URGENT: ROCKET FIRE FROM GAZA CONTINUES INTO SECOND DAY, IAF RESPONDS WITH MORE AIRSTRIKES

Air raid sirens are blaring across Southern and Central Israel again for the second morning in a row as Palestinian Islamic Jihad continues to barrage the Jewish State with dozens of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. The PIJ has "declared war" on Israel for an Israeli Air Force (IAF) pinpoint strike early yesterday morning that killed one if its senior commanders. IDF analysts expect the rocket fire to continue for several more days.

The rockets have caused no direct casualties so far, although an 8-year-old Israeli girl suffered a heart attack yesterday morning while fleeing to a shelter. She is currently being treated in an Israeli hospital in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the IAF has continued strikes in the Gaza Strip, killing several more PIJ and Al-Aqsa Brigades fighters, including senior PIJ al-Quds commander Khaled Moawad Farraj. Hamas has so far not participated in the rocket fire, although Hamas-controlled media broadcast propaganda videos on Tuesday that called for the destruction of Israel. The Israeli Home front agency has published guidelines for Israelis in range of Gazan rocket fire, including the closure of schools, encouragement to non-essential businesses to remain closed and limitations on the sizes of public gatherings.

We ask our global partners to continue in prayer for the safety of the people of Israel and Gaza. We believe the prayers of God's people are powerful and effective, and so far, there have been no reported deaths in Israel or Gaza in the latest round of fighting besides those terror leaders targeted by the IAF in airstrikes.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/AAhronheim/status/1194472444398112768

https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/status/1194478726261755905

https://twitter.com/Jtruzmah/status/1194487601572376576

https://twitter.com/newsisrael13/status/1194482257362329600

https://twitter.com/newsisrael13/status/1194482257362329600

https://twitter.com/Jtruzmah/status/1194483220185698304

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Home-Front-Command-announces-directives-amid-Gaza-tension-607681

https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Hamas-TV-plays-Death-to-Israel-song-as-terrorists-launch-rockets-607703

GAZA, HAMAS, IDF, ISRAELNOVEMBER 13, 2019

URGENT: ROCKETS RAIN DOWN ON ASHDOD, SDEROT, SIRENS IN TEL AVIV AFTER PIJ COMMANDER ASSASSINATED BY IDF

Image of rockets being launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel (Credit: @Natsecjeff on Twitter)

A senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) organization, Baha Abu El-Ata, who was responsible for overseeing hundreds of deadly rocket attacks against Israeli citizens, was assassinated in his home in Gaza this evening after an IAF airstrike. Less than an hour later, another senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad movement was targeted in an airstrike in Damascus, but survived.

PIJ and the military wing of Hamas immediately declared all-out war on Israel, declaring that their retaliation will "have no limits and will be equal to the enemy's crime", shortly before firing dozens of rockets into the Jewish State just over an hour ago. The latest volley of rockets activated sirens as far north as Tel Aviv, and deployed the Iron Dome system across Southern and Central Israel. Schools and businesses have already been advised to close around Tel Aviv tomorrow, as the rocket fire so far shows no sign of abating. No reports of casualties or damage so far.

We would ask our global partners to pray for the safety of both Israeli and Gazan civilians tonight, for the rocket fire to be ineffective, and for Israeli leadership to be granted divine wisdom in their management of the crisis.

Photo: Image of rockets being launched from the Gaza Strip into #Israel (Credit: @Natsecjeff on Twitter)

Souces:
https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1194118576027971584

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-12-2019/

https://twitter.com/Jtruzmah/status/1194126428863782912

https://twitter.com/StandWithUs/status/1194119955731468288

https://twitter.com/ignis_fatum/status/1194130808702930946

HEZBOLLAH FIRES AT ISRAELI DRONE AMIDST LEBANESE UPHEAVAL

Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters overrun an anti-government protest site in Beirut on Tuesday, October 29th, 2019. (Credit: AP)

Lebanese Hezbollah fired an anti-aircraft missile at an Israeli drone yesterday, but missed their target. Both the Israeli military and Hezbollah confirmed the incident, which came just two days after Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation.

Lebanon has been embroiled in political and social turmoil since wide-scale street protests broke out on October 17th. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah initially voiced public support for the protests. However, the populist movement has largely eschewed any established power structure in Lebanon, and when it became clear that Hezbollah could not co-opt the movement, they began to criticize and suppress it instead. Supporters of the Iran-sponsored terrorist organization attacked protesters and ransacked their protest site on Tuesday afternoon. Then Iranian Supreme leader accused Israel and the United States of provoking the protests in both Lebanon and Iraq last month, claiming that they are intended to destabilize the pro-Tehran governments in Baghdad and Beirut. The Iranian regime has taken a direct role in the suppression of grassroots protests in Iraq, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directing Iraqi security forces and Iranian-sponsored militias there. It remains to be seen if the protests inside Lebanon and the subsequent resignation of the Hezbollah-aligned prime minister will result in positive change in that country, or a spiral of violence that mirrors Iraq’s descent into the grip of Iran.

Some analysts have suggested that Hezbollah may attack Israeli forces at the Lebanese or Syrian borders in order to rally the Lebanese public around them, similar to the border provocation near Avivim on September 2nd. In any event, one thing remains clear: Hezbollah has consolidated their hold over southern Lebanon and southeastern Syria, and have been stockpiling rockets and other armaments in preparation for an eventual war with Israel.

Sources:

https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Report-in-Lebanon-Israeli-drone-shot-down-606431

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-accuses-israel-us-of-causing-protests-in-lebanon-iraq/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04P7xWUEerA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1KaZM6n8yc

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES TO RECOGNIZE AND CONDEMN TURKEY’S ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; TURKEY INCREASINGLY ALIENATED INTERNATIONALLY

The US House of Representatives, voting to recognize the Armenian Genocide. October 29, 2019.

