GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 383

Hostages In The Balance

World Will Know

In a report from The Times Of Israel we hear the Israel Defense Minister that those who thought they could destroy Israel will see just how wrong they were after they strike Iran:

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday told pilots and air crews at an airforce base that “after we strike in Iran, everyone will understand what you did in the preparation and training process.”

Gallant was clear that those who dreamed of of taking down Israel an year ago that reality is going to hit them and soon:

Visiting the Hatzerim base ahead of Israel’s promised response to Iran’s October 1 major ballistic missile attack, Gallant said, “Everyone who dreamed a year ago of beating us and attacking us paid a heavy price and are no longer in that dream.”

Striking Iran is not a new thing as Israel knows they will have to be the ones who to take them on:

Israel has held several major drills simulating long-range strikes on Iran over the years in preparation for a possible confrontation with Tehran. On Tuesday, the FBI said that it was investigating the unauthorized release of US classified documents on Israel’s latest preparations for a potential retaliatory attack.

The person responsible for letting details about the Israeli strike is still a matter of investigation:

Some social media posts in recent days singled out a US Defense Department employee as supposedly being under investigation for the leak, but offered no evidence.

And the leader of the military for the US says that no military area was responsible for it:

Speaking to reporters in Rome, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said there were no indications any employees from the Office of the Secretary of Defense were being probed for the leak.

So far the leak hasn’t deterred Israel’s preparations:

The documents are attributed to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency and note that Israel is still moving military assets in place to conduct a military strike in response to Iran’s ballistic missile assault.

The report goes on note what we already y know about Iran’s feelings about things. They say that Iran is bracing for an Israeli strike but aren’t sure about how intense the strikes will be or what the targets will be. And they do know that the scope of the IDF attacks will be higher after the failed assassination attempt on the PM with a drone sent from Hezbollah territory:

Israel has signaled that its expected retaliation for the missile barrage could be widened as a result of a Hezbollah drone attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home in Caesarea on Saturday, which the premier has referred to as an attempted assassination by “agents of Iran.”

If we listen to both sides it’s easy to see that this won’t end with one strike. We can only pray that it sill end quickly and that the casualties will be low.

Hostages Are Hanging In The Balance

We see in an article from The Jerusalem Post that Iran isn’t going to release any hostages until the war ends:

Authorities in Tehran released a blood-splattered mural depicting photos of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 with the text “no hostage will be released” in Hebrew, Iran International and local media reported.

The mural was reportedly put up in Tehran’s Palestine Square on Tuesday, according to Tehran Times… Among the photos of the hostages is Noa Argamani, who, despite Tehran’s caption on the mural, was freed.

Tehran, an ally of Hamas, has launched two mass aerial attacks on the Jewish state since the beginning of the war and was recently caught paying Israeli citizens and residents to assassinate and spy on behalf of the Islamic Republic.

Since Hamas's Oct.7 attack, Iran-backed proxies have launched their own waves of attacks on Israel - leading to the IDF now conducting ground operations in Lebanon.

The mural will no doubt not sit well with families of hostages still held hostage although the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar may bring a deal:

The mural came as hostage families expressed great uncertainty about a future hostage-ceasefire deal following the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Some families believe that Sinwar’s death will open new diplomatic possibilities for the return of their loved ones.

Others think that the hostages are in more danger now than ever before:

Former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin, who worked toward the release of Gilad Schalit in 2011, told the Telegraph that Sinwar’s death could mean “A moment of doom because there are rumors that Sinwar instructed people holding hostages that, should he be killed, they should kill their hostages.”

He did echo some who think that without a leader for Hamas, those who have them could broker their own deal:

The rumors, unconfirmed, did not stop Baskin stating that Sinwar’s death could be a “moment of opportunity where Israel…” could offer “anyone who’s holding a hostage that releases them will be given free passage for themselves and their family out of Gaza to another country, as well as a lot of money.”

Uncertainty is flying all around now and no one knows how Sinwar’s death will change things with the hostages and even with the war. I thought that if they took out Sinwar they would find the hostages because the fighting with Hamas would be over. Apparently, that’s isn’t the way it’s happening. There are rumors that Sinwar had maps of tunnels that the IDF didn’t know about with him when he died. It is possible that if they follow them that they will indeed rescue the hostages left alive. Now it seems like the only way things will come to a conclusion is if God supernaturally reveals where they are hidden and leads the IDF to them. Regardless, we need to pray for their soon release. If we believe in miracles, now would be a good time for some.