NORTH AMERICA GETS STORMS, CHILLING COLD.

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)

 NORTH AMERICA GETS STORMS, CHILLING COLD.


WEATHER EVENTS

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences;(BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL/NUCLEAR) and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON THE MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS-PROPHECY SIGNS) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
REVELATION 16:21 80-120LB HAIL ON HUMANS
21And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent:(80-120 LBS) and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

FAMINE

EZEKIEL 5:16
16  When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

REVELATION 6:5-6
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.(A DAYS WAGES FOR A LOAF OF BREAD)

MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

DEUTORONOMY 28:24
24  The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

LOCUSTS (DEMONIC) TORTURES SINNERS 5 MONTHS
REVELATION 9:1-6
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke (DEMONIC) locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS

REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

OZONE DEPLETION JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH DUE TO SIN
ISAIAH 30:26-27
26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,(7X OR 7-DEGREES HOTTER) as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people,(ISRAEL) and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

MATTHEW 24:21-22,221 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened,(DAY LIGHT HOURS SHORTENED) there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake (ISRAELS SAKE) those days shall be shortened (Daylight hours shortened)(THE ASTEROID HITS EARTH HERE)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
 
REVELATION 16:7-9
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Extreme weather causing delays, cancellations at Canada's busiest airports-CTV Windsor-Published date: 7:10 AM-JAN 13,24

Extreme cold temperatures are affecting Canada's busiest airports, with many experiencing delays and dozens of cancellations.According to Toronto's Pearson International Airport, as of 5 p.m. EST, 30 departure flights and 39 arrivals were cancelled between Friday and Saturday, with scores of flights also delayed.Severe weather events like a nationwide snow storm shrink the number of safe landings an airport can handle. While cancellations can cause their own frustrations for airlines and travellers, delays can lead to a bottleneck in outgoing flights, leaving passengers and staff stranded in airports for hours."While no one can control the weather, we can control our response to it," said Sean Davidson, a senior advisor in communications and media relations for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA). "We have spent the last year purchasing new high-tech snow removal equipment making improvements to our de-icing facility, and ensuring we are fully staffed to handle the complexities of winter operations."Several Canadian airlines are navigating how to handle delays that are expected to bleed into the weekend."Out of an abundance of caution for safety, we are limiting the amount of time our crews and ground partners are working outside," WestJet said in a statement on Friday. "WestJet is proactively managing its operations and has implemented several cancellations as required."WestJet announced it had 87 flights cancelled on Thursday and 86 cancelled on Friday.Sunwing Airlines said it is monitoring the weather forecast closely, but travellers with flight departures between Friday and Saturday are encouraged to sign up for flight alerts and check their flight status before travelling.In the nation's capital, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport saw 23 incoming and outgoing flights cancelled between Friday and Saturday, while in Montreal, 34 different flights were cancelled between Friday and Saturday.Winnipeg Richardson International Airport only had a handful of total flights cancelled on Friday. Out west at Calgary International Airport, 35 incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled on Friday, while at Edmonton International Airport, 25 incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled between Friday and Saturday, with dozens more delayed."As a winter airport, we plan and practise for different situations to ensure safety and efficiency for our passengers and staff," said Megan Hall, senior communications advisor for Edmonton International Airport. "As we are currently experiencing flight impacts due to weather, we encourage people to check their flight status before arriving at the airport and leave extra time to get here."Vancouver International Airport saw 18 flights cancelled, with nearly 40 delayed throughout the day."We are seeing continued delays and cancellations on flights arriving into Vancouver today, as severe winter weather conditions continue to have an impact across Canada and the United States," said Adriana Unger, communications specialist for Vancouver Airport Authority. "We continue to advise travellers to check with their airline before coming to the airport."In the U.S., the winter weather is causing major disruptions for air travel, with nearly 2,000 flight cancellations Friday morning, the highest number since July 2023. While most of the delays are due to a winter storm pounding the Midwest, as more than 650 flights were cancelled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport alone, cancellations due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 planes are also contributing to the totals.Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have been marred by hundreds of flight cancellations this week after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded more than 150 of the 737 Max 9 planes. The FAA's decision came after a piece of the fuselage blew off an Alaska Airlines flight last Friday, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane that ripped headrests off seats as the plane flew at 16,000 feet shortly after talking off from Portland, Ore., carrying 177 people.Alaska Airlines said in a statement Wednesday that it cancelled all flights on 737 Max 9 aircraft through Saturday – about 110-150 flights per day.None of Canada's airlines operate the 737 Max 9 aircraft.-With files from CNN

Significant winter storm will hit hard during Ontario's Friday night commute-Forecast Centre-Fri, January 12, 2024 at 6:03 a.m. EST

Winter storm warnings span much of southern Ontario, with blizzard-like conditions threatening dangerous, if not impossible, travel Friday evening through Saturday morning. Snowfall rates of 3-5 cm per hour are possible at times, as well as gusty winds that could significantly reduce visibility. There’s even a risk for thundersnow in spots.Commuters in and around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) should consider leaving work a little early on Friday as snow will begin during the evening commute, worsening into the evening hours.
Expect flight delays and cancellations. Localized wind damage and power outages are also possible.Going somewhere? Check out the current highway conditions before heading out! Friday evening into Saturday: Heavy snow, whiteouts, even rumbles of thunder-You know we’re dealing with a formidable winter storm when the term ‘thundersnow’ pops up.A developing low-pressure system will rapidly intensify as it tracks over the Great Lakes on Friday. Folks across Ontario should take this storm seriously, as it will produce snowier conditions and stronger winds than the slushy system we saw on Tuesday.STAY SAFE: Be aware of your heart while shovelling heavy snow.Snow will begin pushing into southern Ontario on Friday afternoon, spreading into the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area by Friday evening and lasting through the overnight hours.Rapidly deteriorating conditions will spread east into Ottawa through Friday overnight, where hazardous conditions will linger into early Saturday morning.Heavy snow will be accompanied by 60-80 km/h wind gusts, significantly reducing visibility for all roads in southern Ontario late Friday and into the overnight hours. Blizzard conditions are possible across the northern GTA toward Peterborough, though the potential for whiteout conditions will be widespread throughout the region.Snowfall rates near 3-5 cm per hour will allow wet snow to accumulate in a hurry.The combination of a fast-strengthening storm and lake enhancement will create a risk for intense snow bands complete with thundersnow across parts of southern Ontario on Friday evening. Locally heavier snowfall totals are possible beneath these bands, making for a tricky forecast.We’ll see a bit of warm air nudge into southwestern Ontario as the heart of the low-pressure system passes to the west overnight Friday into Saturday.Forecasters expect some changeover to rain across the Lake Erie shores and the Niagara Peninsula during the overnight hours and spread east through early Saturday. This may result in lower snowfall totals where the rain forces some snowmelt.Overall, a widespread swath of 10-20+ cm of snow is possible across southern Ontario through Saturday morning. Locally higher totals are possible along the Dundalk Highlands, with 30+ cm possible around Orangeville. A swath of heavier snow is also possible toward Bancroft east into Ottawa, where forecasters see the potential for 20-25 cm of snow.Areas that transition over to rain will likely see less than 10 cm of snow from this system.A razor-thin line cuts through the GTHA as only a short distance will separate significant snows from lower totals as the warmer lake forces rain to mix with snow. Snowfall totals across the GTHA are a bit uncertain as a result of this setup, complicated further by whether those bands of heavier snow can overwhelm the lake-influenced warmup.Beyond: Arctic air switches on the lake-effect snow-A surge of cold air flooding in behind this storm will crank up the lake-effect snow machine across the region. We’ll see a multi-day lake-effect snow setup unfold across the traditional snowbelts.Northwesterly winds late Saturday will give rise to bands of snow along the Saugeen Shores, Wasaga Beach, Barrie, and the surrounding areas.Shifting winds will blow from the west by Sunday into Monday, forcing lake-effect snow to pile up on the Bruce Peninsula and communities east of Georgian Bay, including Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst.

