What’s Missing from Egypt’s Postwar Plan for Gaza?

What’s Missing from Egypt’s Postwar Plan for Gaza?

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Arab leaders met in Cairo, Egypt to show a united front as they endorsed Egypt’s postwar plan for the Gaza Strip. The catalyst for the Egyptian proposal was the announcement of President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, 2025. Trump’s plan sent shockwaves through the Middle East and the world when he announced that, under his plan, approximately 2 million Arab Muslims living in Gaza would be removed from the Gaza Strip, relocated to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, so that the war-torn strip could be cleared of unexploded ordnance and the rubble from Israel’s war against Hamas and turned into the “Riviera” of the Middle East (The Jerusalem Post).

Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared to warmly welcome Trump’s plan, calling it “visionary and innovative” (JNS). The same cannot be said for the rest of the world, especially the nations of the Middle East. Jordan’s King Abdullah rejected Trump’s suggestion for resettling the Palestinians in Jordan during his meeting with President Trump at the White House (Reuters). Egyptian President Adbel Fattah el-Sissi was scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House shortly thereafter, but, according to reports, he canceled his meeting after Trump’s announcement and called an emergency meeting of the Arab nations instead. A month later, the Arab nations have put forth a $53 billion postwar counterproposal to Trump’s plan for Gaza.

According to the Associated Press, “Egypt’s plan foresees rebuilding Gaza by 2030 without removing it population.” During phase one, unexploded ordnance and more than 50 million tons of debris will be removed from Gaza while an international peacekeeping force keeps a watchful eye on Gaza and Judea and Samaria (“West Bank”). Here are some of the key details from the 112-page draft of the plan:

  • Hundreds of thousands of temporary housing units would be set up for Gaza’s population while reconstruction takes place. This phase will take six-month and cost approximately $3 billion (JNS).
  • In the following years, the strip will be reshaped and expanded to include housing, urban areas, agricultural lands, industrial zones, large park areas, an airport, a fishing port, and a commercial port.
  • By 2030, the plan envisions the construction of hundreds of thousands of new homes to accommodate up to 3 million people.
  • Hamas would cede power to an interim administration of political independents until a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume control (Associated Press).

President el-Sissi was pleased by the “consensus among the Arab countries to support the reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, which allows the Palestinian People to stay on their land without displacement.” He added in a social media post after the summit that he welcomed the opportunity to work with President Trump, other Arab nations and the international community “to adopt a plan that aims for a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian Issue; ends the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, guarantees the security and stability of the peoples of the region and establishes a Palestinian State” (Associated Press).

Palestinian Authority (P.A.) President Mahmoud Abbas attended the summit and welcomed the notion that the Palestinian Authority will once again impose its will over Gaza. In similar fashion, Hamas expressed its support for the Egyptian plan, stating, “We welcome the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted in the summit’s final statement and call for ensuring all necessary resources for its success.” The Iranian-backed terrorist group also voiced support for the creation of a “Community Support Committee” to oversee “relief efforts, reconstruction and governance in Gaza, as outlined in the temporary administrative body proposed by the Arab League summit in Cairo” (JNS).

The United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed Egypt’s plan, stating, “I strongly endorse this plan. The U.N. stands ready to fully cooperate in this endeavor” (JNS).

Antonio Costa, European Union Council President, also supports the plan and posted on X, “I welcome the plan on Gaza presented by Egypt and other Arab partners at the League of Arab States’ Summit in Cairo. It is important that it covers all strands— reconstruction, governance and security. The European Union is fully committed to contributing to peace in the Middle East and is ready to provide concrete support for the plan. The whole international community should work on its implementation” (X).

Question: If so many are in favor of Egypt’s plan, then what’s wrong with it? What’s missing?

First, as Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, rightly observes, Egypt’s plan “fails to address the realities of the situation” (Associated Press). To begin with, Marmorstein notes that the plan fails to mention or condemn Hamas’ attack Israel on October 7, 2023. This was not an oversight, it was intentional.

President el-Sisi and the Arab nations do not want to stir up a terrorist hornet’s nest by publicly blaming Hamas. Rather, Egypt and the other Arab states habitually redirect blame towards Israel by design because they believe Israel’s existence is the “root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” President el-Sisi’s social media post confirms it is so. To end the “root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” means the state of Israel must be removed from the face of the earth. For the Palestinians (and the rest of the Muslim world), there would not be a Palestinian conflict if Israel ceased to exist. They do not want a two-state solution. They want a one-state solution, a world without Israel and her people.

Second, Egypt’s plan does not remove Hamas from Gaza. It is important to observe that while the Egyptian plan states that Hamas will cede its power from Gaza, it does not declare that Hamas must surrender its weapons and leave Gaza. Why? Simply put, because Hamas will not leave or put down their weapons peacefully. Hamas wants to remain in Gaza so that it will have time to rebuild and eventually assume control over Gaza once again. So, while the Arab nations pour billions of dollars into Gaza, Hamas will be recruiting members to fill its ranks. It will also use the new airport and the new fishing and commercial ports to obtain more weapons. Then when everyone is saying “Peace, Peace!” Hamas will attack Israel in a manner that is far worse than October 7, 2023.

Israel understands this is so and that is why the defeat of Hamas is one of its three primary objectives for its war against Hamas. The two other objectives include the rescue of all hostages, living and dead, and the removal of all existential threats from Israel’s borders.

Third, the Palestinian Authority cannot be “reformed” and trusted to govern Gaza. Again, it is important to understand “the realities of the situation” when it comes to Mahmoud Abbas and his band of Palestinian Authority terrorists. JNS recently quoted Abbas, reporting. . .

The Palestinian Authority will not deduct a single penny from its “pay-for-slay” fund that rewards terrorists and their families for their attacks, P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas told members of his ruling Fatah faction last week, according to translated remarks Palestinian Media Watch published on Thursday.

“We again emphasize that we are proud of the sacrifices made by the martyrs, prisoners and wounded [terrorists],” the P.A. leader said at the Feb. 21 gathering of the Revolutionary Council—Fatah’s second-highest body, which is chaired by Abbas—in Ramallah, Samaria.

