GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 315

Not Really Close

Are We Really Close?

With all the talk about the hostage deal, we really seem to be forgetting the red lines drawn in previous talks and no one seems to be bringing them up. If we are really in what some are calling the end game? We learn more about that in a report from The Jerusalem Post:

Ceasefire negotiators in Doha are coming off of what a senior Biden administration official is calling the "most constructive 48 hours of the negotiation process in months" with the final bridging proposal in place which mediators are hopeful can be agreed upon with talks concluding in Cairo next week.

"It was a consensus of all the participants here over the last 48 hours that there's really a new spirit here to drive this to a conclusion," said the official, speaking from Doha.

Previous deals are still on the table:

The official laid out the timeline of the terms of the deal in place, saying Israel put down a proposal on May 27 that was the basis of the President's speech on May 3.

On July 3, Hamas came back with a response to that, with a number of changes, many of which were not acceptable, according to the official, but many of which were a basis for further discussion. On July 27, Israel issued some clarification to the text.

While closing the gaps, the hard lines remain the same. But refining the areas of some agreement still happened:

"Basically, what we've done is taken the gaps that remain and have bridged those in a way that we think is a deal that is now ready to close, implement and move forward," the official said, adding there is still more work to do.

The report did finally mention an area that isn’t changing:

On points of contention from Doha, such as the IDF remaining in control of the Philadelphi corridor, the official said the issue is "moving the right way" and consistent with the May 27 version of the deal in which Israel remains in control of the area bordering Egypt and Gaza.

"Is stipulated in the deal that particularly people going from South to North, displaced persons meeting civilians without arms, that is a core provision of the deal," according to the official. "And obviously, the Israelis want to make sure that that provision is followed through. We believe, as do the other mediators, that that is a material principle of the deal, and that if anyone is carrying arms from South to North, that would be a violation of the deal."

Missing is that terrorists can merely get their hands on arms in the places they move to, but why muddy the waters with the obvious, right? The tried and true trope of getting humanitarian aid always seems to show up, even though it isn’t an issue if only what is sent actually gets past Hamas to the people in need. The report did say that the prisoner ratio to hostage releases is a sticking point as it should be. And one that could remain a point of contention. What is the real barrier? Hamas wants to survive after the deal and Israel wants them to either surrender or be killed. When that bridge is finally crossed let me know. Until then, this is just a way for people to get frequent flyer miles.

Unlikely Allies

We learn in an article from The Times Of Israel that if Iran attacks Israel these countries will join in the fighting:

Israel expects Britain, France and other US allies to join it in taking military action against Iran should the Islamic Republic launch a promised assault on Israel to avenge the killing of Hamas terror chief Ismail Haniyeh, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Friday.

Katz made the comments as he met with the British and French foreign ministers making a joint trip to Israel, as international efforts to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza intensified, amid heightened fears in Israel that Iran and Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon could attack Israel in retaliation for last month’s killings of Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

The Israeli president wants Iran to know that there is an international coalition that is ready to not only defend Israel, but be attacked by them:

Katz told British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné “that Israel expects France and Britain to publicly clarify to Iran that it is unacceptable for it to attack Israel and that if Iran attacks, the US-led coalition will join Israel not only in defense but also in an attack against significant targets in Iran,” his office said in a Hebrew-language statement after the meeting.

This is a huge development. Katz said the obvious next:

“Israel cannot not respond strongly to attacks on it,” he added.

He went on to mention that a show of strength is necessary:

“I thanked them for their support of Israel and made it clear that the right way to deter Iran and prevent war is by announcing that if Iran attacks, they will stand with Israel not only in defense but also in striking targets in Iran.”

Being part of a defense force for Israel already had international support:

The UK and France were both part of an international coalition that helped defend Israel in mid-April when Iran launched hundreds of missiles into Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel respond with a strike of its own on Iran reportedly led to tensions between Jerusalem and Western capitals, which see the tit-for-tats as liable to snowball into a full-blown conflict.

This conflict could lead to a world war, but the concern now is for the region:

“This is a dangerous moment for the Middle East,” Lammy said following the meeting with Katz. “The risk of the situation spiraling out of control is rising. Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences for the region.”

The report went on to bring up the hostage negotiations which Katz assured them that Israel wants a deal if possible. Apart from that Iran and Hezbollah continue to prepare for attacks on Israel and have stated publicly that if the talks fall apart, they will use force to deal with Israel.

Prayer Keys

It’s always good to have prayer keys as we lift up Israel during this crucial period in their history. Feel free to use these keys that are found here:

  • In this tense situation, we declare to Zion in Yeshua's name, "Your God reigns" (Isa. 52:7b)!
  • God of Israel, Your reputation and Your promises to Israel are at stake, so arise and scatter Your enemies – for Your holy name's sake (Ex. 32:11-13; Num. 10:35; Deut. 32:41; Psa. 74:22-23).
  • Reinforce Your angelic armies fighting for Your nation at this time (Psa. 35:4-6; 78:49).
  • Lord, if this is the time to fulfill Micah 4:11-13, then make Israel into that prophetic threshing tool and let the results bring You much glory and honor – both in Israel and in the world (Ezek. 39:13).
  • As Israel faces a multi-front war, turn Israelis to look to and trust in You knowing how You have given Israel the victory in all of its modern multi-front wars since 1948 (Deut. 20:1; Psa. 44:4).
  • Lord of hosts, if Israel needs to pre-empt Hizbullah and/or Iran now – guide it to do just that, with courage, wisdom and insight from on high (Josh. 1:3-7; Psa. 18:34; 141:1, 8-10).
  • Expose to the light all of Iran's or Hizbullah's current plans against Israel (Prov. 15:3; Luke 12:2).
  • Do not let Israel miss this chance to deal a death blow to these demonic foes (Deut. 3:3; Josh 2:24).
  • Continue to use Israel as Your instrument of judgment against all of the remaining mass-murdering terrorist leaders, like Hamas' Sinwar and Hizbullah's Nasrallah (Jer. 51:20-23; Rom. 13:3-4).
  • Lord God, confound all who hate Zion, like these terrorist leaders, as well as Iran's current leaders, the Houthis in Yemen, leaders in Syria and Iraq, and even those who hate Zion in the West and who truly despise Your people and Your nation (Psa. 70:2; Jer. 17:18).
  • Anoint Israeli drone operators to be accurate and precise in targeting Israel's enemies (1 Chr. 5:18).
  • Abba, shame Israel's enemies to seek Your name, and if they refuse, eliminate them (Psa. 83:16-18).
  • God, break Elam's [ancient Iran's] bow (Jer. 49:35), and destroy its evil leaders (Jer. 49:38b).
  • Protect Your Body in Iran and lead it in prayer during this intense situation (Psa. 10:17; Luke 11:2).
  • We ask the same for the Body in Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East (Psa. 91:14-16).
  • Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6)