Shabbat shalom my friends!

As we carry out intense missions throughout Gaza, please pray for us—the IDF, the soldiers of Israel, and the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. Things are shifting globally and here in Gaza, maybe not as quickly or neatly as we’d like, but there is always hope and a light at the end of the (Hamas) tunnel (pun intended).

Even after their leader was eliminated, the “Abu Shabab” militia continues operating as an anti-Hamas force. They’ve said they will help screen Palestinians crossing at Rafah between Gaza and Egypt. Israel is permitting them to help prevent Hamas terrorists from slipping through, and perhaps—if they remain pro-freedom and anti-terror—they could eventually take on a broader role.

It’s amazing to see how much rubble is being cleared up over there. Plans for the “next stage” are already being implemented, but first must come full Hamas disarmament. There cannot be a transition to the next stage without their total demilitarization.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, purportedly the largest aircraft carrier in the world, is expected to arrive in the region within weeks. That aligns with President Trump’s reported one-month ultimatum to Iran: reach a deal, or serious consequences will follow. The increased naval presence signals his seriousness.

International and local concerns continue to grow over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. At Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site—dubbed “Pickaxe Mountain”—satellite imagery reportedly shows reinforced tunnel entrances, heavy equipment, concrete work, and construction activity there at the western entrance. Why all this extra fortification if they’re claiming to scale back?

Their nuclear disarmament is one of the main “red-line” stipulations to a peace deal. Iranian officials say they may dilute uranium stockpiles to 60% and comply with the IAEA at certain facilities—but they have not committed to halting enrichment. That raises real questions. If enrichment continues, even at reduced levels, is that true compliance?

It feels like a game of delay and deception.

In the 2 decades between the founding of the State of modern Israel in 1948 and 1967, during which Gaza was controlled by Egypt and Judea and Samaria by Jordan, there was no clamor for an independent Palestinian state.

Only after those countries gave up their governorship of these areas to Israel did anyone suddenly call for their “independence”.

No Jews, no news.

The entire Gaza Strip was fully handed over to the locals in 2005 and allowed to function as a self-governing entity, and the results of that have been complex and painful. History matters, even when it’s difficult.

Isaiah 54:17; “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall refute. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord.”