June 17, 2008

Hamas confirms a cease-fire with Israel to go into effect in three stages

An Hamas spokesman has confirmed a commitment to an Egyptian mediated cease-fire deal with Israel and it will be implemented in three stages as soon as Israel will agree to the first stage which is to open the crossing points from Egypt into Gaza with the second stage allowing the removal of restrictions on the goods allowed into Gaza.

Israeli officials are cautiously optimistic about the cease-fire which would bring calm to the region, however the Chief of Staff of the IDF, General Ashkenazi says he is concerned, as is Israeli intelligence, that the cease-fire will be short-lived and fragile. Ashkenazi said the IDF will respect the cease-fire but is also getting ready for a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip should the cease-fire be broken.

Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News

The confirmation by Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization, of a cease-fire with Israel is only a precursor to a large scale conflict in the future according to Bible prophecy.

For a number of months, the Egyptian mediators have been working with both the Israelis and the Palestinian militants to try and broker a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. According to sources in Hamas, the cease-fire has been agreed to and will be implemented in three stages which should bring calm to the region. Though Israeli officials are cautiously optimistic, the IDF is continuing its preparation for a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

According to Bible prophecy which sheds light on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel will be involved in defending themselves from the violence of the Palestinians all the way to the appearance of the Messiah, Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Ezekiel 35 reveals that the Palestinians will kill the Jews and take their land in the End Times. Malachi 1 states that the Palestinians will return to setup their own borders and the Lord will have indignation against them. Obadiah states in the last five verses of his prophecy that the conflict will be resolved only when the Messiah returns to Jerusalem.

Cease-fire or not, Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.