‘Iron Dome’ missile (Israel Defense Forces)
Israel and Gaza are fighting again:
2 wounded as Gaza militants fire 150 rockets towards Israel: IDF
May 4, 2019
Jerusalem (CNN)Approximately 150 rockets have been fired by Gaza militants towards Israel over the course of a few hours on Saturday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted dozens of the incoming rockets, the IDF added.
Two Israelis have been wounded, including an 80-year old woman in the city of Kiryat Gat, about twenty miles from Gaza, injured by shrapnel to her head and legs, according to Israel’s emergency response service, Magen David Adom.
In response, the IDF says it has carried out airstrikes on more than thirty militant targets in Gaza, including rocket launcher sites and other military compounds used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health says one person has died as a result of the Israeli strikes, and seven others have been wounded.
Israel has also announced that it is closing the two border crossings between Israel and Gaza, as well as closing the Gaza fishing zone in light of the rocket fire. https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/04/middleeast/israel-gaza-rockets-intl/index.html
May 4, 2019
Gaza’s militant strongholds have come under fire from Israeli troops after their country suffered a flurry of more than 90 rockets sent by Palestinian dissidents which saw the month-long ceasefire collapse.
The Israeli Defence Force said in a statement today that 10 sites belonging to the territory’s Hamas rulers and the smaller Islamic Jihad group were hit by air strikes.
The flare-up began on Friday when militants in Gaza shot and wounded two Israeli soldiers which triggered a military backlash that killed four Palestinians including two Hamas militants. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6992161/Israel-pounds-Hamas-strongholds-Gaza-Palestinian-militants-blast-90-rockets-border.html
Hamas controls Gaza and Hamas wants Israel obliterated.
Notice something from one of Hamas’ official documents:
THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS - MAIN POINTS . . .Goals of the HAMAS: ------------------ 'The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.' (Article 6) On the Destruction of Israel: ----------------------------- 'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.' (Preamble)
While Hamas wants Israel gone, it may be open to some type of timed withdrawal.
A few years ago, it was reported that some in Hamas were seemingly interested in signing an 8-year peace deal with Israel (see Hamas allegedly ready to sign 8-year peace deal, but Israel denies discussion in progress). Whether or not Hamas and Israel are yet anywhere near signing such a deal seems doubtful, yet the time will come when there will be a temporary ‘peace deal’ in the general region (see the article The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).
US President Trump is set to announce his peace plan, but the Palestinians have said that because of his pro-Israeli positions that they cannot have the US broker such a deal–though that may change.
A deal will come that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians will like the deal very much and the reality is that it will not end well for Israel. Lands that Israel currently claims will end up under control by those who are currently in opposition to Israel according to the Bible.
One day, the nation of Israel will lose territory (for details, see the prophecies in the article Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy).
The entire 47th chapter of Jeremiah is a prophecy involving the Philistines, including Gaza:
1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.
2 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, At the rushing of his chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage, 4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? 6 “O you sword of the Lord, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet, Seeing the Lord has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.” (Jeremiah 47:1-7)
Problems were thus prophesied for the Palestianians including those of Gaza–since there is a duality to some prophecies (e.g. Malachi 4:5 & Matthew 17:10-13), this may have future application. It should be noted that Ashkelon is currently part of Israel, and the Palestinians will either control it again or be so numerous in it that they are affected.
Ultimately in this age, Jerusalem will not be the ‘undivided’ capital of Israel (cf. Daniel 11:31) and the nation of Israel will lose territory to the Palestinians.
War and killing is NOT the solution to the region. Those who believe the Bible are supposed to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:6), although true peace will not come until after the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
Full article: http://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/gaza-militants-fire-150-rockets-towards-israel/