Bloomberg-The Polar Vortex Is About to Unleash Teeth-Chattering Cold Across the US-Brian K Sullivan-Thu, January 11, 2024 at 11:25 a.m.

(Bloomberg) -- The polar vortex is about to unleash an Arctic chill across much of the US this weekend, leaving football fans shivering in the Midwest and inflicting subzero temperatures on Iowa voters just before the state’s caucus begins.An area of cold air around the north pole, known as the polar vortex because of its counter-clockwise flow, is set to expand and push a frigid blast south. Kansas City, Missouri, will drop to -5F (-21C) Saturday as the hometown Chiefs take on the Miami Dolphins in an NFL wild card playoff game, while Iowa City is expected to fall to -9F.The freeze marks an abrupt shift from December, when spring-like temperatures enveloped parts of the country. Extreme cold is now expected to boost the demand for fuel to heat homes and businesses, sending natural gas prices soaring the most since July 2022 earlier this week and raising concern about whether power grids will be up to the test.“It took winter about six weeks to get started, but it’s going to go gangbusters for the next couple of weeks,” said Rob Carolan, owner of Hometown Forecast Services, which provides outlooks for Bloomberg Radio. “This will be the coldest stretch of winter so far from the Plains to Midwest.”A few pieces of the atmosphere’s machinery have come together to bring intense cold across central Canada and the US. First, the stratosphere above the north pole warmed a few weeks ago, which disrupted the polar vortex enough to allow it to send arctic air down across Canada, Carolan said.In North America, the chill is getting supercharged by blocks, or patterns in the atmospheric pressure field that are nearly stationary, across Greenland and eastern Canada that are forcing the polar jet stream south.“That is having a larger impact than the polar vortex,” said Paul Pastelok, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.There is also snow across parts of the Great Plains and Midwest, which gives the frigid air flowing into the US a boost. All this could mean some deep cold reaching as far south as Texas. The state’s grid operator is monitoring conditions due to the risk of higher demand and lower power reserves.Temperatures in Dallas could hit a low of 15F on Monday and 24F in Houston on Tuesday, according to Maxar Technologies Inc., a commercial forecaster.New York and the Northeast won’t be as cold and will experience weather whiplash over the weekend. Another powerful rain storm is forecast to swing into Manhattan on Friday and temperatures will rise to near 60F on Saturday as warm winds push north, but by Sunday lows will fall below freezing.While gas prices have jumped on the outlook for the Arctic chill, the heating oil market has remained muted amid ample stockpiles. East Coast retail prices fell below $4 a gallon in January for the first time in nearly two years.--With assistance from Chunzi Xu.

THOUSANDS RALLY IN INDONESIA DEMANDING CEASE-FIRE

JAKARTA, Indonesia — At least 5,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied Saturday in front of the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in downtown Jakarta to demand a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war..Organized by the Indonesian Mass Organization Council, a conservative Muslim forum, the protesters wore black and white as they joined the Global Day of Action Stop the War on Gaza. Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags, they held signs that read “Boycott Israel,” “End the Genocide of Palestinians” and “Ceasefire Now.”Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has long been a strong supporter of Palestinians and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

U.S. SAYS ITS MILITARY STRUCK ANOTHER HOUTHI SITE IN YEMEN

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen that was determined to be putting commercial vessels in the Red Sea at risk.The strike happened early Saturday, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an operation that hadn’t yet been publicly announced.Associated Press journalists in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, heard one loud explosion.The first day of strikes on Friday hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets. However the U.S. determined the additional location, a radar site, still presented a threat to maritime traffic, one official said.___By Tara Copp, Lolita C. Baldor, Jon Gambrell and Aamer Madhani.

ISRAEL'S ORDERS FOR DISLACEMENT IN GAZA POTENTIALLY AMOUNT TO A WAR CRIME, U.N. SAYS

UNITED NATIONS – Israel’s orders for massive displacement of more than 1 million people in Gaza without ensuring access to food, health care, shelter or safety fail to meet international legal requirements and “potentially amount to forcible transfer, a war crime,” a senior U.N. official said Friday.Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris also expressed alarm at “incendiary statements” by some Israeli officials pushing for Palestinians to be resettled overseas.“Palestinians’ right to return to their homes must be subject to an ironclad guarantee,” she told a Security Council meeting on the threat of forced displacement.U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the council that “what has been unfolding in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a war conducted with almost no regard for the impact on civilians.”As a result of Israel’s unrelenting evacuation orders, he said, more people “are being crammed into an ever-smaller sliver of land, only to find yet more violence and deprivation, inadequate shelter and a near absence of the most basic services.”Griffiths also said the statements by Israeli officials on encouraging Palestinians to go to other countries raise “grave concerns” about possible “forcible mass transfer or deportation … something that would be strictly prohibited under international law.”

U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY WAS IN HOSPITAL WHEN HE ORDERED STRIKES ON YEMEN, PENTAGON SAYS

WASHINGTON — From his hospital room, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first orchestrated and then watched in real time as the U.S. retaliatory attack on Yemen-based Houthi militants unfolded Thursday night.It was the latest in a series of responsibilities Austin has carried out from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he has been recovering from complications due to treatments for prostate cancer that he initially did not disclose.On Friday, President Joe Biden said it was a lapse in judgment for Austin to keep his hospitalization a secret, but said he still has confidence in the Pentagon chief.Austin’s delays in disclosing his prostate cancer and his hospitalization have roiled the administration, Pentagon and Congress. Pentagon officials have repeatedly said that Austin has been performing his duties for the last week, even as he remains hospitalized.

GERMANY TO JOIN U.N. CASE ON ISRAEL'S BEHALF, SAYS ‘NO BASIS’ FOR GENOCIDE CHARGE

BERLIN — Germany’s government said Friday that it will request to join the International Court of Justice case as third party on Israel’s behalf, saying there is “no basis whatsoever” for genocide accusations.Under the court’s rules, if Germany files a declaration of intervention in the case, it will be able to make legal arguments to support Israel at the merits phase of this case to address how the genocide convention should be interpreted, legal expects say."That would come after the court issues its decision on South Africa’s request for urgent measures to protect the Palestinian people in Gaza,” said international lawyer Balkees Jarrah, associate director of the international justice program at Human Rights Watch, in an interview from The Hague where she attended the ICJ hearings.Berlin's support for Israel carries some symbolic significance given Germany’s Nazi history.“Hamas terrorists brutally attacked, tortured, killed and kidnapped innocent people in Israel,” German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement Friday. “Since then, Israel has been defending itself against the inhumane attack by Hamas.”“We know that different countries assess Israel’s operation in Gaza differently,” Hebestreit said. “However, the Federal Government firmly and expressly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been made against Israel at the International Court of Justice.”Hebestreit said Germany “sees itself as particularly committed to the Convention against Genocide.” He added: “We firmly oppose political instrumentalization,.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement, saying the gesture “touches all of Israel's citizens.”

ISRAEL KILLS 3 PALESTINIANS AFTER THEY ATTACK WEST BANK SETTLEMENT, ARMY SAYS

JERUSALEM — The Israeli army said Friday it killed three Palestinian men who infiltrated a West Bank settlement and fired on soldiers.

