GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 441

Hamas, Syria, And Turkey

More Pressure

We read in a report from the Jewish News Syndicate that Israel intends to exert greater and greater pressure on Hamas in the hopes that it will force the terrorists to release the hostages or agree to a deal that does:

Unwavering military action against Hamas in Gaza is creating the conditions for the return of the captives held by the terrorist group, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said on Wednesday.

Halevi told us why he thinks this will work:

“We are exerting pressure on Hamas daily, driving it into greater distress, to ensure the return of the 100 hostages—hopefully alive, and for those who are not, to provide them a proper burial in Israel,” Halevi said during a situational assessment and inspection tour in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.”

The context of his remarks come as diplomats are meeting to broker a deal to get the hostages back that way:

The remarks come amid continuing reports of an imminent ceasefire agreement that would see the captives, of whom 64 are believed to be alive, freed in stages.

Taking down Hamas will also serve another purpose:

Halevi also emphasized that the dismantling and targeting of Hamas terrorist infrastructure and forces is necessary to ensure that Israel’s enemies in Gaza never again have the capability to commit another Oct. 7 massacre, referring to last year’s Hamas-led attack that initiated the multi-front war with Iran’s regional terrorist proxies. Gazan invaders killed around 1,200 people, wounded thousands of others and kidnapped 250.

Overall Halevi said that things are already safer and the goal is to continue that process:

The general stressed that the goal is also to make it safe to live near Gaza, saying, “I tell you this: The Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip are coming back to life. Residents are returning, and as they do, our responsibility grows even greater—not less. It is our duty to provide a much stronger security framework so they can feel safe and secure here.”

The general spoke alongside of other military leaders:

He was joined by OC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, OC Gaza Division Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, OC Nahal Brigade Col. Yair Zuckerman and other senior commanders.

Speaking to all of them he thanked them for helping create the environment that will get the hostages back home:

“You are contributing to the fight against Hamas, the return of the hostages, and the revival of these communities. Knowing this gives me the boundless strength to keep going, and I believe this is a shared mission for every soldier in the IDF—both active and reserve. Keep doing your incredible work. Thank you,” Halevi told troops.

Personally I don’t see any deal that releases the hostages and no deal that can eliminate the threat of terrorist attacks that Hamas will plan and execute again.

Turkey Wants To Rule Syria

While the US drops its $10 million bounty on the HTS leader in a sign they think he could lead Syria, another nation wants to take over as we read in an article from The Jerusalem Post:

The terror chief Yahya Sinwar has succeeded in reshaping the Middle East.

“Just as we entered Karabakh and Libya, we will do the same in Israel.” These were the words of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just six months ago. With the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime and Turkey’s shared border with Syria, Erdogan’s statement – essentially threatening a ground invasion of Israel – carries troubling implications.

“There is nothing we cannot do; we just need to stay strong,” Erdogan declared at a political gathering of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey.

The Turkish leader is referring to their growing influence around Israel and Israel needs to take notice:

Erdogan referred to Turkey’s involvement in aiding Azerbaijan during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, as well as its 2020 intervention in Libya’s civil war, where Turkish forces backed the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.

The dramatic collapse of Assad’s regime this week and the victory of Syrian rebels, some of whom are heavily backed and guided by Turkey, should serve as a wake-up call for Israel’s decision-makers.

In his brazenness, Erdogan issued what amounts to a direct threat to Israel, envisioning a Middle East in which Turkey’s influence extends as far as the Sea of Galilee.

Turkey has always been a major player and not that Iran is weakened, Syria could fall right into their hands. The Kurds are standing in their way, though:

Kurdish militias have played a significant role in Syria’s civil war, particularly in northern and eastern regions. Organized under groups such as the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), the Kurds later formed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in partnership with other ethnic and religious factions. With US support, the SDF managed to liberate vast territories from ISIS, including Raqqa.

However, Turkey views these Kurdish militias as extensions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. As a result, Turkey launched military operations in northern Syria to prevent Kurdish territorial consolidation along its borders. This intervention, along with involvement from Russia, Iran, and pro-Iranian militias, has further complicated Syria’s already fractured landscape.

Turkey supports other players who are taking on the Kurds. While they look like they are taking care of what’s left of the Assad regime, they are also hurting the Kurds:

Rebel groups supported by Turkey, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, have launched widespread offensives in northwestern Syria. These attacks, while aimed at Assad’s forces, have also affected Kurdish-held areas.

Amid these battles, Kurdish fighters have been captured, and the Kurds have lost control of key territories. Despite their ambitions for political autonomy, the Kurds face growing military and political pressures from multiple fronts.

Israel Is Next

As we’ve noted before, the leader who is trying to consolidate power in Syria is no friend of Israel, which makes you wonder why the current US leaders are softening their view of him. Israel knows this and is trying to help the Kurds in their struggle to fill the vacuum left by
Assad in Syria:

Amid the shifting dynamics, Syrian Kurdish representatives have reportedly reached out to Israeli officials through various channels, seeking assistance and protection. Israel, which views the Kurdish community as a friendly, pro-Western force, has been working behind the scenes with Western allies to ensure the Kurds’ safety.

Balance that with what Turkey is doing and you can see why this is so important:

In northern Syria, Turkish-backed rebels have continued to exploit the chaos to advance Ankara’s interests. Following the capture of Aleppo, these forces attacked the Kurdish enclave of Tel Rifaat, partially neutralizing the “Kurdish threat” in northern Syria.

Some think this can foster a thawing of the relationship between Turkey and Israel, but others don’t see it that way at all:

The geopolitical changes in Syria come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Turkey. The proximity of Turkish-backed forces to Israel’s northern border poses new risks.

To understand the nature of this new regional player, one need only listen to Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of the Syrian rebel forces that overthrew Assad. Julani, who now styles himself as the “leader of a new Syria,” recently stated, “People of Gaza, wait for us – our next target is Jerusalem.”

The wanna-be leader of Syria has a checkered past and is a danger to Israel:

Julani, whose real name is Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, is a Sunni Islamist and commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, he was arrested by US forces and later released in 2008. Following his release, he joined ISIS under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s leadership.

With the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Julani founded the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra and later rebranded his group as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. He united various jihadist factions under HTS, where he now serves as military commander.

Just as Israel has tamed the tigers of Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Iran, the developments in Syria are creating another tail to wrangle. And it just might also play a part in Bible prophecy. Isaiah 17 looms in the background of current events and Israel, who also knows their Bible see it as well. The article ends this way and I think it makes my point well:

Israel, for its part, must prepare for the challenges posed by this shifting landscape.

Yes, they do.