By: Dr. Jürgen Bühler, ICEJ President

The people of Israel are in shock after a treacherous mass infiltration by Hamas terrorists from Gaza on the Jewish high holy day of Simchat Torah, with dozens of Israelis dead, hundreds wounded, and several dozen more reportedly captured and being held hostage. The terrorists stormed the Gaza border crossings in trucks and on motorcycles, while others entered by paraglider and by boat, and they have been rampaging and slaughtering stunned civilians in Israeli communities along the border area. Thousands of rockets also have been launched from Gaza all day long into southern and central Israel, including repeated barrages on Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israeli leaders have declared this an all-out war and are mobilizing IDF reserves to clear the Hamas infiltrators from the border communities, while keeping an eye on Hizbullah in Lebanon.

The extent of the carnage is still unclear, but the mass assault caught the nation and its defense forces by surprise on a quiet Shabbat morning which has turned into a major disaster for Israel. The streets were deserted, which allowed the terrorists to quickly move into a number of towns and villages. There are currently many medical needs, communities that need to be evacuated, damaged homes and apartments to be repaired, and the battle is not even ten hours old. Plus, many more bomb shelters will be urgently needed to protect Israelis close to the border.

The ICEJ has extensive experience in responding to these emergencies in Israel, and we have developed close relations with the leaders of the communities living near Gaza. Sadly, this morning’s attack impacted us personally, as our friend Ofir Libstein, Mayor of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, fell today defending his community from the Hamas terrorists.

Just two days ago, on Thursday the 5^th of October, the ICEJ took over 600 Christians from some 50 nations down to this border area for a solidarity rally in the regional council’s high school. Mayor Libstein began the rally by telling our Feast pilgrims:

“Welcome again to Shaar HaNegev. We are here just three kilometres from the border with Gaza. The people who live here in Sha’ar HaNegev, we are keeping the Land of Israel. We are keeping the border with the Gaza Strip… We have doubled our population in the last 10 years, and everything is with your help. because with your help we feel safety here. With your [bomb] shelters that you help us to buy and to put here in the area, we live better lives. And I promise to do everything to keep the Land of Israel, to keep the land of this area, and to build it stronger and stronger. I am so happy to see you from all over the world that have come to see this beautiful place. Thank you very much.”

Ofir Libstein indeed kept his promise to keep the Land of Israel and the Sha’ar HaNegev region, but it came at the cost of his own life. His words and his memory will remain with us forever.

We are now working with his council and our other long-time Israeli partners along the Gaza border to identify the most urgent needs and how we can help. But we need you to join us in responding to this war crisis.

Please consider donating towards the ICEJ’s “Israel in Crisis” fund, which will be used over coming days to move Israeli civilians to safety, repair damaged homes, help with medical and trauma needs, and immediately order more life-saving bomb shelters, adding to the 200+ shelters we have donated already over the past decade.

Help us respond today as we reach out together to a shocked and wounded nation. Donate today to our Israel in Crisis fund.

Donate at:  give.icej.org/crisis

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