More than 100 years after three-quarters of the Ottoman Empire’s two million Armenian residents were systematically slaughtered by the Turkish seat of Ottoman power in 1915, the United States House of Representatives voted by overwhelming majority to formally recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, long denied by Turkey. The House also voted for President Trump to apply sanctions against Turkey in light of its ongoing campaign against the Kurdish people in northeastern Syria.

The votes came just days after US Special Forces, working with Kurdish intelligence agencies, assassinated ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. 

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar was the only Democratic Congressperson to not vote in favor of recognizing and condemning the genocide, instead voting “present.” She also voted against sanctioning Turkey, and reportedly met with Halil Mutlu the week prior. Mutlu is the co-chairman of the Turkish American Steering Committee (TASC), a pro-Turkish advocacy organization based in the United States. 

Turkish Foreign Minister condemned both votes, while Turkish President Erdogan threatened retribution against opposing nations. 

Israel announced Wednesday it will close its embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul.

Turkey’s power moves across the region increasingly alienate the nation from the global community. Erdogan’s actions and definitions of terrorism (a charge brought against American pastor Andrew Brunson for affiliation with Kurdish refugees in Turkey) create a dangerous environment for foreign workers. Over the last several decades, Western laborers have sown the Gospel into Turkish soil. Pray for indigenous leaders to stand on their own and lead the growing Turkish church, and for her to stand during coming intensified persecution. 

Partner with FAI’s work in Turkey: faimission.org/turkey

Sources: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/armenian-genocide-resolution.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50229787

https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/30/ilhan-omar-erdogan-turkey/

https://twitter.com/abdbozkurt/status/1187701319659855872?s=21

https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1189694723734163456?s=21

https://twitter.com/israelinturkey/status/1189448754765664257?s=21

Photo credit: Public Radio of Armenia

AFRICANS AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

Many Africans are being targeted by human trafficking networks made up of employment agencies, recruiters on university campuses, family, friends, and pastors. Many of which are trafficked to Middle Eastern nations. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report there is an estimated 40 million slaves globally. In 2016 it was estimated that 9.2 million trafficking victims were from Africa. Africans are especially vulnerable due to the lack of resources and opportunities in their home countries.

Traffickers prey on the desperate, weak, and vulnerable populations for financial gain. Victims are promised better opportunities for themselves and their families. Most have no idea they are entering a sophisticated network of organized crime. They are unaware of the trap set before them of sexual exploitation, domestic labor, baby factories, child labor and child soldiers. Once the reality of their situation sinks in, it is too late; they are already trapped in a situation many cannot escape. Those able to escape or are rescued are sent back to the desperation they were fleeing in the first place. They are as desperate and vulnerable as before but now secretly suffering the trauma endured from being trafficked. Many African nations do not offer support or trauma based care once victims return home. Without support and trauma care many victims are susceptible to being trafficked again.

Efforts to bring awareness and education on the tactics of trafficking networks are desperately needed. Without these efforts to prevent them falling prey to human trafficking disguised as opportunities for a better life; we will continue to see more and more Africans bought and sold as modern day slaves. We understand the severity of the global slave trade we also know prayer and action changes things. We ask you to join us in prayer for the vulnerable and the broken being trafficked world wide.

Photo: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report/

http://www.ipsnews.net/2019/10/human-trafficking-came-disguised-opportunity-lifetime/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49877287?SThisFB

https://reliefweb.int/report/senegal/iom-partners-combat-exploitative-labour-practices-human-trafficking-west-africa

https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/impoverished-cameroon-women-forced-into-human-trafficking-rings-31477954

https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/facts

https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/lang--en/index.htm

https://www.borgenmagazine.com/top-10-facts-about-human-trafficking-in-africa/

WARS AND VIOLENT CONFLICTS ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Credit: UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

The world has her eyes on the events taking place in the Middle East. The concerns for security and stability in the region are mounting with each new threat. As long as war and conflicts rage so will human trafficking. Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and child soldiers, and organ harvesting will flourish with every rising conflict. Human displacement is an enabling environment for human traffickers, who exploit and target refugees, forced migrants, and internally displaced persons.

Human traffickers work within a sophisticated network of criminal enterprises to lure and trap desperate and vulnerable populations into trafficking situations. There is direct correlation between trafficking in persons, sexual violence, armed conflict, terrorism and transnational organized crime. The Middle East is no exception and has a high rate of trafficking due to the lack of measures taken to prevent and protect those most vulnerable, such as women and children.

Yemen is just one example of how war, violence, and terrorism have plunged an already struggling nation into the clutches of human trafficking networks. The sad truth is this is the narrative for most war torn areas throughout the Middle East.

We, the body of Christ, have a responsibility to engage in the areas where wars, conflict, and violence are raging. We are to be the voice for the voiceless and the protectors of the weak. We have a voice to speak out against the atrocities and violence against those caught between war and desperation. As we all continue to watch the events unfolding in the Middle East, we must pray. We must pray for the destitute and vulnerable. We must be willing to go. We must be a physical presence in their lives as to engage them with the gospel. We must rise up and be the light of the world Jesus has called us to be. It is in His light that all darkness is dispelled.

Photo: UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report/

https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/facts

https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/wars-violent-conflicts-main-drivers-human-trafficking-says-nuncio

https://citizentruth.org/yemens-forgotten-victims-of-war-children-being-sold-as-a-commodity-of-war/

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190902-report-saudi-arabia-using-human-trafficking-networks-to-recruit-child-soldiers/

https://www.mintpressnews.com/human-trafficking-booming-yemen-war/261818/