“I told you once and I stand by my word: Even if we have [only] one penny left, it is for the prisoners and the martyrs,” he continued, echoing previous remarks made during a July 23, 2018, address in the Palestinian city.

The P.A. “will not agree to reduce any obligation, any interest, or any penny given to them,” Abbas said. He concluded, “They must receive everything, as in the past, and they are more precious than all of us.”

“Even if we have one penny left, it is for the prisoners… They must receive everything, as it was in the past, and they are more precious than all of us!”
~Abbas, Feb. 21, 2025 pic.twitter.com/A2VJ1n7qnI

— Pal Media Watch (@palwatch) February 23, 2025

Again, Israel understands “the realities of the situation” and that is why Israel has repeatedly said it will not permit the Palestinian Authority to regain control over Gaza.

Now, some might say, “But there will be international peacekeepers in Gaza, so Hamas and the Palestinian Authority will not be able to rebuild and attack Israel ever again.”

Question: Why will peacekeepers work this time when U.N. workers did not prevent the October 7th attack? In fact, workers from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (U.N.R.W.A.) were complicit in Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel (Fox News). Therefore, Israel must exercise great care and wisdom and never entrust its security to an international peacekeeping force.

Question: So what is missing from Egypt’s postwar plan for Gaza?

Answer: An honest acknowledgment about “the realities of the situation” in Gaza.

Please join me in praying for Israel and her people during these critical times.

By Dr. Matthew Dodd | March 7, 2025

What is the History of the Palestinian Refugees?

Recently, President Donald Trump has insisted that Egypt and Jordan should permit the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to settle in their respective countries while Gaza is cleared and rebuilt after Israel decimated the region in response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 (Breitbart). It is important to keep in mind that the conflict and tension in the Middle East has been one of the most difficult issues confronting world leaders since Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. One of the greatest obstacles to Arab – Israeli peace is the issue of Palestinian refugees who trace their origins to the events before and after that date.

Tensions between the Arabs and the Jews in the area of Palestine increased when Jews began emigrating to the area in the early 1900s, fleeing anti-Semitism in Eastern and Western Europe.

Israel had been a people without a homeland since the Roman Empire defeated and destroyed Israel in the first century. Dispersed among the nations, the Jewish people longed to return to the land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The question, “What do we do with these Jews?” was answered by anti-Semitism and persecution throughout Europe, East and West. Jews came in waves of tens of thousands to Palestine, seeking a homeland. When Adolf Hitler proclaimed the “Final Solution” to the question “what do we do with these Jews?”, immigration to Palestine became a matter of life and death.

Tensions flared in Palestine as Arabs grew increasingly concerned with the sheer number of Jews making Aliyah; emigrating to Palestine. Riots and armed skirmishes increased. Efforts to find peaceful coexistence came to naught.

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews fell to the British Empire, who were given authority to govern Palestine by the League of Nations in 1917 when the British defeated the Turks of the Ottoman Empire in WWI.

Under the British Mandate, the conflict between the Arabs and Jews became untenable. Jews fled Nazi Germany only to encounter a British naval blockade. Ships filled with Jewish refugees were turned back or held in camps on Cyprus. The British were trying to appease the Arabs who objected to the sheer number of choose escaping Germany.

The British gave notice to the United Nations that they would terminate their mandate of authority over Palestine, giving a deadline of May 15, 1948. The United Nations responded with a plan of partition, giving Jews and Arabs distinct boundaries and borders for two new states, one Jewish, one Arab.

The Jews accepted the partition plan and declared themselves to be the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. The Arabs rejected the partition plan and immediately declared war on the newly formed State of Israel. The Arabs would not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and declared the intent of the war to be total annihilation of Jews in Palestine.

War between five Arab nations, the Palestinian militias and Israel resulted in victory for Israel, expansion of its boundaries, and Palestinian refugees. Arabs to this day refer to it as Al Nakba, or, “the disaster.”

How these Palestinians became refugees has been debated by historians since the end of the war. There are in fact several factors that caused those Palestinians to become refugees.

Those Arab nations, who in 1948 were determined to destroy Israel, warned in advance those Arabs living in the war zone to remove themselves so as not to be collateral damage in the war. Arab leaders promised these Palestinian Arabs that they would be removed from their homes only temporarily. After the complete annihilation and defeat of Israel, they could return to their homes. To this day, the “right of return” of these Palestinian Arabs is a point of contention.

Other Palestinian Arabs who had the means, removed themselves voluntarily. They also wanted not to be collateral damage in a war. They also have made claims of the right to return.

As the fighting commenced, Israeli soldiers advanced swiftly. When they came to an Arab village, they would send delegates to the village leaders, asking, “Will you take up arms against us?” If they said they would not take up arms, they would be welcomed into the new state of Israel. If the Arab village leaders were determined to fight, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would expel them to join the other Palestinian refugees. They could not have enemies within their borders.

Other Arab villages and cities would simply flee when defeat became certain. They were convinced that since the Arabs had determined to annihilate the Jews, they themselves would be annihilated if their city was taken by Israel. Reassurances by the IDF were rebuffed. Many Palestinian Arabs fled in the face of certain defeat and joined other Palestinian refugees.

The Arab/Israeli war of 1948 resulted in approximately 750,000 Palestinian refugees. The Six-Day War of 1967 brought further Palestinian Refugees. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the near East, there are today approximately 5 million Palestinian refugees.

By Pastor Rich Jones and Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 30, 2025

What’s Behind Turkey’s Request to Join BRICS?

Earlier this week it was reported that Turkey has officially applied for membership to the BRICS group nations, becoming the first member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to do so (i24 News). According to Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs aide, Turkey has submitted an application “for full membership” and its application will be considered (Associated Press).

The BRICS alliance was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, with Communist China and Russia spearheading the effort. BRICS was formed to counter the global economic influence of the United States and its western allies. “Its founding members have called for a fairer world order and the reform of international institutions like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank” (Associated Press).

