Iran’s response to Israel
Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran in an operation attributed to Israel, prompting Iran to threaten severe retaliation and raising fears of a regional war. At the time of writing (August 16) Israel remains in suspense, waiting to see what Iran’s response will be. Senior Iranian officials continue to make serious threats against Israel, but no action has materialized.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had given “clear and explicit” instructions to avenge Haniyeh’s death, while the Revolutionary Guards’ spokesperson also declared that the “Zionist regime” would face repercussions for this “foolish act” at an appropriate time.
Despite the tough talk, the Iranian leadership seems to be wrestling with the right course of action, particularly due to fears of escalating into an unwanted direct military confrontation with Israel and the United States. A report in the Daily Telegraph there is disagreement between Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezhkian, who wants to avoid full scale war with Israel and Revolutionary Guards officials who advocate a direct attack on Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel, focusing on military bases. The final decision on this matter rests with leader Khamenei.
Khamenei is well aware of the potential consequences of a significant Iranian attack on Israel, especially as the president is taking his initial steps on the long road to rehabilitating his country’s faltering economy. A massive Israeli and American response to any attack on Israel from Iran could undermine the stability of the regime which is deeply unpopular with most of the people. The average Iranian is not interested in the regime’s war with Israel and is indignant at the massive cost of supplying missiles and arms to its proxies in the region.
Iran’s representative at the UN said that ending the war in Gaza is Iran’s top priority, even if there is not necessarily a connection between the cease-fire and Iran’s right to respond to Haniyeh’s assassination. While Iran’s leader continues to deliberate, his loyalists are trying to buy more time until the conditions for his final decision mature or are implemented. Meanwhile, Israel continues to await an Iranian response with tension while incurring escalating economic costs. From Iran’s perspective, this alone constitutes a significant achievement.
The White House continues to urge restraint, discussing efforts to de-escalate regional tensions “including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal.” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a press briefing :“We have been sending consistent messages through our diplomatic engagements encouraging people to communicate to the government of Iran that escalation is not in their interest and that we will defend Israel from attacks.” President Joe Biden said he expects Iran to hold off attacking Israel if a ceasefire agreement over Gaza is reached.
Israel Ambassador Erdan blasts UN in a fiery farewell
On 13 August, Israel’s outspoken ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, bade farewell with a fiery speech condemning the institution he had served for four years. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting at Algeria’s request to address the IDF’s airstrike on an Islamic Jihad command room, based out of a school complex in a mosque in Gaza City’s Daraj neighbourhood
Erdan said, “Today is Tisha B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, our ancient day of mourning. We are fasting today for the many tragedy tragedies in Jewish history that occurred on this day, including the destruction of our first and second holy temples in Jerusalem. But let me be clear, Jerusalem will never fall again. Jerusalem, united, Jerusalem will never fall again, no matter how many times our enemies attempt to destroy us, no matter how many times the UN slanders us and distorts reality, we will stay in our homeland and we will prevail.”
Erdan went on to explain that the airstrike on the al-Taba’een school targeted dangerous terrorists operating in a command and control centre operating within the school. “Hamas cynically abuses civilian facilities, which should be protected, as their terror bases. This strike eliminated at least at least 31 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists who carried out attacks from inside this compound. These terrorists included platoon commanders, mortar and rocket operatives, cell commanders, and intelligence operatives. They used this school for their evil goals and were in direct violation of international law.”
He accused the UN of rushing “to propagate the lies of a terrorist organization attempting to malign a democratic state as we take every possible measure to minimize collateral damage, while Hamas uses civilians as human shields, deliberately putting them in harm’s way. … The Council convened today urgently to discuss Hamas’ false claims. Shockingly, it seems that you have decided to dedicate your time to listen to the terrorist lies, while no real concern has been shown when Israeli children were murdered only recently by Hezbollah.”
