Israel-Palestinian Conflict

Christians in South Africa are organizing a nationwide Feb. 25 afternoon prayer event in express support of Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The Israeli Knesset resoundingly passed a vote of 99-11 in favor of the government’s statement opposing the unilateral acknowledgment of a Palestinian state in response to rumors that Western nations, spearheaded by the Biden administration, are considering such a recognition.

Tensions rose in Jerusalem on Wednesday after Israel’s government said it would impose restrictions on the access of Palestinians to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of East Jerusalem during the Muslim month of Ramadan amid “security needs.”

The United States has vetoed an Arab-backed United Nations resolution Tuesday demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in the embattled Gaza Strip.

On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they had struck two Hezbollah weapons depots, located near Sidon, a coastal city in southern Lebanon.

The United States has put forward an alternative draft for a United Nations Security Council resolution to ‘“support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable, based on the formula of all hostages being released,” according to Reuters, and such a move “would have serious implications for regional peace and security, and therefore underscores that such a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances.”

A Dutch Christian foundation supporting efforts to provide the Gospel, Bibles, and humanitarian aid to Jews is among the latest pro-Israel groups to distribute its publication in a sealed envelope amid mounting antisemitism in the Netherlands.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Sunday that the battalions of Hamas in Khan Younis have been dismantled, with an impending offensive in Rafah expected in the near future.

Israel’s cabinet unanimously rejected any attempts by Western countries to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian State on Sunday, saying such a move would reward unprecedented terrorism and prevent any future peace agreement. 

Israel faced major security challenges Thursday as Iran prepared to attack the Jewish nation while Arab countries and the United States pushed for the creation of a Palestinian state.

In a remarkable discovery, Israeli archaeologists recently uncovered architectural remains of the prominent 1,800-year-old Imperial Roman VI ‘Ferrata’ Iron Legion military base at the site of the ancient city of Megiddo in northern Israel.

Talks on a hostage release deal involving the US, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar ended without an agreement on Tuesday. The Israeli delegation has since returned to Israel, however discussions are scheduled to continue over the next three days.

In retaliation for the death of an Israeli soldier and the injury of several others due to rocket fire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a widespread series of strikes against Hezbollah targets within Lebanese territory on Wednesday, according to the IDF.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed to US President Joe Biden in their conversation on Sunday that, contrary to what has been reported and interpreted by the Israeli media, he is genuinely interested in negotiating a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Nevertheless, Netanyahu emphasized that any agreement must be feasible for cabinet approval, according to American and Israeli officials who are familiar with the details of their discussion.

The Israeli Arab Bedouin community was described as the “pride of Israel” during a ceremony held Monday to honor 13 civilian Bedouin who risked their lives to save an untold number of Israelis during the Oct. 7 genocidal attack by Hamas, the Jerusalem Post reports. The ceremony took place at the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem and was attended by numerous Israeli public figures, including government ministers.

As Israel continues to battle Hamas in Gaza, a Dutch court of appeals has ruled that the Netherlands should cease exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel on the grounds they might be used to violate international law, i24 News reports.

Hamas warned Thursday that Israeli hostages were killed after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Jewish nation’s security service Shin Bet rescued two hostages deep in Gaza territory.

Egypt has warned Hamas that it must agree on a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Israel within about two weeks, or the Israeli military will launch a ground offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, several sources said Sunday.

Israel’s military says it has discovered a massive Hamas tunnel network under the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza.

Israel’s prime minister has ordered the Israeli military to come up with a plan for civilians sheltering in Gaza’s southern city of Rafa to evacuate, his office said on Friday.