GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War Day 678

The Final Stage

They’re Going In

According to a report from World Israel News the military plans to take over Gaza city are in place and approved:

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Wednesday approved the military’s “main framework” for seizing control of Gaza City “in accordance with the directive of the political echelon.”

Zamir officially supports the plan:

During a meeting with the IDF’s General Staff Forum, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) representatives and other members of the Jewish state’s security establishment, Zamir gave his blessing to “the central concept for the plan for the next stages” in the war, the army stated.

As reported previously, the plan checks off what Zamir needs for it to work:

The plan to reclaim control of Gaza City from Hamas, which the Security Cabinet approved early Friday with a “decisive majority,” highlights the need to increase “troop readiness and preparedness for reserve recruitment,” Zamir told the meeting, “while conducting proficiency training and providing breathing space ahead of the upcoming missions.”

When it’s completed the last of Hamas’ sanctuaries will be gone:

During the discussion, Zamir and other top commanders presented the military’s ongoing actions against Hamas’s remaining strongholds, “including the strike in the Zeitoun area that began yesterday.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke out on any hostage release agreement in the works:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Jerusalem would only agree to end the war on Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a deal freeing all remaining hostages.

The days of partial deals over months for half of the remaining hostages are over:

We want them all, I want them all, both the living and the dead,” he told i24News. “I want to bring them all back as part of ending the war, but under the conditions of ending the war on our terms,” he added.

If any agreement is reached it will release the hostages and end the war all at once:

“As part of the discussion on our terms—the release of all the hostages, both the living and the dead—we are at the stage of a single deal,” the prime minister said. “There is no going back.”

Israeli negotiators are still seeking to pursue a deal that would include the release of all hostages, an end to the war, a full withdrawal of the IDF from the Strip and arrangements for post-war management, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported on Tuesday, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

Hamas has demands of their own:

Taher al-Nunu, a Hamas official, said meetings would focus on “ways to stop the war in the Strip, bring in aid, end the suffering of the people in Gaza, address intra-Palestinian relations to reach national agreements on all political issues and discuss bilateral relations with Egypt.”

Gazans Headed to Africa

In a report from The Jerusalem Post Israel could relocate Gazans to South Sudan:

Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the East African country, six people familiar with the discussions confirmed to the Associated Press in a report on Tuesday night.

It would be a win/win for both nations:

The deal between South Sudan and Israel could help the two countries build closer ties, the report added.

Israel is planning on sending a delegation to South Sudan with the resettling effort in mind:

South Sudanese officials briefed Joe Szlavik on the talks, who is a founder of a US lobbying firm that works with the African nation, and he then added that an Israeli delegation plans on visiting the country for the possibility of setting up camps for Palestinians who wish to evacuate to the country. Edmond Yakani, who leads a civil society organization in the country, says he has spoken with South Sudanese officials about the talks.

A South Sudanese official already came to Israel recently:

Last week, South Sudan's foreign minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, visited Israel and the West Bank. The visit was organized at the initiative of Foreign Minister Gidon Sa’ar, with participation from Foreign Ministry Director-General Tzachi Dickstein and Deputy Minister Sharren Haskel.

Israel and South Sudan are no strangers to each other:

The special ties between Israel and South Sudan began even before the country’s independence declaration in 2011. Israel played a significant role in supporting South Sudan in its struggle for independence. It was one of the first countries in the world to recognize it as a sovereign state, leading to close bilateral relations.

Right now South Sudan wants to be recognized by the world as a nation and this agreement would only strengthen that claim. And it will also help Israel in eliminating Hamas since citizens won’t be in Gaza for Hamas to use and abuse for their purposes and the IDF would be able to attack Hamas strongholds without worrying about avoiding civilian casualties. Right now, South Sudan denies they are working on such a deal, but that could just be a way to keep their fragile government afloat. The area is like many African nations that change leadership frequently. As we pray for the peace of Jerusalem we need to ask God to provide a plan that will keep Gazans out of harm’s way.