The soldiers were attacked while patrolling the settlement of Adora in the southern West Bank and they returned fire, killing three men, according to Israel’s Army Radio.One 34-year-old Palestinian man involved in the attack was wounded with a shot to the leg, Israel’s medical rescue service said, without providing more information.The attack came amid surging violence in the occupied territory nearly 100 days into Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.Israel has held the West Bank under a tight grip ever since Hamas’ deadly cross-border attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. The army frequently stages deadly military raids it says are aimed at stamping out militancy.The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli forces have killed 344 Palestinians in the West Bank since Oct. 7.

IRAN PRAISES YEMEN’S HOUTHIS IN WAKE OF U.S.-LED BOMBING

TEHRAN — Iran’s foreign minister on Friday praised Yemen's Houthi rebels for their support for the Palestinians in Gaza, an apparent reference to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping that the Houthis say are aimed at stopping Israel’s war on Hamas.However, Hossein Amir Abdollahian also said in a post on X that the Houthis are “fully committed to marine and shipping security,” without elaborating.The foreign minister said the United States, instead of striking Yemen, should halt its military support for Israel's operations in Gaza and the West Bank in order to restore security to the entire Mideast.In Tehran, a group of people gathered outside the British Embassy in Iran to protest London's role in this week's airstrikes on Yemen. Carrying Palestinian flags, they burnt flags of Britain, U.S. and Israel. Similar rallies were held earlier on the day after Friday prayer ceremonies in the capital Tehran and other major cities of the country.

U.N. CHIEF SAYS YEMEN'S HOUTHIS MUST HEED CALL TO STOP ATTACKING SHIPS

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief says Yemen’s Houthi rebels must comply with the Security Council resolution demanding an immediate halt to all attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took note of Thursday’s U.S. and British airstrikes, with support from other countries, said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Friday. Guterres called on all nations that are “defending their vessels from attacks to do so in accordance with international law, as stipulated in the resolution.”The Security Council approved the resolution by a vote of 11-0 vote Wednesday with Russia and China among the four countries that abstained. In addition to condemning and demanding a halt to Houthi attacks, it implicitly condemned the Houthi’s main weapons supplier, Iran.Dujarric said the secretary-general also calls on all parties ”not to escalate even more the situation in the interest of peace and stability in the Red Sea and the wider region” and “to avoid acts that could further worsen the situation in Yemen itself.”

DEAL TO DELIVER MEDICINE TO HOSTAGES IN GAZA IS IN THE WORKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND QATAR

JERUSALEM — Israel and Qatar are working on a deal to deliver much-needed medication to Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli government and a diplomat said Friday.Hamas and Israel have both shown willingness to allow the delivery of the medicine, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations were still ongoing. Logistics are still being worked out, including the types of medications needed and how to deliver them, the diplomat said.The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had assigned the head of the Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, to discuss the entry of medicines to the hostages with the Qataris, who have acted as mediators with Hamas in previous negotiations over hostage releases. In a statement, the office said the delivery could take place in the coming days.The diplomat said the move for a deal came after families of hostages met with Qatar’s prime minister and raised their worry that some of their loved ones are in need of important prescription medication.Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 men, women and children during their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. During a cease-fire, around 100 hostages were freed in return for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, leaving around 130, mostly men, including 10 over the age of 75. Since then, Israel has announced that 20 died in captivity, leaving around 110.The diplomat said discussions were also underway with international NGOs about delivering the medicines. During a round of swaps of hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel in November, the International Committee of the Red Cross served as the go-between, receiving freed hostages from Hamas and transporting them out of the territory.The ICRC’s spokesperson in Geneva, Jason Straziuso, would not comment on the reported deal but said that since the start of the war, the group has been calling for three things — “that the hostages be released, barring that, that we be allowed to visit them and deliver medications as needed, and that the hostages be able to communicate with their family.”___Associated Press writer Isabel Debre contributed.

NEW MISSILE ATTACK AGAINST VESSEL OFF YEMEN'S COAST, U.K. SAYS

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A new missile attack has been reported off Yemen. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which oversees Mideast waters, reported the attack Friday night.It said the missile was fired toward a ship 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of Aden, Yemen, while the ship was being followed by three small vessels.The ship reported no injures or damage from the attack, the organization said.“Vessels are advised to transit with caution,” it warned.The U.S. Navy has warned American-flagged vessels to stay out of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours, a notice to shippers issued by the U.S. said. The warning came over the airstrikes launched by a U.S.-led coalition against the Houthis.

GAZA LOSES PHONE AND INTERNET DUE TO FIGHTING, CUTTING OFF COMMUNICATION WITH OUTSIDE WORLD

CAIRO — The Palestinian telecoms provider, Paltel, said Friday all communication services across Gaza have dropped due to ongoing fighting, isolating the besieged territory from the outside world.“We regret to announce that all telecom services in Gaza Strip have been lost due to the ongoing aggression” Paltel said in a post on X. “Gaza is blacked out again.”Communication services in Gaza have completely dropped at least seven times since the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war, according to Paltel.The telecom company is used by people in both the Israel-occupied West Bank and The Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL SAYS IT COMPLIES WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THAT A RULING OF GENOCIDE WOULD SET A BAD PRECEDENT

JERUSALEM — Israel argued on Friday that South Africa was trying to defame Israeli leadership and society by accusing the country of genocide at the International Court of Justice.Making Israel’s closing statement, attorney Gilad Noam said South Africa’s case against Israel made the nation look like a state “singularly consumed with destroying an entire population. That is patently false.”Noam, Israel’s deputy attorney general for international law, argued that compliance with the law was woven deeply into the fabric of the Israeli military apparatus and a core component of the Israeli state since the war that led to Israel’s creation. That war forced an estimated 700,000 Palestinians from their homes in what is known by Palestinians as the “Nakba,” Arabic for “catastrophe."“When the cannons roar in Gaza, the law is not silent,” Noam said. “This has been the case since 1948.”On Thursday, South Africa’s legal team alleged that Israeli leadership had demonstrated “genocidal intent,” pointing to statements made by top officials. But Noam said Israel has no tolerance for statements calling for harm to civilians in Gaza and that the Israeli justice system could consider them to be incitement.Noam said an order by the court asking Israel to halt hostilities in Gaza would lead to a “perverse situation” in which Hamas would continue to attack citizens of Israel, hold about 136 hostages in the Gaza Strip and prevent displaced Israelis from returning to their homes. It would also set a precedent, he said, in which militant groups like Hamas turn to the international court for protection.“Yes, there is a heart wrenching armed conflict," Noam said. "But the attempt to classify it as genocide will turn an instrument adopted by international community to prevent horrors of the kind that shocked the conscience of humanity during the Holocaust into a weapon in the hands of terrorist groups who have no regard for humanity or the law.”

GERMANY SAYS ‘NO BASIS’ FOR GENOCIDE ACCUSATION AGAINST ISRAEL

BERLIN — Germany’s government said there is “no basis whatsoever” for an accusation of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.“We know that different countries assess Israel’s operation in Gaza differently,” government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement Friday. “However, the Federal Government firmly and expressly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been made against Israel at the International Court of Justice.”Given Germany’s Nazi history, Hebestreit said the German government “sees itself as particularly committed to the Convention against Genocide.” The convention is a “central instrument” for preventing future crimes against humanity like the Holocaust, he said.“We firmly oppose political instrumentalization,” Hebestreit said.

HAMAS CONDEMNS STRIKES ON HOUTHI TARGETS

CAIRO — Hamas has condemned U.S.-led strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, saying Washington and London are responsible for any repercussions in the wider region.“We consider it (the attack) a crime and a blatant aggression against Yemeni sovereignty, and a threat to the security of the region,” the Palestinian militant group said in a statement on Telegram.Hamas and the Houthi rebels are allies, brought together by a common enemy, Israel, and backed by a common sponsor, Iran.The Houthis have launched at least 27 attacks against commercial shipping since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct. 7. The group says the attacks are in response to the war in Gaza but many of the ships targeted have no connection to Israel.

