[Today's Prayer] Israel Expands Ground Offensive… Hamas Senior Officials Systematically Eliminated

The Israeli military is expanding its ground military operations, beginning the encirclement of major strongholds in the Gaza Strip and increasing the forces deployed there from two to three divisions. As Israel escalates the war in Gaza following Lebanon, showing signs that ceasefire negotiations are falling apart, Yemen's Houthi rebels have also launched missile attacks on Israel. With the flames of war spreading throughout the Middle East, over 100,000 citizens across Israel have held anti-government protests, claiming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating the war to cover up corruption allegations.

According to foreign media outlets such as the Times of Israel on the 23rd, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders to residents in the Tal al-Sultan area, west of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, and then advanced ground forces to complete the encirclement operation in the area. They also began ground operations in the Beit Hanoun area in the north. The Israeli military explained that they conducted targeted airstrikes on some facilities "with the aim of dismantling terror infrastructure, eliminating terrorists, strengthening control in the southern Gaza Strip, and expanding security zones." They also announced plans to additionally deploy the 36th Armored Division, currently facing Hezbollah in the north, to Gaza to reinforce ground operations. (Omitted) In particular, the 36th Armored Division is the largest division in the Israeli military, with an estimated strength of at least several thousand to a maximum of 10,000 soldiers.

As the Israeli military intensifies airstrikes along with the deployment of ground forces, Hamas is suffering increasing casualties. On this day, Israeli Defense Minister Katz announced the killing of Ismail Barhoum, a senior Hamas official, in a bombing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. Barhoum was a key figure in Hamas's financial management, essentially serving as a prime minister. With Barhoum's elimination, the death toll among the 20 members of Hamas's top decision-making body, the political bureau, has risen to 11. Among the nine survivors, at least seven are operating overseas, leading to assessments that the political bureau has effectively collapsed. Salah al-Bardawil, a Hamas political bureau official and member of the Palestinian parliament, was also reported to have been killed in the airstrikes along with his wife.

In response to Israel's escalating war moves, the Houthi rebels fired two hypersonic missiles targeting Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. The Houthi rebels claimed that the missiles "successfully hit their targets" and declared that "Ben Gurion Airport is no longer a safe zone," but the Israeli military countered that they intercepted all missiles outside their airspace.

Meanwhile, the Israeli cabinet unanimously voted to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who has been investigating corruption allegations against them. This move is seen as an attempt to eliminate the attorney general while gaining support from the far-right who have been advocating for war escalation. However, over 100,000 Israeli citizens held protests in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities, protesting against the resumption of the Gaza war and the dismissal of the Shin Bet director and the attorney general.

Source: Munhwa Ilbo

"In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death." (Proverbs 12:28 ESV)

God, Even before the war between Israel and Hamas could be ceased fire and take a break, we lift up the unfortunate reality where the war and conflict in Israel and the entire Middle East region are only getting worse.

Lord, have mercy on the Israeli people and the entire Arab region who are endlessly suffering around Jerusalem, with the situation in Israel and Hamas, Gaza, following Lebanon, the Yemeni Houthi rebels, and even internal divisions within Israel!

They are still wandering, not knowing the true truth. They do not know what the true path of truth is, the path of life, and in this situation where they are killing each other, staking their lives on vain things, the only answer is the name of Yeshua.

You have said that in the path of righteousness there is life, and there is no death. In this situation where only death and vain things are visible, may they now realize and rise up to seek the living Lord!

Only the Lord can bring true peace among the people of Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine. May they now return as those who have found their true identity in the Lord, no longer trapped in false truths and suffering, and who achieve the fulfillment of the covenant with the world church!

We hope that the world church will serve and pray for Israel and the entire Middle East region with the heart of a father waiting for the prodigal son, without giving up to the end.

Lord, now raise up the army of the Lord around the world who will carry the light of life and advance further among these nations!

Thus, may Israel and the Arabs follow God's righteous path, build the King's Highway, and become nations that wear the crown of life with Yeshua who will come again!