Week of December 17, 2024
Israel Strikes Military Targets in Syria to Prevent Weapons from Falling into Wrong Hands
After the Syrian rebels took over the capital city of Damascus, Israel took out over 350 military targets throughout the country. Through Operation Bashan Arrow, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) wanted to make sure Syria’s advanced weapons would not fall into the hands of terrorist groups. The IAF also destroyed fifteen boats from the Syrian navy fleet in the Latakia and Al-Bayda ports. Israeli forces targeted a few air bases, eliminating a few dozen planes and helicopters. Israel wanted to make sure to destroy weapon production facilities in Damascus, Homs, Latakia, Palmyra, and Tartus, as well as cruise missiles, surface-to-sea missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fighter jets, radars, tanks, and attack helicopters.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied reports that troops had entered Syria and were sixteen miles from Damascus. IDF Arabic media spokesperson, Colonel Avichay Adraee, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Reports circulating in some media outlets claiming that IDF forces are advancing or approaching Damascus are completely incorrect. IDF forces are present inside the buffer zone and at defensive points close to the border in order to protect the Israeli border.” Israel is creating a larger temporary buffer zone on the border with Syria and establishing strong communication with local Syrian populations, including the Druze community, to keep the region and borders around Israel stable.
Please pray for the region around Israel’s northern borders to remain safe and without incident.
Devastated Communities in the South Begin Rebuilding and Restoration Project
The kibbutz (small rural community) Kfar Aza was hit very hard by Hamas terrorists. Now, 14 months later, 52 million dollars are slated to help with the restoration and rebuilding. Over 360 residential buildings will need repairs, while 97 buildings will need to be demolished. The neighborhood for young people will be moved to a new location and rebuilt. Workers will also upgrade public buildings, recreation centers, roads, infrastructure, and open spaces. Volunteers have come to the kibbutz to paint and clean up places that were not completely destroyed.
Currently, most of the residents are living in nearby Kibbutz Ruhama, while 100 others are living in Kibbutz Shefayim. The total budget for regional recovery and rebuilding is 390 million dollars for Kfar Aza plus 9 additional kibbutzim—Be’eri, Nir Oz, Nirim, Re’im, Kerem Shalom, Ein HaShlosha, Holit, Kissufim, and Nahal Oz. All the kibbutzim have joined this rebuilding program and are in various stages of planning, approval, and implementation.
Please pray for the rebuilding, restoration, and healing of Kibbutz Kfar Aza and other small communities in the south of Israel.
Hamas Inflates Numbers of Those Killed in Gaza
A British think tank, the Henry Jackson Society, reported that the international media is too quick to believe Hamas’ numbers of Gazan war casualties. They believe Hamas is manipulating these numbers for their own propaganda. Many of those who reportedly died in Gaza since October 2023 did so from natural causes. Under Hamas, the Henry Jackson Society reports, the Gaza health ministry has
systematically inflated the death toll by failing to distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths, over-reporting fatalities among women and children and even including individuals who died before the conflict began. This has led to a narrative where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are portrayed as disproportionately targeting civilians, while the actual numbers suggest a significant proportion of the dead are combatants.
Please pray for Israel to be represented fairly in the eyes of the world media.
Chosen People Ministries—Israel Staff Provide Much-Needed Winter Gear
As temperatures are falling in higher elevations, many of our IDF troops are still stationed along the northern border. One of our staff was recently alerted by a former reserve soldier about one unit’s particular needs. This unit needed cold weather hooded outer clothing, called Hermoniyot (named after Mount Hermon where they are stationed). We were able to purchase thirty jackets and deliver them to the unit. They were thrilled when the clothing arrived and listened intently as we explained who we were and why believers in Jesus bought this for their specific unit. Stories like these make for conversation and deep spiritual thoughts as they guard their bases late at night.
Please pray for ongoing spiritual conversations with the unit and others like them.
