The Israeli government finally announced a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza this morning, ending three weeks of conflict in which over 1300 Palestinian Arabs and 13 Israelis were killed. A similar announcement from Hamas was released several hours later. While the Palestinian death toll may be horrific and no civilized person enjoys hearing of people losing their lives, Hamas must bear the ultimate responsibility for these figures. For Hamas often launch rockets from the midst of residential areas, knowing full well that Israel will be reluctant to return fire and cause loss to innocent life. The terrorist group stores its weapons in hospitals and schools in order to prevent its arms being destroyed in an Israeli air strike. And Hamas even established headquarters in the basement of Shifa hospital to prevent it from being taken out during a conflict with the Jewish state. 

Quote: ""Shifa Hospital, which is situated in the more wealthy western part of Gaza City, is a very big hospital, but you can hear from the Palestinians who visit there -- it is somewhat of an open secret -- that Hamas commanders walk around the hospital, in some instances wearing doctors' robes," Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said. "In some cases the Hamas commanders kick medical teams out of rooms so that they can hold meetings."

Yes, it seems that for Hamas, life in Gaza is cheap. For the Palestinians, bombs are more precious than lives. While the Israeli death count is comparably low, there can be no moral basis of comparison between the two figures. Hamas deliberately targets Israeli civilians, seeking to kill as many Jews as possible, while putting their own people in harm's way in order to prevent an Israeli reprisal. The loss of any innocent life is regrettable, but it all could have been prevented if Hamas would simply stop firing the rockets. If Israel does decide that the 'collateral damage' caused by an attack on a Hamas target is justified by the lives that would be saved as a result of the terrorists being taken out, then Hamas makes sure it scores a propaganda victory in the liberal press. "Look at this Israeli massacre," they'll say, "They killed innocent women and children." While they themselves would seek to do the same in an instant. Israel never seeks to deliberately kill innocent civilians, while Hamas does everything in its power to accomplish that feat. For Israel, it seems to be a lose-lose situation. No other country in the world would put up with such a situation, yet Israel is forced to do so by the international community. And some of those leaders from the international community met with the Israeli Prime Minister in his Jerusalem residence today, in an effort to strengthen the shaky ceasefire and establish the Middle East peace process that was begun at Annapolis one year ago. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek have pledged naval assistance in ending the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip, which has fuelled Hamas' murderous campaign for over 8 years now. Gordon Brown promised to boost Gaza aid by £20 million to help rebuild its infrastructure. Nicolas Sarkozy stated that today was the beginning of the journey for peace in the Middle East, and that the international community should accelerate its efforts to establish a Palestinian state in Gaza, Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem.

Quote: ""In our minds, this is the beginning of our journey," he said. "We should continue and we should accelerate our efforts in order to achieve a settlement based on the creation of two states, a Palestinian state living side-by-side with an Israeli state that has the right to its security."

It's ironic, that with such a situation in Israel, world leaders should even be talking about giving the Palestinians a state. Yet they seem drunk on their vision of "two states, living side by side in peace and security". Of course this is exactly what the Bible predicted would happen. As Psalm 2 states, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us". In the spiritual realm, this is exactly what is behind these latest developments. This conflict is not about land. It never has been. That is just an external symptom of a greater problem. Satan is desperately trying to prevent the return of Christ to this earth and the fulfilment of all His promises to His chosen people and to mankind in general. You see, Satan is drunk on power. He is in control of this world and he wants to keep it that way. But Satan's plan has failed at every step of the way. He failed to destroy the Jewish people during the holocaust. He failed to destroy the fledgling Jewish state in the many wars he launched against Israel. He failed to prevent the Jews from repossessing the holy city. And he will fail in a coming day to prevent Christ from returning to the holy mount. That is where the battle is at. And as you can see from today's news, we are nearing the day in which many of these prophesies will be fulfilled. The question is, have you made preparation? Jesus Christ bore God's punishment for your sins when He gave His life upon the cross of Calvary. He is coming back to take His redeemed home to heaven. Don't wait until it is too late. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Source Jerusalem Post, Middle East News Line, Palestinian Media Watch