RUSSIA CONDEMNS STRIKES ON HOUTHI REBEL POSITIONS

MOSCOW — The Kremlin on Friday condemned the U.S.-led strikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen, calling them “illegitimate from the point of view of international law.”

MY MOHAWK RACEWAY PREDICTIONS 2024 RD 007 FRI JAN 12, 2024

    MOHAWK STANDARDBREAD HARNESS RACEWAY 2024 - RESULTS AS OF FRI JAN-12, 2023 - DAY-007

RACE CARD CANCELLED DUE TO INCOMING SNOWSTORM.

MOHAWK PICKS
01-1-3-7-8
02-4-9-6-8
03-2-6-4-9
04-5-2-8-10
05-9-2-6-3
06-5-2-3-6
07-9-7-1-6
08-3-8-7-6
09-8-7-2-6
10-7-3-5-6-1
MOHAWKS TONIGHTS TOTAL $000.00 OVERALL TOTAL $

STANS PICKS
01-3-1-4-6-7
02-2-4-9-8-1
03-10-6-9-8-4
04-2-1-4-7-5
05-3-1-4-2-10
06-3-1-2-6-8
07-9-7-5-6-8
08-1-3-8-7-5
09-7-8-3-2-1
10-3-2-6-7-5
HI-5 MONEY BEFORE TONIGHT = $
STANS TONIGHTS TOTAL $00.00 OVERALL TOTAL $

ACTUAL RACE RESULTS
01-0 ( )-0 ( )-0 ( )-0 ( )
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TEXT OF ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF AT THE USELESS UN COURT IN THE HAGUE.

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)

 TEXT OF ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF AT THE USELESS UN COURT IN THE HAGUE.


REVELATION VERESE BY VERSE BY DR JACK AND REXELLA VAN IMPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIYtJAUUx0o&list=PLQ6QjtBzr5_eln4Wwdyqw8niA97w7bpv6
TAPE 1 - REV CH 1 - 4:6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4egxDQbC-Po&list=PLQ6QjtBzr5_eln4Wwdyqw8niA97w7bpv6&ind
TAPE 2 - REV CH 4:7-8 TO 9:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAHF8qRW_0c&list=PLQ6QjtBzr5_eln4Wwdyqw8niA97w7bpv6&index=3
TAPE 3 - REV CH 10:1 TO 14:1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8nvow7gDsI
TAPE 4 - REV CH 14:2 TO REV 18:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzejO8qr1g
TAPE 5 - REV CH 19:1 TO REV 22:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFSaL7wuOZU&list=PLQ6QjtBzr5_eln4Wwdyqw8niA97w7bpv6&index=6
TAPE 1 - REVELATION RUMBLINGS

DANIEL VERSE BY VERSE BY DR JACK AND REXELLA VAN IMPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zvrylU6E2A
TAPE 1 - DAN 1:1 TO DAN 3:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dySOniNlbjA
TAPE 2 - DAN 4:1 TO DAN 6:28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPlfIHcQVrE
TAPE 3 - DAN 7:1 TO DAN 9:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHB_jtS6NF8
TAPE 4 - DAN 10:1 TO DAN 12:13

ISLAM I BELIEVE IS A MADE UP FAKE CHRISTIAN RELGION IMMITATION.DREAMPT UP IN 600BC. (WATCH 2ND)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EaopH_EPfc
ARABS-NAME AN IMPORTANT ARAB IN HISTORY (WATCH 1ST)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deiShtWReYE

GAYS MARRYING-EVERYBODY CAN JOIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/pope-francis-opens-meeting-on-future-of-catholic-church-by-saying-everyone-must-be-allowed-in/
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=POPE+FRANCIS+ANYBODY+CAN+JOIN+THE+CATHOLIC+CURCH+VIDEO&t=newext&atb=v387-1&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMKh2nNVjV24
JVI THE FINAL POPE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIY8wdebNqo

WORLD TERRORISM

GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

STRONGS CONCORDANCE FOR VIOLENCE IN THE BIBLE-SEE IT FOR YOURSELVES.
2554. chamas - Strong's Concordance - chamas: to treat violently or wrong - Part of Speech: Verb - Transliteration: chamas -Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mas') - Definition: to treat violently or wrong - make bare, shake off, violate, do violence, take away violently, wrong -A primitive root; to be violent; by implication, to maltreat -- make bare, shake off, violate, do violence, take away violently, wrong, imagine wrongfully.

GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)

ISAIAH 14:12-14
12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14  I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)

JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)

SECOND ANGEL: The Middle East DR DOCTORIAN
Then Isawthat the second angel had a sickle in his hand,such asis used in harvesting. The second angelsaid, “Harvest time has come in Israel and the countries all the wayto Iran.” Isawthose countriesin a fewsplitseconds. “All of Turkey and those other countries that have refused me and refused my message of love shall hate each other and kill one another.” I saw the angel raise the sickle and come down on all the Middle East countries.I saw Iran, Persia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, all of Georgia – Iraq, Syria,Lebanon,Jordan, Israel, all of Asia Minor – full of blood. Isaw blood all over these countries. And I saw fire; nuclear weapons were used in many of those countries. Smoke rising from everywhere. Sudden destruction – men destroying one another. I heard these words, “Israel, Oh Israel, the great judgment has come.”The angel said, “The chosen, the church, the remnant, shall be purified. The Spirit of God shall prepare the children of God.” I saw fires rising to heaven.The angel said, “This is the final judgment My church shall be purified, protected and ready for the final day. Men will die from thirst. Watershall be scarce all over the Middle East. Rivers shall dry up, and men will fight for water in those countries.” The angelshowed me that the United Nationsshall be broken in pieces because of the crisisin the Middle East. There shall be no more United Nations. The angel with the sickle shall reap the harvest.

ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)

ISAIAH 54:3
03-King James Bible-For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

The right hand was a symbol of strength-Exodus 15:6, ” Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.”

EZEKIEL 17:15-24 (MUSLIM COUNTRIES HISTORY)
15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
16 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.
17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
20 And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.
22 Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.

PSALMS 83:3-7
3 They (ARABS,MUSLIMS) have taken crafty counsel against thy people,(ISRAEL) and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they (MUSLIMS) have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:(TREATIES)
6 The tabernacles of Edom,(JORDAN) and the Ishmaelites;(ARABS) of Moab, PALESTINIANS,JORDAN) and the Hagarenes;(EGYPT)
7 Gebal,(HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON) and Ammon,(JORDAN) and Amalek;(SYRIA,ARABS,SINAI) the Philistines (PALESTINIANS) with the inhabitants of Tyre;(LEBANON)
8 Assyria (SYRIA) also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
9 Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera, As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10 Who perished at En Dor, Who became as refuse on the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.”
13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like the chaff before the wind!
14 As the fire burns the woods, And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest, And frighten them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be [e]confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.

And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE.





