"Please pray for the Peace of Israel"  

Psalm 122  [Chapter-10] 

Damage in Israel caused by a Hamas rocket

"Our ministry workers have had to rush to the bomb shelters as the Sirens continue to go off as Hamas rockets are fired into our communities," said Ari. 

"Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”  (Psalm 121:4)

Widespread terror continues to grip the Holy Land, and many Israelis are now living in their safe rooms as Hamas bombing shows no signs of stopping.  The situation is harrowing as Code Red sirens constantly blast their warnings across Israel, including in Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and Judea. Many Israelis—mothers carrying infants, the elderly, people driving to work, children playing—simply do not have enough time to make it to the bomb shelters and safe rooms.

An Israeli bride and family member caught out in the open during the
wedding take cover during Hamas rocket fire.

Despite Israel’s efforts to end the rockets and growing pressure from the world community for a ceasefire, Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza are continuing to pound Israel. And in defiance of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, Hamas’ Qassam Brigades (its military wing) has even tried to create a nuclear holocaust by firing on the Dimona nuclear reactor in Israel’s Negev desert. As well, Hamas is waging psychological warfare by threatening Israelis through Hebrew videos on their Al-Aqsa television station that state there will be a proliferation of suicide attacks within Israel proper. “Zionists, wait and see stabbing attacks everywhere.  Wait for suicide attacks on every bus, café and street.  Wait for the rage and for revenge for Gaza, wait for the flames of the West Bank and inside you [Israel],” a broadcast threatened.  (JPost) "Zionists, [we] can reach you above ground and below it.  So start counting the number of coffins you'll need in these months," a voice warns in Hebrew. Hamas' text messages and YouTube propaganda threaten more powerful rockets. "Zionists, the resistance has many goals.  It has the ability to reach places you thought were safe.  Look, they [the rockets] are on their way to you now and will reach you soon," one YouTube video warns. Another video also threatens Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) saying that they are not out of range.

As many as 5 million of Israel's 8 million are at risk from Hamas rockets.

Baruch HaShem (Praise the Name), God continues to protect Israelis.  Israel’s “Iron Dome” anti-missile defense system is bringing down the most dangerous rockets.  Most have been falling harmlessly in unoccupied areas, although there has been damage to homes and businesses, with some people being injured. Over 1500 rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, and the Iron Dome has intercepted 213.  (IDF) Among the injured in Israel is a 17-year-old man who sustained critical injuries from shrapnel during a rocket attack in the port city of Ashkelon north of the Gaza Strip.  Although he tried to protect himself, he found himself in open terrain and did not have enough time to reach a bomb shelter. An 7-year-old boy was injured by flying shrapnel when a missile exploded in a yard in Ashdod.  A nearby car was set ablaze by the same explosion.  An 81-year-old man in Beersheva was also injured.  As well, in Omer, in southern Israel, two sisters, aged 11 and 13, were moderately and seriously injured by shrapnel from a rocket fired toward Beersheva. Israel saw its first fatality.  A 37-year-old civilian volunteer was killed by a fragment of a mortar while distributing food to soldiers at Erez crossing. The Palestinians, however, have sustained many more injuries, with as many as 1400s killed.  (Times of Israel)

When Hamas launches a bomb into Israel, Israelis have a very short
amount of time to find a bomb shelter, depending upon where they live.

Israeli President Shimon Peres stressed that Hamas is deliberately placing Palestinian civilians at risk by firing missiles from civilian areas.  He also emphasized that Israel has no interest in harming Palestinians civilians, but must protect Israelis from Hamas missiles. "Israel underwent another night in which millions of our citizens were under the threat of rocket fire.  It is a few nights now that mothers, with children in their arms, can't sleep because of the fear of another siren.  We will protect our children and will not allow anyone to harm them.  We must say clearly that the State of Israel won't rely on luck; we are prepared and ready for any scenario in order to protect our civilians.  We are a united front in the face of this danger; we will not consent to being victims," he stated. "We do not wish to see innocent people killed or injured, but it is Hamas who endangers the citizens of Gaza by firing from deep within civilian areas." (mfa) As Israel continues to take out houses being used by Hamas as command and control centers for rocket attacks, launching sites, and weapons stockpiles, in Gaza, the IDF maintains its policy of minimizing the number of civilian casualties.

An IDF info graphic that illustrates Hamas' complete disregard for
civilians. While Israel protects Israeli civilians and warns Gazans of
incoming rockets, Hamas sends them directly into the line of fire as
human shields.

To protect Palestinian civilians, the Israeli military routinely contacts by phone the homes and buildings that protect terrorists, warning the residents to leave.  Often the occupants are told to return to the homes or are replaced by neighbours who re-enter the building to form a human shield. This policy sanctioned by the Hamas Ministry of Interior is designed to position Israel as the aggressor on the international scene as the casualties rise among Palestinians. The use of human shields, which is a war crime, underscores what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been telling the world—that Israel honours life while the Palestinians honour death. Israel not only warns the Palestinians before attacking, but as the fighting goes on, Israel continues to allow truckloads of necessary foodstuffs and other humanitarian products to enter the Strip, even supplying the Gaza population with fuel and electricity on a daily basis. Furthermore, Hamas rockets left 70,000 Gazans from their south-central cities of Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah in the dark when one hit the Israeli power line that supplies them with electricity.  Hamas rockets have also struck the Palestinian controlled cities of Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank.

Wallah Omar, a Gaza toddler who underwent emergency surgery at
Israel's Rambam Hospital for a massive tumor that was pressing on her
brain, sits on her father's lap as she talks to her Israeli doctor.
(YouTube capture)

Israel desperately needs you to stand with her, Reader.  Please continue to pray for the safety of those living in the areas that are under attack, that the unguided missiles will continue to land in open fields, and that all people will come to know the true Redeemer and Guardian of Israel.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure.'"  (Psalm 122:6)