As of January 1, 2024, BRICS added the following members to its bloc: Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The combined total population of the BRICS countries equals 3.25 billion while its combined GDP is 25.83 trillion USD (Statista). And when it comes to military strength rankings, the BRICS bloc scores high marks: Russia (2), China (3), India (4), Brazil (12), Iran (14), and Egypt (15) (Global Fire Power.com).

So, why would Turkey, a member of NATO since 1952, want to join the BRICS alliance?

In 1999, Turkey became a candidate to join the European Union (EU). In 2005, Turkey began talks to become a member of the EU but the “negotiations have stalled due to concerns over democratic regression under Erdogan’s administration, and ongoing disputes with Cyprus, an EU member” (Associated Press). As a result, Turkey is now looking for an alternative to strengthen its struggling economy, and Erdogan’s administration “sees the economic epicenter of the globe shifting away from the West” (i24 News).

According to Erdogan, “Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious and effective country if it improves its relations with the East and the West simultaneously. . . . Any method other than this will not benefit Turkey, but will harm it” (i24 News).

Erdogan has a history of playing both sides of the global fence so that he may lead Turkey towards his ultimate goal, the resurrection of the Ottoman Empire (TIME). For example, after Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Turkey refused to support the sanctions from the U.S. and its allies against Russia and it never closed its airspace to Russian aircraft (Blessors of Israel). The Biden administration attempted to woo Erdogan back into the fold by approving a $23 billion sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets along with upgrades to 79 current jets in Turkey’s fleet but Erdogan remained committed to standing with Russia (BBC). By the way, Turkey has NATO’s second largest army, one that is ranked 8 globally on the military strength index (Global Fire Power.com).

And when it comes to Israel, Erdogan aligns with the BRICS bloc more than the U.S. and NATO. As I have noted during the Blessors of Israel Podcast and in print, Erdogan is a friend of Hamas and no friend of Israel. Let’s look at some of the comments made by Erdogan since Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 for confirmation.

  • “Hamas is not a terrorist organization, it is a liberation group, mujahideen waging a battle to protect its lands and people.” (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 25, 2023)
  • “Israel, we will proclaim you as a war criminal to the world. . . We are making our preparations, and we will declare Israel to the world as a war criminal.” (Associated Press, October 28, 2023)
  • “Israel is an occupier. . . The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West.” (Al Jazeera, October 28, 2023)
  • “Once all of this that is happening is finished, we want to see Gaza as a peaceful region that is a part of an independent Palestinian state, in line with 1967 borders, with territorial integrity, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.” (Reuters, November 4, 2023)
  • “With the savagery of bombing the civilians it forced out of their homes while they are relocating, it is literally employing state terrorism. I am now saying, with my heart at ease, that Israel is a terror state. We will never shy away from voicing the truth about Hamas members protecting their lands, honor, and lives in the face of occupation policies are resistance fighters, just because some people are uncomfortable with it.” (Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 15, 2023)
  • “Beyond being a war criminal, Netanyahu, who is the butcher of Gaza right now, will be tried as the butcher of Gaza. . .” (Reuters, December 4, 2023)
  • “They used to speak ill of Hitler. What difference do you have from Hitler? They are going to make us miss Hitler. Is what this Netanyahu is doing any less than what Hitler did? It is not. He is richer than Hitler, he gets the support from the West. All sorts of support comes from the United States. And what did they do with all this support? They killed more than 20,000 Gazans.” (Al Jazeera, December 27, 2023)
  • “The world is watching the barbarity of. . . a psychopath, a vampire who feeds on blood called Netanyahu” (JNS, May 29, 2024).

And Erdogan has actively resisted NATO’s attempts to cooperate with Israel. On July 11, 2024, Erdogan said, “Until comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Turkey” (Ynet News).

Then on August 7, 2024, Reuters reported that Turkey “filed its official request to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel over its conduct in the war in Gaza in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.”

A week later, Erdogan told visiting Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman, that Turkey will continue to support the “Palestinian cause” and push the international community to increase pressure on Israel (Israel National News).

When you put the pieces of the puzzle together, the picture is clear, Erdogan is more closely aligned with the BRICS bloc (especially China, Russia, Iran, South Africa, and Brazil) than the U.S. and NATO.

These developments are important for us to keep in mind as we pray for Israel because Turkey will eventually join forces with Russia and Iran to attack Israel in a significant event that will precede the Great Tribulation.

As I have shared before, the Battle of Gog and Magog will precede the Great Tribulation according to Ezekiel 38-39. During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel which will be led by the leader of Russia, “Gog, prince of Rosh” (Ezek. 38:4). “Persia,” modern-day Iran, and “Beth-togarmah,” modern-day Turkey will be part of that alliance (Ezek. 38:5-6). They will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:8) after they “devise an evil plan” against Israel. The Scripture reveals that Israel will be attacked by an overwhelming force that will “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10).

In the midst of this great opposition, God will come to Israel’s rescue and pour out His “blazing wrath” upon her foes in order to deliver Israel from certain destruction through a series of cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). First, God will send a “great earthquake in the land of Israel. . . and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My [God’s] presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.” Second, the invading armies will turn on each other because God will “call for a sword against him on all My [God’s] mountains. . . Every man’s sword will be against his brother.” Third, God will send a deadly “pestilence” upon Israel’s enemies and “with blood I [God] will enter into judgment with him.” Finally, God will rain down upon the invading armies “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”

God’s judgment against Israel’s enemies will be so severe that it will take Israel seven months to bury their enemies and seven years to gather and destroy their weapons (Ezek. 39:9-16). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).

These developments between the Turkey, Russia, and Iran are setting the stage for the events prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago. And through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23).

Please join me in praying for the peace of Israel and her people.

Dr. Matthew Dodd, Executive Director

September 6, 2024

Is Time on Hamas' Side?

What does Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, believe about Hamas’ war against Israel that others have failed to grasp?

Answer: That time appears to be on Hamas’ side.