“But you know what, the most unbelievable thing? Your inaction to condemn and stop the biggest danger and threat to the entire region: Iran. Right now millions of Israelis are preparing for a direct Iranian attack, just as they did in April. Iran’s aggression threatens the entire region with war, a regional war, yet you are here wasting time on falsehoods spread by the words of terrorists. This fact that we are holding an emergency session because Hamas uses civilians as human shields rather than discussing the real global threat, perfectly represents the distorted agenda within the UN, a significant detachment between the UN’s supposed agenda and the global reality.”
“Colleagues as this may be the last time for me to address you as Israel’s ambassador, I would like to leave you with this. I have been immensely proud to represent my country here, the most moral country in the world. …. We are today, the vanguard of civilization. But until then, Am Yisrael Chai [May Israel live]. Thank you, Mr. President.”
Why making peace with Islamic terrorists is impossible
An article by Keegan Milsten of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry makes this plain:
‘The Qur’an, Islam’s “holy book,” has a long, oral history. Islam’s founder and greatest prophet, Muhammad, was illiterate. He claimed Jibril, an angelic messenger claiming to be Gabriel, visited him and gave him the true, final word of God (Sahih Bukhari 4953, Qur’an Surah 93), which needed restoring (Qur’an Surah 33:38–40).
Islam rejects Trinitarian doctrine (Qur’an Surah 4:171) denying the relationship between the Father and the Son (see 1 John 2) and the Bible as the final Word of God. This is to be replaced by the new message of the Qur’an which replaces the Bible (Qur’an Surah 15:9). Islam claims to be the enemy of the Jews and Christians (Qur’an Surah 5:51). The Qur’an states that at Jesus’ return, he will “break the cross” (an attack on Christianity) and “kill the pigs” (an attack on Judaism, likely in the Temple), eventually “abolishing the Jizya” (a tax demanded of Jews and Christians), implying the death of all Jews and Christians (Sahih Bukhari 2222, Qur’an Surah 8:39).
Hamas, a militant Islamic organization, religiously follows these principles today. Its stated desire is to kill Jewish people. Hamas seeks a second Holocaust, which it believes is the universal aim of Islam:
“The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.” —(Hamas’ Founding Charter, Article 7)
Hamas also follows the Islamic teaching that breaking treaties with non-Muslims is acceptable and encouraged (as was the case with the Islamic conquest of the city of Mecca in AD 630). This is clear by its consistent use of suicide bombers and stated rejection of any peace (Hamas’ Founding Charter, Article 13).
Additionally, deception is commended, with Allah himself being credited in the Qur’an as the “best of those who plot” (Qur’an Surah 3:54). In fact, the Qur’an teaches that Christianity itself came into existence due to one of Allah’s deceptions (Qur’an Surah 4:157). How much more should Allah’s followers emulate their god’s tried and true historical precedent of deception—and being the best at it? Hamas sees no limit to such imitation, and neither does the original deceiver, Satan.
Finally, the Qur’an gives permission for a true prophet to slaughter all enemies, including civilians (Qur’an Surah 8:67), before taking prisoners. Is this not exactly what we see Hamas doing in its use of civilian human shields, its rampant murder and destruction on October 7, and its continued calls to worldwide jihad?
Obeying Islam’s commands turns any truly observant Muslim organization into terrorists. Islam’s encouragement to lie and deceive like Allah renders Hamas dangerously corrupt. It will say one thing, do another, and tell its followers a third. What Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran advocate, is a consequence of what they believe and in whom they believe.
To bring any real, lasting change to Israel and the Middle East, Muslims must cease following Allah. If they continue to believe in this deceiver, no authentic change can come. As the apostle Paul says, Israel may obtain superficial peace, but it will prove only a deception (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
All must repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15) for any real, lasting change to come. The conflict between Hamas and Israel is not merely geopolitical; it is spiritual. Satan’s followers pit themselves against God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3; 17:7–8). Who will you, your church, and your country stand with: God or the Devil? There are only two choices, and they lie before us, confirmed both in God’s Word and Islam’s testimony.’