AMERICA (POLITICAL BABYLON)(NUKED BY SNEAK ATTACK FROM RUSSIA)

IN REVELATION 17 & 18 IS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL BABYLONS.IF YOU CAN NOT DECERN BETWEEN THE 2 BABYLONS IN REV 17 & 18.YOU WILL JUST THINK THEIR BOTH THE SAME.BUT NO-THERES A RELIGIOUS BABYLON (THE VATICAN IN REV 17)(AND THE POLITICAL BABYLON IN REV 18 (AMERICA OR NEW YORK TO BE EXACT)

ISAIAH 34:10
10  It (AMERICA-POLITICAL BABYLON) shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

JEREMIAH 51:29-32 (CYBER ATTACK 1ST)
29  And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon,(AMERICA-NEW YORK) to make the land of Babylon (AMERICA) a desolation without an inhabitant.
30  The mighty men of Babylon (AMERICA) have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.
031  One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon (NEW YORK) that his city is taken at one end,
32  And that the passages are stopped,(THE WAR COMPUTERS HACKED OR EMP'D) and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.(DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO)

COMPLETE SILENCE AFTER AN EMP GOES OFF
REVELATION 8:1
1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

JEREMIAH 50:3,24
3 For out of the north (RUSSIA) there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon,(AMERICA) and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. (RUSSIA A SNEAK CYBER,EMP ATTACK,THEN NUKE ATTACK ON AMERICA.

JOEL 3:2 (WW3 OCCURS WHEN JERUSALEM IS DIVIDED)
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people (ISRAEL) and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.(JERUSALEM)(WW3 STARTS BECAUSE JERUSALEM IS DIVIDED AND ISRAELIS UPROOTED FROM THEIR GOD GIVIN LAND BRINGS 3 DEAD BILLION IN WW3)

Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah condemn attacks-US, UK airstrikes pound Yemen for first time after weeks of Houthi Red Sea attacks-US official says Iran is primary enabler of rebel group responsible for post-October 7 maritime disruptions; Houthi official vows retaliation, as fears of regional escalation grow-By Agencies and Jacob Magid Today, 5:45 am-JAN 12,24

SANAA, Yemen — Heavy US and British airstrikes pounded targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen early Friday after weeks of disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed rebel forces.The strikes targeted an airbase, airports and a military camp, the Houthi rebels’ Al-Masirah TV station said.US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is in hospital due to surgery complications, said in a statement that the strikes targeted Houthi capabilities including drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, costal radar and air surveillance.Unverified images on social media, some of them purportedly of Al-Dailami airbase north of Sanaa, showed explosions lighting up the sky as loud bangs and the roar of planes sounded.Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the strikes killed five members of the Iran-backed group and wounded six.“Our country was subjected to a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes,” Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi said, according to official rebel media.“America and Britain will have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression,” he added.Iran and the Hezbollah and Hamas terror groups all condemned the attacks, with Tehran calling them a “clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws, regulations, and rights.”US President Joe Biden called the US and British strikes a “defensive action” after the Red Sea attacks and said he “will not hesitate” to order further military action if needed.First video coming in from US, UK strikes against Houthis in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/CsTpXeimHV— FJ (@Natsecjeff) January 12, 2024-The strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, several US media outlets said. US officials did not immediately confirm the reports when contacted by AFP.“Today, at my direction, US military forces — together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands -— successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways,” Biden said in a statement, using an alternate spelling of Houthi.He called the strikes a “direct response” to “unprecedented” attacks by the Houthis, “including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.”“These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” he said.“I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”Saudi’s ‘great concern’The strikes were “necessary and proportionate,” UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.A joint statement by the US, Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea said the “aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea.”“But let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” it said.Neighboring Saudi Arabia, which is trying to end its involvement in a nine-year war with the Houthis, urged against escalation.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the military operations,” a foreign ministry statement said, calling for “self-restraint and avoiding escalation.”The Houthis have carried out a growing number of attacks on what they deem to be Israel-linked shipping on the key international route since Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught, describing the attacks as demonstrations of solidarity with the terror group.In his statement, Biden said that on Tuesday the Houthis “launched their largest attack to date — directly targeting American ships.”The Western strikes risk turning an already-tense situation in the Middle East into a wider conflagration pitting the United States and Israel against Iran and its regional proxies.The Houthi rebels say they are acting in response to Israel’s counter-terror offensive in Gaza and have also launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel.The group has controlled a major part of Yemen since a civil war erupted there in 2014, and is part of the Iran-backed “axis of resistance” arrayed against Israel.A US official briefing reporters after the airstrikes said Iran has been the Houthis’ “primary enabler” and has been “involved operationally” in the rebel group’s recent spate of attacks.“They’ve provided the Houthis the very capabilities used to conduct these attacks,” the US official said.Regarding consequences for Iran, the US official pointed to an ongoing “deep pressure campaign” targeting Tehran for its support of malign actors in the region but declined to offer specifics.“Suffice it to say that we do hold Iran responsible for the role that [it] has played with the Houthis and with the other groups in the region that have conducted attacks against US forces and made (Tehran) aware of that.‘Consequences’The United States and its allies had issued a series of increasingly stern warnings to the Houthis to stop the shipping attacks, although Washington has been cautious about the risks of further inflaming regional tensions.Washington set up an international coalition in December — dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian — to protect maritime traffic in the area, through which 12 percent of world trade flows.Twelve nations led by the United States later warned the Houthis on January 3 of “consequences” unless they immediately stopped attacks on commercial vessels.But late Tuesday the Houthis launched what London called the most significant attack yet by the Yemeni rebels, with US and British forces shooting down 18 drones and three missiles.The final straw for the Western allies appeared to come early Thursday when the US military said the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into a shipping lane in the Gulf of Aden.It was the 27th attack on international shipping in the Red Sea since November 19, the US military said.The intensifying attacks have caused shipping companies to divert around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, sparking fears of a shock to the global economy.The United States strengthened its military posture in the region immediately after the October 7 terror attacks on Israel, which left over 1,200 dead and some 240 taken hostage into Gaza. Washington subsequently warned Iran and its allies not to escalate the situation.The Biden administration was initially cautious in its response as it is seeking to preserve a fragile peace in Yemen, where a decade of civil war and a Saudi-led coalition’s military campaign have led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in the Arabian peninsula’s poorest country.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

Saudi Arabia in ‘tight spot’ as US, UK take on Houthi rebels after weeks of attacks-Experts say Riyadh angling for ceasefire, military exit from Yemen so it can focus on domestic agenda, but situation complicated by Iran-backed Yemeni group’s attacks on shipping-By Robbie COREY-BOULET Today, 4:55 pm-JAN 12,24