Sinwar is confident that Hamas will prevail over Israel and remain in power the day after the war has ended despite the fact that Reuters recently reported that Hamas “has been reduced to between 9,000 and 12,000 fighters. . . down from American estimates of 20,000-25,000 before the conflict.” Is Sinwar unnerved by Hamas’ forces shrinking by 50% because of the superiority of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)? Not at all. The Jerusalem Post reported that Sinwar has boasted to Hamas leaders in Qatar, saying, “We have the Israelis where we want them.”

Sinwar’s comments reveal a man who is not delusional but is committed to an antisemitic, genocidal ideology; the destruction of Israel and the annihilation of the Jews at any cost, even if it means Hamas has to “go it alone.” Last December, when Hamas officials met with the leaders of other terrorist groups to debate reconciliation after the war, Sinwar objected to their efforts and labelled such dialogue as “shameful and outrageous.” Sinwar then exhorted his comrades, saying, “As long as fighters are still standing and we have not lost the war, such contacts should be immediately terminated. . . We have the capabilities to continue fighting for months.”

But it is one thing to be willing to “go it alone” in order to achieve one’s objective. Sinwar is not only willing to “go it alone,” he is willing to use innocent civilian lives to realize his goal. For Sinwar, civilian casualties are the means by which Hamas will obtain its end (i.e., “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free”). In another message to Hamas leaders, Sinwar callously commented that Palestinian civilian casualties are “necessary sacrifices.” And when Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s three sons were killed by an Israeli Air Force strike in Gaza this last April, Sinwar enthusiastically declared that their deaths and the deaths of other Palestinians would “infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor.”

Please keep in mind that a little more than eight months after October 7th, it has been reported by the Gaza Health Ministry (GHM) that over 37,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza. Now, we do not know that exact number of civilian versus terrorist deaths during that period because the GHM does not distinguish between civilian and Hamas terrorist deaths (Associated Press). And it is also difficult to discern whether an adult or a child has died because the GHM counts an 18-year-old Hamas terrorist as a “child” in their statistics.

But back to Sinwar. How can Sinwar be so resolute when it comes to achieving his goal, to destroy Israel and remove the Jewish people from the face of the earth? Again, what does Yahya Sinwar know about Hamas’ war against Israel that others have failed to comprehend?

Answer: When he reads the news headlines, Sinwar believes time is on Hamas’ side. And it is easy to see why he would come to that conclusion.

First, it is clear that antisemitism is alive and thriving throughout the world. Immediately after the horrific events of October 7th, when Hamas terrorist murdered 1,200 people, raped women and young girls, beheaded babies and burned infants alive, and took approximately 250 people hostage, many global leaders voiced their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against Hamas. But support for Israel was short-lived and the narrative quickly shifted in favor of Hamas when Israel went on the offensive and seized northern Gaza. Suddenly there were protests against Israel in major cities around the world and on U.S. college campuses.

As Israel seized more control of Gaza, the protests grew more intense. The United Nations, which is no friend of Israel, began to level accusation after accusation against Israel. And it came as no surprise when the likes of Brazil, Russia, and South Africa, members of the BRICS coalition of nations, along with Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan began to chime in and call for a ceasefire while also claiming that Israel has no right to defend itself and that its leaders are committing war crimes. Nor was anyone shocked when Iran, the largest state-sponsor of terrorism and puppeteer of Hamas, threatened to annihilate Israel if it did not end its war with Hamas.

But when Ireland, Spain, Norway, and Slovenia unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state and Spain subsequently requested to join South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in order to accuse Israel of genocide, the pressure against Israel intensified dramatically. Then shortly thereafter, Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), equated Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with Hamas’ Sinwar, Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif and accused Netanyahu and Gallant of “causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict” (The Times of Israel). Khan then applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, Sinwar, Haniyeh, and Deif.

Now, arrest warrants for Sinwar, Haniyeh, and Deif make sense. Truly, they have committed crimes against humanity both in Israel and in Gaza. But Netanyahu? Gallant? Really?

Back to Sinwar. Do you think for one moment that Sinwar felt threatened by Khan’s arrest warrant request? Not at all. I am sure that when Sinwar read those headlines from his Gazan tunnel, he smiled with satisfaction as he thought to himself, “Time is on Hamas’ side.”

Second, as I wrote in my article last week, Palestinians’ support for Hamas remains strong. The polling numbers say it all, “67% of the Palestinians polled still believe that Hamas made the ‘correct decision’ when its terrorists launched a barbaric attack against Israel on October 7th.” These are strong numbers when one considers that 80% of those surveyed living in Gaza claim a family member has died or has been injured since October 7th. And get this, “61% still prefer that Hamas remains in control of the Gaza Strip” while “75% are satisfied with Hamas’ performance during the war and 65% are pleased with the performance of its diabolical ringleader, Yahya Sinwar.” What is also revealing about the survey results is that 65% of the Palestinians polled are opposed to a Two-State Solution. Why? Because the Palestinians want a One-State Solution, meaning a world without Israel. Clearly, the Palestinians still support Hamas and Sinwar even though he has commanded Hamas terrorists to use civilians as human shields, women, children, and elderly alike. What does Sinwar think when he hears the news about the polling numbers from Gaza and the West Bank? “Time is on Hamas’ side!”

While there appears to be unified support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the same cannot be said for Netanyahu and his government in Israel. Prior to October 7th, liberal, progressive groups protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to reform the Supreme Court even though he was voted into office to do so (Reuters). But it did not stop there. Soon more than 100 “Reservist officers and soldiers of the Military Intelligence’s Special Operations Division came out strongly against the coalition’s planned judicial overhaul. . . warning in an open letter that they would stop showing up for duty should the government move ahead with its plans” (The Times of Israel). But it did not stop there. The media was against Israel’s duly-elected government. The business and financial sectors were against Netanyahu and his coalition in the Knesset as well.

