Israel continues Gaza offensive as Hamas warns ‘Israel will pay a heavy price’

Iron Dome system intercepts Gaza rockets per the Israel Defense Forces

Israel continued its offensive in Gaza today, while Hamas has vowed Gaza apparently bombed Israel yesterday:

July 18, 2014

Israel’s Gaza Offensive Continues; World Leaders Urge Restraint

Thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks, aircraft and navy ships continued what appears to be a limited advance into the Gaza Strip on Friday, the second day of a ground invasion into the Palestinian territory…

Overnight, the Israeli army said via Twitter that it killed 14 militants, destroyed 20 rocket launchers, carried out nine strikes on tunnels and hit a total of 103 “terror targets.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday he was prepared to “significantly widen” the offensive…

“The Israeli government is hoping that with this initial operation and by destroying a lot of the tunnels in open areas, destroying more targets in some of the urban settings, that if they bloody Hamas’ nose up enough, they’ll be willing to settle for cease fire terms closer to what Israel wants,” said Bob.

Hamas in recent days has proposed a multi-year truce that includes demands such as the lifting of the long-standing Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, opening air, sea and land entries into Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners arrested by Israel last month in the West Bank.

Cease-fire talks

Israel has instead been pushing for an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that calls for a “cessation of hostilities” in exchange for an increased movement of people and goods between Gaza and Israel. Hamas has rejected the plan, saying the offer amounts to a surrender.

In total, more than 260 Palestinians have died since July 8, when Israel expanded its airstrikes in Gaza in what it said was an attempt to stop rocket fire into Israel. The United Nations says about four out of five of those killed have been civilians, including dozens of children. Two Israelis have died.

Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, told VOA that the fighting has made conditions intolerable for the 1.8 million Palestinians who live in the impoverished Gaza Strip. http://www.voanews.com/content/israel-continues-gaza-offensive-world-leaders-urge-restraint/1960155.html

July 18, 2014

Gaza City (CNN) — As Israeli tanks and soldiers plunged deeper into Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Friday that the military is prepared to further expand its offensive against Hamas militants.

The Israel Defense Forces sent a large force into Gaza on Thursday — infantry, tanks, artillery, combat engineers and intelligence units backed by aerial and naval support.

Their primary target: Tunnels used by Hamas fighters and others to slip into Israel and to smuggle in weaponry and supplies.

Netanyahu did not explain what would spark a wider offensive, or what it would entail. But he said Israel had no choice but to take the fight to Gaza to protect its own people…

The Israeli operation set off some protests around the world, including in Turkey — where violent demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy prompted Israel’s Foreign Ministry to send diplomats’ families home and reduce staffing to a minimum.

Jordan called for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council, expected Friday.

And Hamas condemned the incursion. “The beginning of the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza is a dangerous step with unknown consequences. Israel will pay a heavy price for it,” spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told CNN.

Barhoum said Hamas military forces are “far stronger” than during previous conflicts with Israel in 2009 and 2012. Militants are prepared to capture Israel soldiers and use them to trade for some of the 5,000 prisoners in Israeli jails, Barhoum said. http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/18/world/meast/mideast-crisis/

Hamas seems to be threatening terrorism, and that may not be limited to the borders of the tiny nation of Israel.

It appears that Israel believes that because the peace talks broke down this part Spring and because of actions against Israelis, that Israel has close to free reign to do what it wants. Technically, Gaza is within the territory of Israel as Palestine is not a separate nation, though most Palestinians want it separate.

It seems that partially because of the situation with Ukraine, including the incident of the Malaysian jet apparently being shot down yesterday, that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu likely believes that US President Barack Obama has additionally international priorities that will reduce his focus on pressuring Israel at this time.

Of course, US Secretary of State John Kerry as well as Barack Obama, would love to be responsible for being involved in getting a lasting peace agreement in the Middle East. But the biblical deal of Daniel 9:27 will also have some type of European involvement.

As I have written many times, it will likely take some type of regional war for the deal of Daniel 9:27 to take place (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27). The current actions between Israel and Hamas will likely be a factor. At minimum, the actions are enraging much of the Arab world. But the violence would likely have to escalate for the deal in Daniel 9:27 to take place (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

At some point in time, the Bible shows that the nations of North Africa and the Middle East will form a confederation, involving Egypt (Ezekiel 30:1-9), under the leadership of one the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). The dislike that many of the Arab states have for each other is sometimes less than the hatred that they (or their people) tend to have for the nation of Israel.

Thus, conflicts like this (as well as what is going on now in Iraq and Syria) that lead to destruction (cf. Isaiah 17:1) may be the motivating force for both a “peace deal” as well directly or indirectly for the formation of the North African/Middle East confederation that the Bible shows will happen in the end time (cf. Daniel 11:40-43).

The Great Tribulation will begin after the King of the South confederation is formed and before the King of the North empire (which still has not formed) invades and eliminates the King of the South.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the seven-year deal? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
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