Gaza – The view from Jerusalem II

Shalom Gerald!

Thank you for standing steadfastly with us. Here is our last update:

Today is the 24th day of Gaza conflict and Israel has called up 16,000 more reservists to broaden the operation. It seems that we are being pulled into a larger conflict as Hizbollah is threatening to open another front from the north. Israeli ambassador to Sweden claimed that it is not just Israel fighting the terror from Gaza, it is the world jihadists’ war against the Western civilization. We are in it together.

Our daughter Esther is still in a temporary base close to Gaza border. Her friends returned from the battles of Gaza for a couple of days for rest and now they were sent back to the battlefield again. Please pray for them – Maria said that their mood wasn’t victorious. She is helping with all kind of practical things – preparing food and washing their clothes, and is visiting injured soldiers in different hospitals. One of her friends is still in critical condition with head injury. We continue to pray for his healing. During her army service Maria has been sharing her faith with many of her friends, now some of them are asking her to share more. Schlomo, our son has not been called in, he is now in the States for a week to visit his old friends and relatives.

Israel has numerous times agreed with ceasefire, while Hamas has stubbornly refused and continued shooting rockets to southern and Central Israel. Yesterday again Israel decided to have a four-hour humanitarian cease fire, but Hamas continued shooting the rockets. Altogether 130 rockets were shot yesterday.

Some 300,000 residents of southern Israel have left their homes since the start of the operation due to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and the infiltration threat. Some 140 soldiers are hospitalized due to injuries sustained in combat. Please pray for the fourteen who are in serious condition, and for the 32 who are moderately wounded.

The price that the protectors of our country are paying is unbelievably painful as 56 families have lost their best sons. It is heart wrenching to see mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers stand at the freshly dug graves, unable to believe that the worst has happened to them. Yesterday three young men from one of our elite units were killed when they entered a house with a sign UNRWA CLINIC and a powerful explosive was detonated.

It’s also painful the see the suffering and the growing numbers of civilians getting killed in the Gaza. Hamas terrorists have literally kidnapped the entire Gaza population. They continue to shoot from sensitive areas, like UNRWA schools, which are crowded with refugees. In recent days, Hamas members seized UN food coupons and prevented Gazan civilians from receiving the aid, in order to feed their militants.

We are amazed by the support and love our people are pouring out to soldiers. In a small town near Gaza border volunteers have created a rest area “Everything is free for soldiers”, where hot meals and other services are offered to troops and other people working in the field. About 250 volunteers are cooking 30 000 free meals per day. All kind of professionals have come there to offer their services to soldiers for free – starting from barbers and ending with clothes washing. There are several rest areas like that. People all over the country are donating tons of supplies. Even holocaust survivors are donating out of the little they have to support our soldiers. We are proud of our country!

With love,

George and Sarah