Drones, operated by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), have managed to bring down more than 400 flaming kites launched from Gaza, while firefighters are working to gain control of nearly 200 blazes burning some 2,500 acres near various kibbutzim (collective farms) and towns, which border along the central and northern sectors of the Gaza Strip.
Some “killer-kites” carried slow burning incendiaries, like burning charcoal. Similarly, helium-filled balloons are believed to be used to drip fire accelerator in the flammable areas.
As of earlier this week, these arsonist tactics by Hamas terrorists have started devastating fires in southern Israel’s wheat fields, towns, and now in the Carmina Nature Preserve. Authorities estimate the wildfires have destroyed some 2,000 to 3,000 dunams (500 to 740 acres) of fields and forested areas, or about one-third of the Carmina reserve. Some of the trees “were planted as long as 50 years ago as part of making the desert bloom have been wiped out by these fires” causing massive damage to both the flora and the fauna in the popular park.
These arsonist tactics frighten vulnerable families and the decimating fires have caused tens of millions of shekels of damage. Affected Israeli farmers are being told they will immediately be compensated for only half of this terrorist-caused devastation.
Meanwhile, Islamic imams in mosques throughout the Gaza Strip and The Islamic Republic of Iran continue each week to instill hatred and incite violence. Therefore, it is not surprising when their followers start transforming weekly chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” into hideous actions of hatred.
Additionally, pre-planned protests and riots are expected on this Friday, the fourth Friday of Ramadan, throughout Gaza, Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, in the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. It seems they want violence for violence sake, with as many casualties as possible for the Western media to obsess over.
This is the “Religion of Peace”?
In the face of this latest expression of evil and the planned violence for this Friday, let us pray now for human wisdom and angelic protection throughout Israel—for its citizens and soldiers, alike. {eoa}
Gary Curtis served for 27 years, as part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, California. In 2015, he also retired from leadership of the church’s not-for-profit media outreach, Life On The Way Communications, Inc. Now, he continues to blog at worshipontheway.wordpress.com. Gary and his wife, Alisa, live in southern California. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren.
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