GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 453

No Peace In Sight

Will Hamas Listen To Trump?

President-elect Donald Trump let Hamas know he means business if the hostages aren’t released by January 20th as we see in a report from The Jerusalem Post:

US President-elect Donald Trump said Hamas must release the hostages held in Gaza captivity “soon” when speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve gala.

Trump wasn’t as colorful this time and didn’t mention his previous deadline:

“Let me put it this way,” he said, “they [Hamas] better let the hostages come back soon.”

He was pretty non-committal about a ceasefire as well:

When asked about a ceasefire, Trump said, “We’re gonna see what happens.”

As we know, Trump was more direct in previous comments:

Trump has made several similar statements since winning the US election in November, including a post on his Truth Social network earlier in December in which he promised severe repercussions if the hostages were not released by the date he assumes office.

“If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity,” his post read.

And we already knew about his strong ties with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel. One Israeli leader appreciates Trumps clear cut stances:

Trump's remarks earlier in December prompted comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and multiple Israeli ministers.

"How refreshing it is to hear clear and morally sound statements that do not create a false equivalence or call for addressing 'both sides,' but rather clarify who are good and who are bad," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated at the time.

One hostage family member sees the incoming president as someone who can get them home:

The Hostage Families Forum praised Trump for his message, and parents of hostage Omer Neutra expressed their belief to The Jerusalem Post that Trump could secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza captivity.

“He’s a deal maker. He’s done it before,” Ronen Neutra said.

So Hamas is on the clock. Iran knows exactly what Trump will do and they know that any mischief they have up their sleaves will need to be done now because once he is sworn in as Commander-and-chief he will not be shy about doing anything with them. All of their proxies are also on the clock as well so those Houthi rebels better simmer down or cease and desist. Trump has his eyes on them as well. Oh, and Happy New Year!

What Will Happen Now?

I spent two podcasts looking into the future with an eye on Bible prophecy recently and I laid out what I saw as happening based on Psalm 83, Isaiah 17, and Jeremiah 49 to name a few parts and while I’ve always felt that an all-out assault on Israel would happen headed by Iran I thought that the Iranians would be attacking from a position of strength. Now I see them hitting A Israel from a position of desperation and saving face. In some ways this makes them and their proxies more dangerous. You know, the cornered animal example? It could explain their mad rush to get nuclear weapons. And further down the road it could explain why they enlist the help of the War of Gog and Magog coalition of nations as seen in Ezekiel 38 since they will be devastated by their strength of nuclear armaments being set back when Israel and perhaps the US take them out. Iran cannot get their hands on nukes for various reason. One, it would cause other Middle Eastern countries to rush to get them like Saudia Arabia. That would destabilize the whole region. Second, it would be a global threat as the Iranians are working loading them on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), missiles that could cross continents and oceans. Remember that they call Israel the small Satan and America the Big Satan. And thirdly, just having the ability to use them in the region would tip the balance of power with its now shattered and beleaguered axis of resistance of Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and more. Think of what they can say when these puppets attack Israel. Iran could threaten to use them if Israel wants to respond. As for Russia getting in the fray, well they would owe Iran for supplying them with military weapons to help in the Ukrainian war so maybe that is the hook in their jaw. Overall, I see the potential of fireworks coming in the next few weeks and extending into the whole month of January. Do I want to be right? I would rather a less lethal solution can be found. The casualties of such warfare will not be small and innocents will be in harms way for all sides. But the terrorist mindset of going out in a blaze of glory and their pride mitigates against a peaceful end to this fighting.