destroy.'"

Obviously not everyone will agree with Evans, but I agree wholeheartedly with his assessment. Those who hate the Jews are following the one who hates God’s people the most, and that is the Devil. Evans isn’t shying away from doing more:

Despite the attacks, Evans says his organization is moving forward with even more ambitious plans for next year.

"I'm planning on bringing 1,000 university students. young people like that are involved in Turning Point USA. leaders on campuses. I'm planning on bringing 1,000 of them in July, and then I'm planning on bringing 1,000 of the top pastors globally at the end of August," Evans said.

Turkey also hates Israel right now which is why they want to be involved in Gaza. This falls right into line with Bible prophecy as well:

"This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 'Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.'" (Ezekiel 38:1-6, NLT)

Many theologians see Gomer and Beth-Togarmah as modern day Turkey. Even looking at a map of the area, if Russia comes down against Israel they have to go through Turkey so it makes even more sense. So whether it is a Muslim may of New York City, AI bots, or an ancient nation, the hatred of God’s people is all over now. And yet another reason we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.