A WORLD AT WAR: ISRAEL SAYS IT IS ‘AT WAR’ AFTER HAMAS SURPRISE ATTACK
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, sending militants across the border from Gaza. The attack, which took place during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, was the most serious attack on Israel in decades.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was “at war” and ordered a massive retaliation. Israeli jets struck targets in Gaza, and Israeli troops fought Hamas militants in 22 locations.
The fighting continued for several days, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. By the end of the week, over 200 Israelis and over 230 Palestinians had been killed.
The attack by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation by Israel have raised concerns that the end times may be near. Some people believe that the attack is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, which warns of a great war in the Middle East in the end times. Others believe that the attack is a sign that the world is becoming more chaotic and unstable.
Whatever the reason for the attack, it is clear that the world is in a dangerous time. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is just one of many conflicts that are taking place around the world. These conflicts are causing great suffering and death, and they are threatening to destabilize the entire world.
In the midst of this chaos, it is important to remember that God is still in control. He knows what is happening, and He has a plan for the future. He will bring an end to all conflict and suffering, and He will establish His eternal kingdom of peace.
If you are concerned about the end times, the best thing you can do is to put your faith in Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can save you from the coming judgment. He is the only one who can give you peace and hope in the midst of chaos.
The al-Aqsa compound is one of the most revered places in Islam and Judaism. The sacred grounds, known to Muslims as Al Haram Al Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as Temple Mount have been a flashpoint of tensions between Israel and the Palestinians for decades.
In a statement, Hamas said it had launched Saturday’s “Al-Aqsa Storm” attack on Israel — which targeted hundreds of troops and civilians — in part to defend the holy site.
Only Muslims are allowed to pray in the compound under a status quo arrangement originally reached more than a century ago. Non-Muslim visitors are allowed visits at certain times and only to certain areas of the complex.
But many in the Muslims world fear that the right to be the sole worshipers there has been eroded and that the sites themselves are being threatened by a growing far-right Jewish movement and Israel’s far-right government.
Clashes have frequently broken out at the site between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces. Police raided the compound several times over the last year.
The complex lies in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state and which most of the international community considers to be occupied territory. Israel captured it from Jordan in its six-day war in 1967 and considers both East and West Jerusalem as its united, “eternal capital.”
