Photo Credit: IDF Blog (See below.)
This Wednesday in Israel brought the discovery of a new tunnel shaft in Gaza that contained a cache of IDF uniforms, maps and weapons. Meanwhile, Hamas took up positions in Gaza’s Al-Wafa Hospital to fire automatic weapons and anti-tank missiles on IDF soldiers, who fired back. The army says, “The hospital is being used for activating war rooms and command and control centers by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Firing on our soldiers has grown in recent hours and endangered forces. As a result, the IDF was forced to strike the terrorists operating in the hospital complex.” As international pressure mounts for a ceasefire, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, “We’ve achieved results beyond what we expected,” and Operation Protective Edge will be expanded until the goal is achieved—restoring quiet for a long period and ensuring that “Hamas’s terrorist capabilities are greatly degraded.” Israel’s Diplomatic-Security Cabinet is opposed to an immediate cessation of Operation Protective Edge. “I hope there won’t be a ceasefire until we eliminate the tunnel and rocket threats,” Communications Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said. Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have told Netanyahu that they oppose a ceasefire. “We can’t finish this campaign without taking care of the tunnels,” Bennett said. “We can’t leave Gaza before we restore security . We did not embark on this campaign and did not pay a price to do just half the job,” he continued. At 
this point, it appears that although Netanyahu is not ruling out a ceasefire, his office has declined to say what his conditions for one would be. He has said that goals of eliminating the tunnels and rocket fire will be achieved either “operationally or diplomatically.” Today the IDF death toll reached 32, with another soldier, Oron Shaul, missing in action and claimed by Hamas to be in their hands (dead or alive). In the past day, three soldiers were seriously injured, nine were moderately injured and eight slightly injured. Your prayers are powerful, and Israel needs them right now for:
- Divine protection for all Israeli troops being sent into harm’s way
- Heavenly comfort for those who mourn the loss of loved ones during this time—on both sides
- Supernatural detection of where the terrorist tunnels are located so all of them can be destroyed
- Safety in and around the bomb shelters
- Peace and patience to prevail within and surrounding the shelters
- Favor accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders proving that Israel’s God reigns
- A surrender of hearts and lives to the true source of Peace, Yeshua (Jesus), the Prince of Peace
Your faithful partnership with Jewish Voice helps us to help embattled Israeli citizens, 80 percent of whom are currently surviving in bomb shelters. Together, we can assist in meeting their practical needs as the terrorist attacks continue. We are so grateful for your prayers and support. Jewish Voice partners with more than two dozen organizations on the ground in Israel every single day, who are doing their very best to meet the needs of the innocent civilian population as best they can. Thank you for prayers for the peace of Jerusalem.
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Photo Credit: IDF Blog, Copyright Usage, License Sources: Israel Hayom, Times of Israel, IDF Blog