Overnight strikes in Yemen have set off alarm bells in Saudi Arabia, which craves de-escalation in its war-torn neighbor so it can focus on domestic reforms, analysts said.Explosions lit up the night sky early on Friday as the United States and Britain pounded scores of targets with more than 100 precision-guided munitions, US Central Command said.The strikes came in response to weeks of disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed Houthis, who control northern Yemen and say they are firing on Israel-linked ships in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.Saudi Arabia has led an anti-Houthi coalition since 2015 — launching thousands of air strikes of its own against the Iran-backed rebels over the years — but is now angling for a ceasefire and military exit from the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest nation.Even as the scale of the US and British strikes was still coming into focus before dawn on Friday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry published a statement expressing “great concern” and calling for “self-restraint and avoiding escalation.”Anna Jacobs, senior Gulf analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank, said Saudi Arabia found itself “in a tight spot.”“They are balancing record-low public opinion about the US and Israel with their security concerns about the Red Sea and their desire to deter further Houthi attacks,” she said.Weary of war-Hamas’s unprecedented onslaught on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s military response may have scuppered Saudi Arabia’s hopes for sustained peace in the region, which officials see as crucial for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping Vision 2030 agenda for economic and social reform.The Red Sea coast is a linchpin of the vision, with developers eyeing a slew of resorts that could help transform the once closed-off kingdom into a tourism hot spot.That makes ending military operations in Yemen a central foreign policy goal for Riyadh, one officials hoped would be more feasible in the wake of a surprise China-brokered rapprochement deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran announced in March.Just last month, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, described progress towards a roadmap that would finally resolve outstanding issues such as paying public sector salaries and resuming oil exports.The most important achievement would be a nationwide ceasefire, building on a truce that first took effect in April 2022 and has largely held despite officially expiring after six months.But the spate of Houthi attacks — 27 in total, according to the White House — on ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea’s southern gateway, has complicated that process.Washington, Saudi Arabia’s most important security partner, announced last month a maritime security initiative, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to secure the Red Sea and which it says brings together 20 countries.Saudi Arabia hosted about 2,700 US troops as of 2022, according to the White House, underscoring the danger, however remote, of retaliatory strikes on Saudi soil.Riyadh has not signed on to Operation Prosperity Guardian, a decision vindicated by Friday’s strikes, said Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the government.“I think Saudi Arabia had no choice but to stay out of the operation given its peace talks with Yemen, but Saudi Arabia is concerned about navigation also, so it’s a difficult position to be in,” he said.‘Double standards’Though Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, leaders pay close attention to public opinion, which could further influence Riyadh’s actions as both the Israel-Hamas war and the crisis in the Red Sea evolve.A rare poll published last month by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy showed 96 percent of Saudis think Arab countries should sever all contacts with Israel “in protest against its military action in Gaza.”Given Washington’s steadfast support for Israel, it is therefore hard to imagine Saudi Arabia would want to involve itself in specific American military operations in the months to come.Riyadh also remembers well how the US resisted going after the Houthis in recent years when Saudi vessels were under attack.“They now see the US going ahead with [strikes] at a very inopportune moment for regional stability,” said Cinzia Bianco of the European Council on Foreign Relations.“They clearly can see the double standards when Israel is at stake, or when they are at stake — how the US reacts radically differently.”In a statement on Friday, US President Joe Biden said he would “not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary” — raising the specter of more strikes and, potentially, more risk of Saudi entanglement.“Everything really is coming together,” said Shihabi, the Saudi analyst.“It’s a cause of concern, absolutely.”Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

IDF says Hamas commandos slain; UN pans ‘systematic’ refusal of access to north Gaza-As forces continue fighting in Khan Younis in Strip’s south and Maghazi in center, White House notes dangers of starvation amid insufficient aid to civilians-By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies Today, 2:35 pm-JAN 12,24

The IDF said Friday it had killed dozens of Hamas gunmen during operations in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis and Maghazi in the Strip’s center in the past day, as fighting in the territory continued and as Israel defended its actions at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.At the same time, the United Nations humanitarian office said Israeli authorities were systematically denying it access to northern Gaza to deliver aid and that this had significantly hindered the humanitarian operation there.“The operations in the north have become increasingly more complicated,” said Andrea De Domenico, head of office for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “We have systematic refusal from the Israeli side of our effort to get there, to access the north.”Israeli authorities and COGAT — an Israeli Defence Ministry agency tasked with coordinating aid deliveries into Palestinian territories — did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Israel has previously denied blocking the entry of aid.White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Thursday that Gazans are facing starvation and more humanitarian aid must get in.“We recognize that there are real food security issues in Gaza,” he said. “We understand there’s a lot of hunger and starvation in Gaza.”Palestinian Red Crescent personnel check a destroyed ambulance in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 11, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)-Kirby said not enough aid trucks were getting into Gaza.Nukhba commanders killed-In Maghazi, the IDF said the 36th Division killed some 20 Hamas operatives, including a commander in the terror group’s elite Nukhba force.In Khan Younis, the 98th Division directed an airstrike on a building used by Hamas, killing seven operatives, the IDF said. According to the IDF, among those killed in the strike was another Nukhba commander, who participated in the October 7 onslaught.Also in Khan Younis, the IDF said troops of the Commando Brigade spotted three Hamas gunmen coming out of the home of an operative and approaching the forces. The commandos opened fire, killing the three.The IDF said Thursday that Hamas used more than 6,000 tons of concrete and 1,800 tons of steel for the hundreds of kilometers of tunnels it built beneath the Gaza Strip, citing new intelligence. It also revealed new video footage of a tunnel in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis where it believes hostages were previously held by the terror group.The army said information recovered by troops in Gaza, along with the hundreds of underground passages that have been investigated so far, indicated that Hamas invested tens of millions of dollars in its tunnels project.“The Hamas terror organization chose to invest these precious resources in building a terror infrastructure used to harm Israeli citizens and IDF forces, while cynically exploiting the civilian population in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said.Amid the ground operation in Gaza, now nearing its 100th day, the IDF has been operating to demolish Hamas’s main tunnel networks.War erupted between Israel and Hamas after the terror group’s October 7 massacres, which saw some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border by land, air and sea, killing some 1,200 people and seizing over 240 hostages of all ages — mostly civilians.Vowing to destroy the terror group, Israel launched a wide-scale military campaign in Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry has said killed over 23,000 people since. These figures cannot be independently verified, and are believed to include both civilians and Hamas members killed in Gaza, including as a consequence of terror groups’ own rocket misfires. The IDF says it has killed over 8,500 operatives in Gaza, in addition to some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7.Several hostages freed in a ceasefire deal in late November described being held inside tunnels, which Hamas has laid throughout the Gaza Strip and which Israel says have long been used to smuggle weapons and fighters throughout the enclave.It is believed that 132 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during the late November truce. Four hostages were released prior to that, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the military. The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed the deaths of 25 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.Israel also believes that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is hiding in a tunnel somewhere in Khan Younis.On Wednesday, the military took journalists from international outlets to see the tunnel, and said that so far in the Khan Younis area, troops have uncovered more than 300 tunnel shafts leading to major Hamas tunnels in the area. More than 100 tunnels have so far been destroyed or rendered inoperable.The city, Gaza’s second-largest, has become the focus of Israel’s campaign against Hamas in recent weeks. On Wednesday’s tour for journalists, no residents appeared to be in the area. Israel has ordered residents to evacuate portions of the city as it proceeds with the offensive.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said there are “nearly insurmountable challenges” to aid delivery in Gaza amid bombardment, movement restrictions, fuel shortages and interrupted communications.The WHO says only a few Gaza hospitals are even partly functioning.

Full text: Israel to ICJ-S. Africa genocide case is ‘a libel,’ aimed ‘to deny Israel the right to defend itself’-Setting out Israel’s defense at The Hague, Foreign Ministry’s Tal Becker says: ‘There can hardly be a charge more false, more malevolent than the allegation against Israel of genocide’By ToI Staff Today, 1:43 pm-JAN 12,24

