An agreement has finally been reached for the release of our hostages as part of the peace proposal outlined by President Trump and supported by multiple nations. The news brought a surge of hope to our battle-weary nation today (October 9).
But that hope is restrained.
We are overwhelmingly thankful for the agreement–which covers only the first phase of Trump’s proposed pathway to peace. Later phases involve complex negotiations that could take years to resolve, if ever. And while some aspects of the plan seem nothing less than brilliant, others are quite problematic–particularly in view of Scripture.
From our perch in Jerusalem, here are some preliminary pros and cons of the deal as it is currently being reported.
Pros
- The return of our hostages.
- Opportunity for healing of Israel’s national trauma and domestic disputes.
- Decrease in the killing of Israeli soldiers and innocent civilians in Gaza.
- Short-term reduction in global castigation of Israel.
- Recovery and rebuilding in Gaza, with potential inroads for the Gospel to be shared.
Cons
- Hamas has not committed to disarming or giving up governance in Gaza. This is a red line neither Israel not Hamas have been willing to cross.
- Israel must immediately cease most military operations and withdraw from major areas in Gaza.
- A consortium of nations will assume responsibility for Gaza achieving and keeping peace toward Israel. Nations and coalitions of nations have tried many times to keep Islamist groups from attacking Israel. They have always failed. Repeatedly, the terrorists have deceived, intimidated and threatened international peacekeeping or security forces into passive inaction, at best. At worst (and in each instance), international peacekeepers have collaborated with the terrorists.
- Qatar would play a major role in implementing and enforcing a peaceful transition in Gaza. Turkey would presumably play a lesser but still active role. That country has long maintained a policy of passive but vicious aggression toward Israel. Few Israelis see Turkey or Qatar as a trustworthy partner for peace.
- Over 1700 convicted Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails will be released. Some of the prisoners are top masterminds of heinous mass murders of Jews. They will reportedly be sent abroad, mostly to Turkey. Hamas leaders already openly boast that prisoners and other terror operatives exiled to Turkey (and elsewhere) will be able to plan and execute even more and worse terror attacks on Jews around the world.
- Hamas has broken every cease fire agreement it has negotiated with Israel, then found a way to blame Israel for doing so. When Israel has responded in defense, Hamas has ramped up its propaganda campaign against the Jewish state, fanning flames of anti-Semitism to ever greater levels.
- While Trump’s plan does not outright require a Palestinian state, it does commit Israel and the international community to pursuing a path toward Palestinian statehood. God, however, allotted Gaza to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:47, Judges 1:18). Moreover, under traditional or customary international law, Gaza rightly belongs to Israel.
Other considerations
- Some believers say the proposed plan should be dismissed because, in their view, it is inspired mainly or entirely by antichrist forces. Instead of entering into a false peace, Israel should immediately re-conquer and extend sovereignty over the Gaza Strip. No heed should be given as to how the nations might respond, they say, because God would grant Israel victory and release the hostages another way.
- With all due respect, the above reasoning is overly simplistic. It also takes certain scriptures out of context, albeit unintentionally. While some aspects of the proposed plan do reflect anti-Christian or anti-biblical thought and influence, calls to extend immediate Israeli sovereignty over Gaza through intensified military action do not take into account other realities that do not (yet) align with Scripture. For our purpose here and now, it is enough to point out that Israel is still in process of God’s gracious restoration. At the same time, He is still testing the hearts of humanity, weighing the responses of nations and individuals to Israel.
- God is fully in control and has a perfect plan which He will perfectly execute, in His timing. Perhaps He wants to use President Trump’s imperfect proposal to escort the battle-weary Jewish state into a temporary semblance of peace and prosperity. Ezekiel 38:8-14 describes such a period taking place after a prolonged war. Could this be that?
- Consider that despite the plan’s intrinsic problems–which may get re-negotiated over time–Yeshua told us that certain anti-God doings must come to pass as we approach the end times (Matthew 24:6). We cannot expect a perfect peace proposal until the Perfect Prince of Peace Himself returns to rule and reign.
- A season of relative peace could well pave way for the salvation of multitudes of Muslims and Jews in the Middle East prior to Messiah’s return.
- As nations rage we are assured and pray: “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. … Therefore, you kings, be wise, be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling.” (Psalm 33:10-12, Psalm 2:10-11)
How to Pray:
- Safe release of all the hostages.
- Protection of our soldiers and genuinely innocent Gazans.
- Healing of the nation’s soul and genuine healing for Gazans.
- All terms of the peace proposal that are pleasing to God to be agreed upon and swiftly implemented.
- All terms of the peace proposal that are displeasing to God to be removed, re-negotiated or never implemented.
- All terms of the peace proposal that represent a trap for Israel to be exposed and altered.
- Strength and wisdom for PM Netanyahu, Israeli and US negotiators.
- Salvation of Jews and Arabic speaking people groups in the region.
- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.