Then October 7th happened and everything changed because suddenly all parties realized they were facing an existential threat. If Israel did not unite, Israel may cease to exist. But eight months later, Israel is looking more like the Israel of old, before October 7th. There have been threats, resignations, and protests. While division festers, tragically, many hostages have died in captivity with recent reports calculating that only 50 hostages are still alive. What does Sinwar think when he reads such headlines while fleeing to another tunnel location under the Gaza Strip? “Time is on Hamas’ side!”

Finally, there is Israel’s tension-riddled relationship with the United States. Historically, the U.S. has been Israel’s greatest ally in the world and Israel has been the U.S.’s greatest ally in the Middle East. Yet, prior to October 7th, President Biden joined the throng of those who were publicly chastising Netanyahu for attempting to reform Israel’s Supreme Court (CNN). But after October 7th, Biden committed the U.S. to supporting Israel as Israel sought to defeat Hamas. And while there has been times when the Biden administration has appeared to support Israel without reservation, Biden has been under pressure to please his base during this presidential election year, a base that is clearly anti-Israel and antisemitic. Recent reporting reveals that Biden is frustrated with Netanyahu because Netanyahu is not obeying the dictates of the White House like a good Israeli Prime Minister should.

Tensions reached a new level this week when Netanyahu posted a video accusing the U.S. of withholding weapons and ammunitions from Israel (Breitbart). Netanyahu’s video and Biden’s response prompted Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark) to ask the “White House to come clean about the status of U.S. arms shipments to Israel and to detail what has been paused in recent months” (World Israel News).

What does Sinwar sing from his Gazan tunnel as he reflects upon the divide he helped to orchestrate between the U.S. and Israel? “Time is on my. . . I mean. . . Hamas’ side. . . yes it is!”

When we look at the rise and prevalence of antisemitism around the world, Sinwar is justified in concluding that Hamas is winning the war against Israel on the narrative front. The longer Sinwar holds onto the hostages and makes it look like Hamas is willing to strike a deal with Israel, the greater the pressure will be on Israel to concede to Hamas’ demands.

Why is this so? Because there are two sets of rules, one for Israel and one for Hamas and the rest of the world. And because there are also two sets of standards, one for Israel and one for Hamas and the rest of the world. You see, the world really does not want Israel to defeat Hamas. The world just wants to control Israel until the time comes for the antichrist to annihilate Israel (Daniel 9:27).

Yet, Sinwar has failed to understand a very important principle found within the pages of Scripture; while Sinwar may believe that time is on Hamas’ side, God is on Israel’s side. The God of Israel is not done with Israel (Romans 11:25-36). He has a plan to restore Israel to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. He promised King David that his Son, Israel’s Messiah, would reign on the throne of David forever (2 Samuel 7:13). So, God is using these events, even Israel’s enemies and friends, to prepare Israel for the return of her Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:15-31). Jesus Christ will return at the end of the Great Tribulation to defeat the antichrist, the false prophet, along with Satan and his minions and reign on the throne of David for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-10).

Back to Sinwar. None of us knows how much time we have left on this side of heaven, not even Sinwar. But one thing is certain, time isn’t on anyone’s side. Each of us will stand before Jesus Christ one day and give an account for our answer to the most important question ever asked, “Who do you say Jesus is?” (Hebrews 9:27-28; Matthew 16:15-17). Those who have rejected Jesus Christ will be rejected by Jesus Christ and suffer an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and confessed Him as their Savior will receive the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of eternal life (Romans 10:8-13). Before that day comes, I pray that all of Israel, her friends and enemies alike, including Sinwar, will ask Jesus Christ to be their Savior (John 3:16).      

Will you please join me in praying for Israel and her people at this critical time? 

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | June 21, 2024

Palestinians Support for Hamas Remains Strong

Once again, the polling numbers say it all, numbers that send a clear message which will not be welcomed by proponents of a Two-State Solution with the Palestinian Authority governing a new Palestinian state. The survey was conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR). Of the 1,570 Palestinian adults surveyed, 760 live in Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. “West Bank”), and 750 live in central and southern Gaza. The face-to-face interviews were conducted between May 26 and June 1, 2024. The margin of error was 3%.

The survey reports that 67% of the Palestinians polled still believe that Hamas made the “correct decision” when its terrorists launched a barbaric attack against Israel on October 7th. When broken down by region, 73% of supporters reside in the West Bank while 57% live in Gaza. What is quite revealing is that approximately 80% of the Gazans surveyed also said that they had lost a relative or had a relative injured by Israel and yet they still support Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Another survey question showed that 88% believe that Hamas did not commit war crimes on October 7th compared with 97% who believe that Israel is currently committing war crimes as it seeks to defend its citizens from another October 7th-like attack. And when asked if they believed Hamas committed the atrocities which are seen in the videos posted by the terrorists, “the overwhelming majority (91%) said no, it did not, and only 7% said it did.”

It is important to keep in mind all that the Palestinians living in Gaza have endured at the hands of Hamas while reading the survey results; used as human shields, having humanitarian aid stolen from them by Hamas terrorists, and being threatened with personal harm or even death if they did not obey the oppressive dictates of Hamas leaders who are living in the lap of luxury in Qatar. Nevertheless, the survey found that 61% still prefer that Hamas remains in control of the Gaza Strip, with 71% of Hamas supporters coming from the West Bank and 46% coming from Gaza. Yet when asked if the Palestinians want the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of the current President Mahmoud Abbas to govern a unified Palestinian State, only 6% gave their approval. In fact, “About 90% want the president to resign.”

What is also concerning is that 75% are satisfied with Hamas’ performance during the war and 65% are pleased with the performance of its diabolical ringleader, Yahya Sinwar. By the way, it is this same Sinwar who sent a message to Hamas leaders in Qatar which stated that civilian casualties are “necessary sacrifices” (The Jerusalem Post).

And when it comes to breaking the stalemate between Israel and Hamas, 63% of Palestinians prefer “a return to confrontations and armed intifada” to “negotiations” or a “peaceful popular resistance.” In fact, 54% of those polled believe an “armed struggle” is the “best means of achieving Palestinian goals in ending the occupation and building an independent state.” What is interesting about these results is that 65% are opposed to a Two-State Solution. Why? Because they want a One-State Solution, meaning a world without Israel.

