Thanks to all of you for praying for my folks and the situation in Gaza and Israel. Here's a note from my parents that was sent to all of their supporters:
Dear Precious Prayer Partners,
We are asking you to pray urgently and fervently for the situation in the Gaza Strip. Tass and I are in Israel. It was surely God’s providence that we came out a few days before all of this took place and that we decided not to go back in last Saturday, as scheduled, but rather to complete our work in Israel before we move completely. The situation is very serious. The following excerpt of information is a good, concise timeline of events from our friends, ______ and ______, Jewish believers who live here in Ashdod, and their prayer request sent out earlier today:
By a daring operation of digging a long tunnel from the Gaza Strip to directly under an Israeli military unit guarding the southern border, a terrorist Palestinian group succeeded Sunday to attack the Israeli soldiers, killing two, wounding five and kidnapping one, who is being held by the Hamas's military wing. The whole country is following the event with much prayer for the safe return of the kidnapped solder. Meanwhile it was reported by the Palestinians that they have kidnapped another youth from the settlers in the west bank. There is the danger that the solder will be moved out of Gaza into Sinai where, according to a spokesman for the Popular Resistance the "Zionist enemy cannot reach."
PM Olmert has promised today to focus all effort in bringing the kidnapped soldier back and to fight terror without negotiations, promising a "broad and ongoing" military offensive in the Gaza Strip. "Our efforts are not intended to punish the Palestinian people, but to bring kidnapped IDF soldier Shalit home. We don't want to harm innocent people, but we won't let the Palestinians harm us." The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) completed massive forces mobilization along the Gaza border overnight Monday, to put pressure on the Hamas's armed faction, which was believed to be holding Shalit. Nevertheless, IDF officials said they were still pursuing a diplomatic solution to avoid, if possible a broad attack that could threaten the soldier's life.
Spokesmen for Hamas and Fattah militiamen said they had deployed thousands of their men in the streets to repel any Israeli attack, vowing to turn the Gaza Strip into a "graveyard for the Israeli army." Many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began preparing for the coming Israeli military operation by planting roadside bombs and car bombs along major routes. Gunmen belonging to various groups took strategic positions and others barricaded themselves behind sandbags and concrete slabs.
Other nations, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are urging PL authorities to exert heavy pressure on Hamas and other armed groups to release the soldier to avoid an Israeli military response, which in his words "would complicate matters and endanger the soldier's life". The Hamas government blames Israel for the latest escalation, noting that several civilians had been killed in recent weeks by Israel, but ignoring the constant barrage of Kassam missiles on Israeli towns close to Gaza.
We are asking you to pray for the SAFE RETURN OF THE TWO KIDNAPPED ISRAELIS, WISDOM FOR THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND ARMY AS TO THE OPERATION IN GAZA TO AVOID ESCALATION AND MANY CASUALTIES.
There is much going on very near the area where we have taken a house and, of course our friend S. and Pastor ________ and his family are there as well. Please pray for the new believers in Gaza and that this will only strengthen them and not discourage them. Pray that through this God will cause the church in Gaza to be strengthened and that they will not be discouraged.
Thank you for your prayers and concern,
In His steps,
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