Re “Hamas Claim Shows Dead Family ‘Miraculously’ Recovers and Dies Again”

[Editor’s Note: As Hamas terrorists continue firing rockets into Israel, sending frightened residents underground, our correspondent resumes her daily update.]

Dateline Jerusalem — Another day of Israeli ceasefire without Hamas fire ceasing. In anticipation of Israel ceasing fire, at 4 this morning, 13 terrorists from Gaza tried to infiltrate Israel through one of their hundreds of terror tunnels.  Thank G-d for watching over Israel and keeping our army alert.

I guess Hamas's new strategy is to pretend a temporary peace by limiting its rocket strikes while quietly infiltrating Israel through underground tunnels to advance their reign of terror.  Their alleged offer of a 10-year ceasefire truce is as asinine as it sounds.  If they really wanted peace, there would be no 10-year deadline.  Not only are their prerequisites to a ceasefire outrageous, who can trust Hamas since they never have complied with any agreement in the past?

I am reminded of the biblical story of Amalek, a nation that had an inborn hatred toward Israel. Like most cowards, it took every opportunity to attack the weak of Israel, those without weapons, the elderly, the sick, women, children.  Does this sound familiar today?  Hamas does not wage a war of army against army. It tries to wipe out Israel's civilian population. 

Talmudic Wisdom

Here is a saying from the Talmud: “Those who are kind to the cruel, in the end will be cruel to the kind.”  Therefore, there can be no misplaced pity for them. Nor can diplomacy alter the fact that their hatred is ingrained.  Because of it, Israelis never can be safe unless we follow the biblical commandment in the Torah, to wage an eternal war against the nation of Amalek. In not doing so, history shows us that there can be no peace for any Jew.  No doubt Hamas and the other Palestinian and Islamic fundamentalists are the modern day Amaleks. They threaten not just Israel but the world.

It is a little after 7 p.m., and I have just returned from the shelter of my stairwell.  This siren and several booms came just as parents were bathing their children (one little girl no more than 3 years old was wrapped completely in a towel), finishing dinner, or like me preparing for tonight's Shabbat meal.  Every siren seems to bring more people into our crowded hallway.  I am amazed at how resilient the children are to this chaotic way of life now. They are less frightened than the adults. As of this hour, there have been 97 Code Red Alerts so far today!

Three hours later: Ten o’clock and I hear the booms in neighboring areas. Suddenly the sirens here screamed. I ran into my stairwell, Shabbat dinner in the oven. People in my building have gotten into the habit of counting booms while we stand together and hope we are in safety. One of my neighbors who had decided not to come out of her apartment until now joined us tonight with her adorable miniature pinscher dog.  He yapped at the booms.

Time for Prayer

Almost 11 p.m.  The ground assault has begun.  I pray that all our soldiers come home safely. Please join me in prayer, whatever your religion, for their safety.  I know so many of the brave young soldiers who are defending Israel from annihilation.  My heart is breaking for them.  I had hoped we would not need a ground war.  Palestinians repeatedly have stated they want to obliterate Israel from the face of the earth.   As Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu stated, “If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence.  If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel.” 

L'hitraot.  Shachar