Another interesting survey result involves Palestinian views “towards the deployment of an Arab security force from Egypt and Jordan in the Gaza Strip.” Back in December of 2023, 70% opposed the idea of Arab security forces assisting Palestinians security forces. Six months later, opposition to this type of security rose to 75%. And speaking of other Arab nations, few if any will be surprised to learn that 75% oppose Saudi-Israeli normalization, “even if it is conditional on Israel accepting a Palestinian state and taking concrete and irreversible steps toward that goal.”

In terms of approval ratings for regional actors during the war, Yemen tops the list at 80%, followed by Hezbollah at 57%, Qatar at 55%, and Iran at 49%. And speaking of Iran, there was 27-pecentage point increase from three months ago when Palestinian support was reported at 22%. The “rise in satisfaction with Iran is tangible, almost certainly due to Iran’s direct missile attack on Israel in April,”

So, let’s summarize the results. First, the Palestinians still support Hamas (along with their leader, Sinwar) and expect Hamas to win the war against Israel and even govern Gaza the day after the war ends. Second, the Palestinians believe armed opposition is one of the best ways for them to achieve their goal of independence. Third, the Palestinians are opposed to a Two-State solution because they want a One-State Solution. Fourth, the Palestinians do not want security assistance from their closest Arab neighbors, Egypt and Jordan. Fifth, the Palestinians are opposed to any Saudi-Israeli normalization even if that it paves the way for a Palestinian State.

Question: Why are the nations standing against Israel as it seeks to protect its citizens from this type of existential threat?

Again, please do not misunderstand me. I want peace as much as the next person and it breaks my heart to see the suffering in Gaza because Hamas leaders have doubled-down and lay down their weapons and return the hostages. But even if Hamas leaders did admit defeat, released the remaining hostages, and lived in exile, these polling results make it clear that Hamas ideology will live on in the hearts of those Palestinians who remain in Gaza the day after Hamas is defeated. And we must never forget that the likes of Iran, Hezbollah, Qatar, and Yemen will gladly support and even fund any efforts to terrorize and ultimately defeat Israel so that from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.       

Will you please join me in praying for Israel and her people at this critical time?

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | June 14, 2024

China Pushes for a Palestinian State

Communist Chinese President, Xi Jinping, is aggressively seeking to control all matters concerning the Middle East including Israel and a future Palestinian State. On Thursday, at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) in Beijing, Xi spoke to influential leaders from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain in an effort to spread China’s economic and political influence in the Middle East. In addition to promoting China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI), which is “China’s global plan to offer predatory loans to poor countries, to be used to pay Chinese companies to build ports, roads, and railways that they could otherwise not afford” (Breitbart), Xi once again weighed in on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, demanding the establishment of a Palestinian State. It is important to note that since October 7, 2023, when Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 Jews, barbarically raped women and young girls, beheaded and burned to death infants, and took hostage 250 people hostage, China has refused to condemn the heinous acts of Hamas. In fact, China has become more steadfast in its support for the terrorist regime and more vocal in its rhetoric against Israel.

Xi declared that “War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will. China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine’s full membership in the U.N., and supports more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China).

Xi also pledged China’s financial support to reduce the burden of the current conflict.

“On top of the previous RMB100 million yuan [$14 million] of emergency humanitarian assistance, China will provide an additional RMB500 million yuan [about $69 billion] of assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction. . . We will donate U.S.$3 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency [UNRWA] for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in support of its emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza” (Breitbart).

Xi and his CASCF participants then signed a joint statement against Israel.

Blessors of Israel has noted that Communist China has been “pulling the puppet strings and asserting its agenda in the Middle East” for quite some time. By way of reminder, in April of 2023, China brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two countries that had not had diplomatic relations since 2016.

Later that month, China inserted itself into the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, offering to facilitate peace talks.

In June of 2023, China invited a delegation from Iran and Pakistan for joint counterterrorism talks. Delegates were optimistic that new initiatives would likely lead to increased peace and stability in the wider Middle East region as well as within the borders of their respective countries.

Then, two weeks after Hamas brutally attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Communist Chinese’s President Xi Jinping, called for a cease fire and the establishment of a two-state solution when he said, “The top priority now is a ceasefire as soon as possible, to avoid the conflict from expanding or even spiraling out of control or causing a serious humanitarian crisis” (CNN).

China has repeatedly voted against Israel at the United Nations because it objects to Israel taking steps to ensure that Hamas will never be able to attack its citizens again.

Please keep in mind that China has one goal, global domination by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. In light of China’s professed agenda, its influence in the Middle East is of serious concern.

China does not have allies, only puppets that it manipulates to achieve its objective. Therefore, this realignment of nations under China’s leadership will not serve to promote peace in the Middle East. Rather, it will promote China’s agenda at the expense of the nations of the Middle East, especially Israel. China is no friend of Israel.

Please join me in praying for the peace of Israel.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | May 30, 2024

Iran Attacks Israel, Will Israel Retaliate?

Yesterday, Iran launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. The Times of Israel reports that Iran launched “185 drones, 110 surface-to-surface missiles, and 36 cruise missiles at Israel.” While the attack came mainly from Iran proper, some of the attack also came from Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

“None of Iran’s 185 Shahed 238 drones launched against Israel reached the country, nor did any of the 36 cruise missiles fired in Tehran’s historic attack. . . Only a small number of Iran’s 110 Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles struck the country, and an even smaller number exploded” (Ynet News).

According to the IDF, the attack lasted 16 minutes during which there were 688 sirens sounded. Thirty-one people were slightly injured and one Israeli was seriously injured due to shrapnel (Ynet News).

The United States, Great Britain, and France assisted Israel in defending Israel against Iranian drones, cruise and ballistic missiles (Times of Israel).

