GNITN – Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 70

Hostages Killed By IDF

We Knew This Could Happen

We learned from various released hostages that they were dressed as terrorists while in captivity, a tactic that would make it difficult for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to identity them in combat. And now we see that the IDF killed three hostages from an article in i24news.tv:

During battles in the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as Hamas terrorists and opened fire at them, killing them, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Friday.

"This is an area where our soldiers encountered many terrorists, including suicide bombers," he added.

The victims were identified as Yotam Haim, kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza in the Hamas militant group’s October 7th attack, and Samer Talalka, taken from Kibbutz Nir Am the same day. The third hostage killed in the friendly fire incident wished to remain unnamed at the request of grieving relatives.

We’ve since learned the name of the third hostage is Alon Lulu Shamriz. Making this even more tragic was that they had escaped from Hamas and were heading for the IDF at the time they were killed:

According to Israeli media reports, the hostages had escaped Hamas captivity and were heading towards IDF soldiers when they were mistakenly identified and shot.

The IDF said the hostage group was misidentified as a threat amid the fierce, ongoing battles in Gaza's urban terrain. Their bodies were transported to Israel after the accidental shooting for forensic examination and hostage identification.

As we would expect, the IDF voiced their remorse for killing them:

Military officials have notified all affected families. The IDF expressed deep regret, emphasizing the unfortunate deaths occurred in an active combat zone. Relevant operational lessons were immediately reviewed to prevent recurrence.

Israel's military and government vowed the national mission remains locating and safely returning all hostages held by Hamas and other Gaza militant factions.

Netanyahu Responds

In a report found in The Times Of Israel we read of Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu’s response to the reports of the hostages mistakenly killed:

In his first public comments on the mistaken IDF killing of three Israeli hostages in northern Gaza earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, “Together with the entire people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sorrow and mourn the fall of three of our dear sons who were taken hostage, among them Yotam Haim and Samar Talalka.”

The third hostage killed has been named as Alon Lulu Shamriz.

“This is an unbearable tragedy. The entire State of Israel mourns this evening. My heart goes out to the grieving families in their difficult time.”

“I strengthen our brave warriors who are pursuing the sacred mission of returning our abducted, even at the cost of their own lives.”

“Even on this difficult evening, we will dress our wounds, learn the necessary lessons and continue with our supreme effort to return all our hostages home safely,” Netanyahu says.

We should continue to pray for those already lost in the war and pray that no more hostages are lost going forward. If anything, this reveals that the hostages are close and could be found sooner than later.

Bounties Put On Hamas Leaders

Apparently the IDF is offering a big reward for information about the top four leaders in Hamas as seen in this report from The Times Of Israel:

The Israeli military has appeared to place a bounty on Hamas leaders, reportedly dropping fliers in the Gaza Strip offering money for information on the whereabouts of top Hamas official Yahya Sinwar and other commanders in the terror group.

Images of a pamphlet circulated on social media Thursday, where up to $400,000 was offered for Sinwar and smaller amounts for other leaders. The flier, whose authenticity could not be confirmed, included a telephone number and a contact on the Telegram messaging app, with a promise of confidentiality.

Israel’s military has swept deep into Gaza in a campaign to crush the Hamas terror group and eliminate its leadership. While it says it has killed or captured thousands of terrorists, Hamas’s top leaders remain at large.

If one person provides such information on all 4 they could receive 1 million dollars as we read further in the article:

The flier offers $400,000 for information on Sinwar, who leads the group in Gaza; $300,000 for information on his brother, Muhammed Sinwar, who commands the terror group’s southern brigade; $200,000 for information on Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis battalion; and $100,000 for information on Muhammad Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, who has survived repeated assassination attempts.

Will anything come from these leaflets that were dropped into Gaza? We may never know, but it certainly shows us how much the IDF wants them.

Sinwar A Wanted Man By The United States, Too

Another report from The Times Of Israel indicates that a senior official inside the administration of The United States said this on the subject of eliminating them:

A senior Biden administration official said it is “safe to say” that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar’s “days are numbered,” during a press briefing Thursday on US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s meetings in Israel.

While Israeli leaders have voiced such threats against the terror leader and have referred to him as “a dead man walking,” it appeared to be the first time that a senior US official has spoken publicly about Sinwar in such a manner.

“I also think it’s safe to say it doesn’t matter how long it takes…justice will be served,” the senior administration official said, noting that Sinwar has “American blood on his hands.”