Foreign Ministry legal adviser Tal Becker’s opening address to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, on January 12, 2024, as Israel’s representatives presented its defense against South Africa’s allegations of genocide by Israel in Gaza and its call for the court to order an immediate halt to IDF operations there. (Transcribed from delivery.)-Tal Becker: Madam President, distinguished members of the court, it is an honor to appear before you again on behalf of the State of Israel.The State of Israel is singularly aware of why the Genocide Convention, which has been invoked in these proceedings, was adopted. Seared in our collective memory is the systematic murder of 6 million Jews as part of a premeditated and heinous program for their total annihilation.Given the Jewish people’s history and its foundational texts, it is not surprising that Israel was among the first states to ratify the Genocide Convention without reservation, and to incorporate its provisions in its domestic legislation.For some, the promise of Never Again for all peoples is a slogan. For Israel, it is the highest moral obligation.Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jew who witnessed the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust, is credited with coining the term “genocide”. He helped the world recognize that the existing legal lexicon was simply inadequate to capture the devastating evil that the Nazi Holocaust unleashed.The applicant has now sought to invoke this term in the context of Israel’s conduct in a war it did not start and did not want, a war in which Israel is defending itself against Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations whose brutality knows no bounds.The civilian suffering in this war, like in all wars, is tragic. It is heartbreaking. The harsh realities of the current hostilities are made especially agonizing for civilians, given Hamas’s reprehensible strategy of seeking to maximize civilian harm to both Israelis and Palestinians, even as Israel seeks to minimize it.But as this court has already made clear, the Genocide Convention was not designed to address the brutal impact of intensive hostilities on the civilian population, even when the use of force raises “very serious issues of international law and involves enormous suffering and continuing loss of life.” The convention was set apart to address a malevolent crime of the most exceptional severity.The applicant has regrettably put before the court a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture. The entirety of its case hinges on a deliberately curated, decontextualized, and manipulative description of the reality of current hostilitiesWe live at a time when words are cheap. In an age of social media and identity politics, the temptation to reach for the most outrageous term, to vilify and demonize, has become, for many, irresistible. But if there is a place where words should still matter, where truth should still matter, it is surely a court of law.The applicant has regrettably put before the court a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture. The entirety of its case hinges on a deliberately curated, decontextualized, and manipulative description of the reality of current hostilities.South Africa purports to come to this court in the lofty position of a guardian of the interests of humanity. But in delegitimizing Israel’s 75-year existence in its opening presentation yesterday, that broad commitment to humanity rang hollow.And in its sweeping counterfactual description of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it seemed to erase both Jewish history and any Palestinian agency or responsibility. Indeed, the delegitimization of Israel since its very establishment in 1948 in the applicant’s submissions sounded barely distinguishable from Hamas’s own rejectionist rhetoric.It is unsurprising, therefore, that in the applicant’s telling, both Hamas’s responsibility for the situation in Gaza and the very humanity of its Israeli victims are removed from view.The attempt to weaponize the term “genocide” against Israel in the present context does more than tell the court a grossly distorted story, and it does more than empty the word of its unique force and special meaning. It subverts the object and purpose of the convention itself, with ramifications for all states seeking to defend themselves against those who demonstrate total disdain for life and for the law.

**Madam President, members of the court, on Saturday, October 7, a Jewish religious holiday, thousands of Hamas and other militants breached Israeli sovereign territory by sea, land, and air, invading over 20 Israeli communities, bases, and the site of a music festival.What proceeded under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately into Israel was the wholesale massacre, mutilation, rape, and abduction of as many citizens as the terrorists could find before Israel’s forces repelled them.Openly displaying elation, they tortured children in front of parents, and parents in front of children, burned people, including infants, alive, and systematically raped and mutilated scores of women, men, and children. All told, some 1,200 people were butchered that day, more than 5,500 maimed, and some 240 hostages abducted, including infants, entire families, persons with disabilities, and Holocaust survivors, some of whom have since been executed, many of whom have been tortured, sexually abused, and starved in captivity. Representatives of the hostages’ families are in this courtroom today, and we acknowledge their presence and their boundless suffering.We know of the brutality of October 7 not only from the harrowing testimonies of the survivors, the unmistakable proof of carnage and sadism left behind, and the forensic evidence taken at the scene. We know it because the assailants proudly filmed and broadcast their barbarism.The events of that day are all but ignored in the applicant’s submissions, but we are compelled to share with the court some fraction of its horror, the largest calculated mass murder of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust.We do so not because these acts, however sadistic and systematic, release Israel of its obligations to uphold the law as it defends its citizens and territory. That is unquestionable. We do so because it is impossible to understand the armed conflict in Gaza without appreciating the nature of the threat that Israel is facing and the brutality and lawlessness of the armed force confronting it.In the volume of materials submitted to members of the court, access has been provided to a portion of the raw footage for separate screening. But I am obliged to put before the court today some small fragment of the scenes of unfathomable cruelty that took place in hundreds of locations on that horrible day.Jonny Siman Tov, a wheat farmer, and his wife, Tamar, an activist for women’s rights, lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz. When the rocket fire started, they hid in the safe room with their four-year-old son, Omer, and their six-year-old twins, Arbel and Shahar. During their rampage, Hamas militants set fire to their house. Jonny texted his sister Renee: “They’re here. They’re burning us. We’re suffocating.” The whole family was burned alive, to ashes, making DNA identification especially difficult.A survivor of the Nova music festival massacre testified to police to witnessing a Hamas militant brutally raping a young woman, as another militant cut off her breast and toyed with it. A second militant then raped her again, shooting her in the head while still inside her.In one video recorded by a home surveillance system, a Hamas militant throws a grenade into a safe room where a father and his two sons have rushed to hide. The father is killed. The two sons are injured and bleeding as a militant pulls them into the living room. One child can be heard screaming to his brother, “Why am I alive? I can’t see anything. They’re going to kill us.” The militant casually opens the fridge, takes out a bottle and drinks.And then there is this recording from Kibbutz Mefalsim. (Becker plays recording in Arabic with English subtitles to the court.) “Dad, I am talking to you from a Jewish woman’s phone. I killed her and her husband. I killed ten people with my own hands! Dad, ten with my own hands! Dad, open WhatsApp and see how I killed. Dad, open the phone. Dad, I’m calling you on WhatsApp. Open the phone, go. Ten. Ten with my own hands. Their blood is on their hands. Put mom on.”“Look how many I killed with my own hands! Your son killed Jews!”Listen to a phone call of a Hamas terrorist calling home, bragging about how many people he massacred.The whole world needs to hear this. pic.twitter.com/Xv0ykyxvrF— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 24, 2023-As stated, none of these atrocities absolve Israel of its obligations under the law. But they do enable the court to appreciate three core aspects of the present proceedings which the applicant has obscured from view.First, that if there have been acts that may be characterized as genocidal, then they have been perpetrated against Israel. If there is a concern about the obligations of states under the Genocide Convention, then it is in relation to their responsibilities to act against Hamas’s proudly declared agenda of annihilation, which is not a secret and is not in doubt.The annihilationist language of Hamas’s charter is repeated regularly by its leaders, with the goal, in the words of one member of Hamas’s political bureau, of the cleansing of Palestine of the filth of the Jews.It is expressed no less chillingly, in the words of senior Hamas member Ghazi Hamad, to Lebanese television on October 24, 2023, who refers to the October 7 attacks, what Hamas calls the Al-Aqsa Flood, as follows: “We must remove that country because it constitutes a security, military and political catastrophe to the Arab and Islamic nation and must be finished. We’re not ashamed to say this with full force. We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again. The Al-Aqsa flood is just the first time. There’ll be a second, a third, a fourth.”In the continuation of this interview, Hamad is asked, does that mean the annihilation of Israel? Yes, of course, he says, the existence of Israel is illogical. And then he says: “Nobody should blame us for the things we do. On October the 7th, October the 10th, October the millionth, everything we do is justified.”Given that on October the 7th, before any military response by Israel, South Africa issued an official statement blaming Israel for “the recent conflagration,” essentially blaming Israel for the murder of its own citizens, one wonders whether the applicant agrees.On October the 7th, before any military response by Israel, South Africa issued an official statement blaming Israel for “the recent conflagration”Second, it is in response to the slaughter of October 7, which Hamas openly vows to repeat, and to the ongoing attacks against it from Gaza, that Israel has the inherent right to take all legitimate measures to defend its citizens and secure the release of the hostages. This right is also not in doubt. It has been acknowledged by states across the world.Astonishingly, the court has been requested to indicate a provisional measure calling on Israel to suspend its military operations. But this amounts to an attempt to deny Israel its ability to meet its obligations to the defense of its citizens, to the hostages, and to over 110,000 internally displaced Israelis unable to safely return to their homes. The applicant in its submissions to the court makes almost no mention of the ongoing humanitarian suffering of Israeli citizens at the hands of Hamas, and treats the hostages still held in captivity as barely an afterthought.But is there a reason these people on your screen are unworthy of protection? (Becker shows the court photographs of hostages.)-Hamas is not a party to these proceedings. The applicant, by its request, seeks to thwart Israel’s inherent right to defend itself, to let Hamas not just get away with its murder, literally, but render Israel defenseless as Hamas continues to commit it. Yesterday, counsel for the applicant made the astonishing claim that Israel was denied this right and, as a matter of fact, should not be able to protect itself from Hamas’s attacks.But allow me to draw attention to these words written by Professor Vaughan Lowe. “The source of the attack, whether a state or nonstate actor, is irrelevant to the existence of the right to defense. Force may be used to avert a threat, because no one and no state is obliged by law, passively, to suffer the delivery of an attack.” Israel agrees with these words, as, I suspect, would any sovereign state.If the claim of the applicant now is that in the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel must be denied the ability to defend its citizens, then the absurd upshot of South Africa’s argument is this: Under the guise of the allegation against Israel of genocide, this court is asked to call for an end to operations against the ongoing attacks of an organization that pursues an actual genocidal agenda. An organization that has violated every past ceasefire and used it to rearm and plan new atrocities. An organization that declares its unequivocal resolve to advance its genocidal plans.That is an unconscionable request, and it is respectfully submitted that it cannot stand.The applicant, by its request, seeks to thwart Israel’s inherent right to defend itself, to let Hamas not just get away with its murder, literally, but render Israel defenseless as Hamas continues to commit itThird, the court is informed of the events of October 7, because if there are any provisional measures that should appropriately be indicated here, they are, indeed, with respect to South Africa.It is a matter of public record that South Africa enjoys close relations with Hamas. Despite its formal recognition as a terrorist organization by numerous states across the world, these relations have continued unabated even after the October 7 atrocities. South Africa has long hosted and celebrated its ties with Hamas figures, including a senior Hamas delegation that incredibly, visited the country for a “solidarity gathering” just weeks after the massacre.In justifying instituting proceedings, South Africa makes much of its obligations under the Genocide Convention. It seems fitting, then, that it be instructed to comply with those obligations itself, to end its own language of delegitimization of Israel’s existence, end its support for Hamas, and use its influence with this organization so that Hamas permanently ends its campaign of genocidal terror and releases the hostages.Chief of #Hamas Politburo #KhalidMishal addresses media following bilateral meeting with #ANC leadership #HamasInSA pic.twitter.com/lQYcZE1XBF African National Congress (@MYANC) October 19, 2015