Even though Iran threatened to attack other Middle Eastern countries who supported Israel against Iran’s attack, “Jordanian jets downed dozens of Iranian drones flying across northern and central Jordan heading to Israel. . . in a dramatic show of support from Amman” (The Times of Israel).

Prior to the attack, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in which he expressed his appreciation for the support Israel was about to receive from the U.S., U.K., and France in defending Israel from the Iranian attack. The statement reads:

“Citizens of Israel, In recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran. Our defense systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong. We appreciate the US standing alongside Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries. We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination. Citizens of Israel, I know that you also are level-headed. I call on you to follow the directives of IDF Home Front Command. Together we will stand and with G-d’s help – together we will overcome all of our enemies.”

Many nations have voiced their support for Israel and their condemnation of Iran for yesterday’s attack. That said, the BRICS alliance of nations which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa along with new members, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates did not condemn Iran’s attack but called for the immediate de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel (DW.Com). Likewise, the “Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed concerns over the ‘recent military escalations’ in the regions and. . . stressed the importance of ‘preventing any further exacerbation’ of the crisis” without condemning Iran (CNN).

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. support for Israel during a joint press conference with Japan’s Prime Minister, stating, “As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again: ironclad. We’re going to do all we can to protect Israel’s security” (Breitbart). And speaking to reporters on Friday about a potential Iranian strike against Israel, Biden said, “Don’t” (i24 News).

But it appears that Biden’s “ironclad” support for Israel has limits. Reuters reports that “President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. will not take part in a counter-offensive against Iran if Israel decides to retaliate” during a phone call last night.

This morning, during an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” the White House’s top national security spokesperson, John Kirby, confirmed the U.S. will not support an Israeli counter-offensive against Iran, stating, “U.S. will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war.”

The Times of Israel now reports that Biden’s call with Netanyahu “dissuaded” Netanyahu “from greenlighting an immediate retaliatory strike against Iran.”

Blessors of Israel is closely monitoring this crisis between Israel and Iran. Please join me in praying for Israel and her people during these difficult days.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | April 14, 2024

Israel Braces for an Attack by Iran

The Middle East and the rest of the world are on edge. According to CBS News, “Israel is bracing for a worst-case scenario that U.S. officials believe could materialize within just hours – the possibility of a direct attack on Israeli soil by Iran in retaliation for a strike almost two weeks ago that killed seven Iranian military officers. Iran has vowed to take revenge for Israel killing its commanders, who were hit by an April 1 strike” on an Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital. Two U.S. officials told CBS News “that a major attack against Israel was expected as soon as Friday, possibly to include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country.” In light of the imminent threat, the United States “has instructed its diplomatic employees in Israel not to travel far from their homes in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be-er Sheva in the south” until further notice (Breitbart).

According to Axios, three U.S. officials confirmed that “Iran sent a message to the Biden administration through several Arab countries earlier this week: if the U.S. gets involved in the fighting between Israel and Iran, U.S. forces in the region will be attacked.”

President Biden answered Iran’s warnings on Wednesday during joint press conference with Japan’s Prime Minister, when he declared, “As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again: ironclad. We’re going to do all we can to protect Israel’s security” (Breitbart). And speaking to reporters earlier today about an Iranian strike against Israel, Biden said, “Don’t” (i24 News).

On the diplomacy front, the Daily Caller reports that the “Biden Administration asked China on Thursday to urge Iran against launching a retaliatory strike against Israel.” During a phone call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Blinken asked Beijing to “deter Iran from launching an attack against Israel.” But Wang rejected Blinken’s request and stated that “China ‘strongly condemns’ Israel’s strikes and urged the U.S. to play a ‘constructive role’ in the Middle East.” Where China refused to assist with diffusing tensions between Iran and Israel, Russia, Germany, and Great Britain “urged countries in the Middle East to show restraint” on Thursday (Reuters).

Earlier today, “Hezbollah said it had launched ‘dozens’ of rockets from Lebanon towards Israel. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said around 40 missiles and two explosive drones had been fired. No casualties were reported and there were no indications of involvement from other actors” (BBC).

On Tuesday, The Times of Israel cited an anonymous “Western security official” who noted Israel “has been conducting air force drills in recent days that include preparing to target Iranian nuclear facilities and other key infrastructure should the Islamic Republic retaliate for the Damascus strike by attacking from its own territory.”

And yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his warning to Iran if it attacked Israel, stating, “We are in challenging times. We are in the midst of a war in Gaza that is continuing with full force. In addition, we are continuing with ceaseless efforts to return our hostages, but we are also preparing for challenges from other fronts. . . We set a simple principle: Anyone who hits us, we hit them. We are ready to fulfill our responsibilities to Israel’s security, in defense and attack” (The Times of Israel).

Blessors of Israel is closely monitoring this crisis between Israel and Iran. Please join us in praying for Israel and her people during these tumultuous days.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | April 12, 2024

On Wednesday, Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei spoke at a religious event which marks Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that formally closes the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. During his speech, Khamenei accused the United States and the United Kingdom of supporting Israel in “kill[ing] children in their mothers’ arms and patients in hospitals” (Breitbart). Khamenei said, “During the last six months in Gaza, the Western governments, themselves, put on display this evil nature before the eyes of the world. . . Their strength does not match that of the resistance fighters, so they claim the lives of old men, families, children and women, and killed more than thirty thousand innocent people.”

What Khamenei failed to mention is that Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists, an Iranian proxy, on October 7, 2023. During that barbaric attack, 1,200 Israelis were murdered, women and young girls were raped, babies were burned to death and beheaded before their parents, and approximately 240 people were taken hostage.

What Khamenei also conveniently failed to mention is that the number of Palestinian casualties includes Hamas terrorists and that Israel’s ability to limit civilian casualties during its urban warfare campaign against Hamas is without peer in the history of modern warfare (Newsweek).

Lastly, what Khamenei failed to mention is that Israel did not start the war against Hamas, Hamas did. And ever since, Israel has been trying to remove this existential threat from its border with Gaza because Hamas, like Iran, is committed to the destruction of Israel and the extermination of the Jews.