That official is referring to the 38 Americans killed on October 7th, but I’m sure the 8 hostages from the United States are also contributing to the desire of the Hamas leader’s demise.

Hezbollah In Their Sites

In statements made by War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, Hezbollah must be pushed back from the Lebanon border. In a report from The Times Of Israel we read more on this:

War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz on Friday warned that Israel would be forced to push the Hezbollah terror group away from the Lebanese border if the international community could not do so through diplomatic means.

Gantz, speaking during a visit to Ma’alot-Tarshiha in the Upper Galilee, said he had invited top Western diplomats to visit the area and realize the threat posed by Hezbollah.

Gallant warned, “If the world doesn’t get Hezbollah away from the border, Israel will do it.”

The article goes on to tell us about current activity on Israel’s northern border:

At the same time as he was speaking rocket sirens sounded in the largely evacuated northern town of Kiryat Shmona, as the Israel Air Force struck a number of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, amid the ongoing exchanges of fire with the terror group along the northern border.

An attack helicopter and drone struck terror targets in southern Lebanon, including a rocket launcher used to fire projectiles at northern Israel.

The IDF said some of the rockets were intercepted, while others landed in open areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Iron Dome also intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” that entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon, and a drone launched from Lebanon crashed near an army post close to Menara, the IDF said.

Earlier in the day, the IDF also said that troops carried out a strike on two gunmen identified near the border.

Gantz was most likely referring to ongoing diplomatic endeavors to stop the attacks when he mentioned the world getting Hezbollah away from their border.

Ushering In A Muslim Messiah

In an article found on CBN.com we read that the October 7th attacks could be the start of a bigger plan by Iran:

The horrific Hamas attack on Israel was only the first phase of a long-term plan by Iran to wipe out the Jewish State. Iranian leaders believe Israel must be eliminated before the return of an Islamic "messiah-like" figure known as the Mahdi.

For years, Iran has been indoctrinating its fighters throughout the Middle East in the belief that there must be an apocalyptic war that destroys both Israel and Jews around the world in order to usher in the Mahdi's return.

The report brings in the opinion of an Islamic expert to expand on this:

Islamic expert Raymond Ibrahim says, "The Mahdi basically means 'guided one,' or in the Islamic understanding, he's the 'rightly guided one.' And he takes on different guises, depending on which sect of Islam you ask, Sunni or Shia."

Islamic writings say his name will be Mohammed Ibn Abdillah.

Sunnis, the majority of the world's Muslims, believe the Mahdi has not yet been born.

Shia Islam, which Iran dominates, teaches that the Mahdi is already alive, and has been hiding for over a thousand years.

Brother Rachid, a former Muslim who hosts a Christian program for Muslims called "Daring Questions," says, "Shia Muslims, especially the 'Twelver Shia' believe he is the 12th Imam, and that he was born around 868. So, he just disappeared. He's still alive until today. His age is 1,155, if you want. So, he's still living somewhere and one day he will show himself."

Peace Is Not An Option

Regardless of which view you take, it’s never good for Israel:

Iranian leaders have seized upon belief in the final battle before the Mahdi's return to motivate its military and allies to fight harder to destroy Israel.

Ibrahim says, "A lot of the Islamic schools or jihadists are being indoctrinated by Iranian propaganda into Mahdism. And again, it always centers around Israel, and attacking and destroying Israel."

Some believe in the next phase of its plan to wipe out Israel, Iran might initiate a multi-front attack through its heavily armed proxy armies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

According to both Rachid and Ibrahim peace with these Muslims will never work:

Ibrahim and Brother Rachid say the doctrine of the Mahdi's return means that any attempts by Israel to make peace with the Muslim world will ultimately prove futile.

"Israel is a threat to Muslims, to the Mahdi, to the coming of the Mahdi," says Brother Rachid. "So, they have to be eliminated. There is no other solution. You cannot do peace with Israel."

Ibrahim says, "I don't think Israel could ever have a permanent peace unless Islam were to completely change itself and become 'not Islam' or be something completely different."

And Ibrahim worries that Iran might be willing to use a nuclear weapon against Israel to ensure the return of the Mahdi.

Now you know why I and others don’t ever see a two state plan working nor any semblance of lasting peace between Muslims and Jews. And in that last sentence from the article you can see why I believe that Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear capacity sooner than later. With this information you can really see why we need to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.