But Khamenei’s comments did not end there. Next, he threatened Israel, promising, Israel “must be punished and it shall be” for allegedly attacking an Iranian consular building in Syria on April 1, which left two Iranian generals and five officers dead (Time of Israel). Khamenei said, “Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Consulates are part of the countries to which they’re affiliated, thus the attack was launched against our own country. Israel will pay for the mistake it made” (Ynet News).

On Friday, April 5, CNN reported, “The US is on high alert and actively preparing for a ‘significant’ attack that could come as soon as within the next week by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region.” CBS News also reported last Friday, “The U.S. has picked up intelligence that Iran is planning a retaliatory attack that would include a swarm of Shahed loitering drones and cruise missiles. . . Officials say the timing and target are unknown” but it is likely to come by the end of Ramadan.

Last week, Israel placed its embassies around the world on high alert (Jerusalem Post). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also canceled home leave for all combat troops and even scrambled GPS systems in Israel (The Time of Israel). Due to the increased threat, Israelis began “stockpiling supplies out of fear of an attack from Iran” even though the IDF claims there is no need to do so (Ynet News).

In response to Khamenei’s threats earlier today, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, warned that Israel will strike Iran directly if an attack against Israel originates from within the borders of Iran. Katz posted his response to Khameni in Persian on his X account and then tagged Khamenei’s official X account, saying, “Should Iran attack from its territory, Israel will respond and attack inside Iran.”

What would Israel target if Iran attacked Israel directly from within its borders?

Yesterday, The Times of Israel cited an anonymous “Western security official” who noted Israel “has been conducting air force drills in recent days that include preparing to target Iranian nuclear facilities and other key infrastructure should the Islamic Republic retaliate for the Damascus strike by attacking from its own territory.”

The U.S. and Israel have repeatedly voiced concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Those concerns reached a new level today after it was reported that “Iran has greatly increased activity at the Fordow nuclear facility, moving it closer than ever to the production of nuclear weapons” (Israel National News). “Officials said that Iran has enough highly enriched uranium now to create enough fuel for three nuclear bombs in as little as a few days to a few weeks. The creation of a ‘crude bomb’ could take up to six months, while producing a warhead capable of being fitted on a missile could take up to two years.”

Question: Why are these developments important when it comes to understanding the events of the latter days?

Answer: The prophetic stage is being set for the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.

One event that will precede the Great Tribulation is the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39). During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel. According to the book of Ezekiel, “Persia,” modern-day Iran, will be part of an alliance that will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:5, 8). These nations will “devise an evil plan” against Israel and with overwhelming force “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10).

But in response to this great opposition, God will come to Israel’s rescue and pour out His “blazing wrath” upon her foes in order to deliver Israel from certain destruction through a series of cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).

So, it appears that the stage is being set for the events prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago. And through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23).

Please join me in praying for Israel and her people during these critical days.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | April 10, 2024

Israel is More Isolated Than Ever

Earlier today, President Joe Biden spoke with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for approximately thirty minutes. Immediately after their phone call, the White House released the following statement:

“President Biden spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The two leaders discussed the situation in Gaza. President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable. He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps. He underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home. The two leaders also discussed public Iranian threats against Israel and the Israel people.

President Biden made clear that the United States strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats.”

What does the White House press release reveal regarding U.S. policy towards Israel?

First, the release of the 134 hostages held by Hamas terrorists is no longer a condition for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In fact, a ceasefire, not the release of hostages or the defeat of Hamas or the future security of Israel against another attack from its enemies is the most important concern for the Biden Administration. In many ways, today’s press release confirms the policy shift that was first unveiled when the U.S. “abstained from the vote for a Chinese- and Russian-sponsored resolution for an immediate ceasefire not conditioned on the release of the hostages” (Jewish News Syndicate).

Second, U.S. support for Israel is fading. Since U.S. policy towards Israel is now conditioned upon what the U.S. deems as proper for Israel’s war against Hamas, the door is wide open for the U.S. to execute a variety of anti-Israel policies.

For instance, the U.S. could withhold munitions from Israel which would reduce Israel’s ability to win the war against Hamas and defend itself against future attacks from enemies like Iran and Hezbollah (Politico).

Next, the U.S. could threaten Israeli officials that if they do not end the war with Hamas it will support efforts to try them for war crimes (Jewish News Syndicate).

In addition, the U.S. could permit the Palestinian Authority to become a full member of the United Nations. By the way, with impeccable timing, the Palestinian Authority submitted a request on Tuesday for “the United Nations Security Council to vote this month on accepting the entity as a full member” (Jewish News Syndicate). While the “United States is expected to block the bid due to Washington’s long-standing policy that U.N. membership will only come as a result of a negotiated bilateral agreement between Israel and the Palestinians” it was reported in February “that the Biden administration was considering unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.” At this time, 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state. The U.S. could simply abstain during the U.N. Security Council vote, and the Palestinian Authority would become a full member of the United Nations.

Finally, the U.S. could level economic sanctions against Israel and its leader similar to what the Biden Administration did to Russia after it invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 (CNN).

What does all of this mean for Israel? It means that Israel is more isolated than ever.

And the timing could not be worse. Not only have tensions been high during Ramadan, Islam’s holy month, recent reports reveal that Iran is preparing to attack Israel either directly or through one of its proxies in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which killed two generals and five officers on Monday (Associated Press).

In response, Israel has placed its embassies around the world on high alert (Jerusalem Post). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also canceled home leave for all combat troops and scrambled GPS systems in Israel (The Time of Israel). Due to the increased threat, Israelis are “stockpiling supplies out of fear of an attack from Iran” even though the IDF claims there is no need to do so (Ynet News).

In light of these troubling developments, will you please join me in praying for Israel and for her people at this critical time?

God is not done with Israel. The stage is being set for the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation. At that time, Jesus Christ will reign over Israel during the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20) which means God is preparing Israel for the return of her King.

What will Jesus Christ’s Kingdom be like? According to Isaiah 9:7, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | April 4, 2024