**Madam President, members of the court, the hostilities between Israel and Hamas have exacted a terrible toll on both Israelis and Palestinians. But any genuine effort to understand the cause of this toll must take account of the horrendous reality created by Hamas within the Gaza Strip.When Israel withdrew all its soldiers and civilians from Gaza in 2005, it left a coastal area with the potential to become a political and economic success story. Hamas’s violent takeover in 2007 changed all that.Over the past 16 years of its rule, Hamas has smuggled countless weapons into Gaza and has diverted billions in international aid, not to build schools, hospitals, or shelters to protect its population from the dangers of the attacks it launched against Israel over many years, but rather to turn massive swathes of civilian infrastructure into perhaps the most sophisticated terrorist stronghold in the history of urban warfare.Remarkably, counsel for the applicant described the suffering in Gaza as unparalleled and unprecedented, as if they are unaware of the utter devastation wrought in wars that have raged just in recent years around the world. Sadly, the civilian suffering in warfare is not unique to Gaza. What is actually unparalleled and unprecedented is the degree to which Hamas has entrenched itself within the civilian population and made Palestinian civilian suffering an integral part of its strategy.Hamas has systematically and unlawfully embedded its military operations, militants, and assets throughout Gaza, within and beneath densely populated civilian areas. It has built an extensive warren of underground tunnels for its leaders and fighters several hundred miles in length throughout the strip, with thousands of access points and terrorist hubs located in homes, mosques, UN facilities, schools, and, perhaps most shockingly, hospitals.This is not an occasional tactic. It is an integrated, preplanned, extensive, and abhorrent method of warfare — purposely and methodically murdering civilians, firing rockets indiscriminately, systematically using civilians’ sensitive sites and civilian objects as shields, stealing and hoarding humanitarian supplies, allowing those under its control to suffer so that can fuel its fight and terrorist campaign.The appalling suffering of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, is first and foremost the result of this despicable strategy, the horrible cost of Hamas not only failing to protect its civilians, but actively sacrificing them for its own propaganda and military benefit.And if Hamas abandons this strategy, releases the hostages, lays down its arms, the hostilities and suffering would end.

**Madam President, members of the court, there are many distortions in the applicant’s submission to the court, but, as shall be demonstrated by counsel, there is one that overshadows them all.In the applicant’s telling, it is almost as if there is no intensive armed conflict taking place between two parties at all, no grave threat to Israel and its citizens, only an Israeli assault on Gaza. The court is told of widespread damage to buildings, but it is not told, for example, how many thousands of those buildings were destroyed because they were booby-trapped by Hamas. How many became legitimate targets because of the strategy of using civilian objects and protected sites for military purposes. How many buildings were struck by over 2,000 indiscriminate terrorist rockets that misfired and landed in Gaza itself.The court is told of over 23,000 casualties — as the applicant repeats, as many have, unverified statistics provided by Hamas itself, hardly a reliable source. Every civilian casualty in this conflict is a human tragedy that demands our compassion. But the court is not told how many thousands of casualties are in fact militants, how many were killed by Hamas fire, how many were civilians taking direct part in hostilities, and just how many are the result of legitimate and proportionate use of force against military targets, even if tragic.And the court is also told of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. But it is not told of Hamas’s practice of stealing and hoarding aid. It is not told of the extensive Israeli efforts to mitigate civilian harm, of the humanitarian initiative that’s being undertaken to enable the flow of supplies and provide medical attention to the wounded.The applicant purports to describe the reality in Gaza, but it is as if Hamas and its total contempt for civilian life just do not exist as a direct cause of that reality.Hamas is widely estimated to have over 30,000 fighters and is known to bring minors no older than 15 or 16 into its ranks. They are coming for us. But in South Africa’s telling, they have all but disappeared. There are no explosives in mosques and schools and children’s bedrooms, no ambulances used to transport fighters, no tunnels and terrorist hubs under sensitive sites. No fighters dressed as civilians, no commandeering of aid trucks, no firing from civilian homes, UN facilities, and even safe zones. There is only Israel acting in Gaza.The applicant is essentially asking the court to substitute the lens of armed conflict between the state and a lawless terrorist organization with the lens of a so-called genocide of a state against a civilian population. But it is not offering the court a lens. It is offering it a blindfold.

**Madam President, members of the court, the nightmarish environment created by Hamas has been concealed by the applicant, but it is the environment in which Israel is compelled to operate.Israel is committed, as it must be, to comply with the law, but it does so in the face of Hamas’s utter contempt for the law. It is committed, as it must be, to demonstrate humanity. But it does so in the face of Hamas’s utter inhumanity.As will be presented by counsel, these commitments are a matter of express government policy, military directives and procedures. They are also an expression of Israel’s core values and, as shall also be shown, they are matched by genuine measures on the ground to mitigate civilian harm under the unprecedented and excruciating conditions of warfare created by Hamas.The key component of genocide — the intention to destroy a people, in whole or in part — is totally lacking. What Israel seeks by operating in Gaza is not to destroy a people, but to protect a people — its people, who are under attack on multiple fronts — and to do so in accordance with the law, even as it faces a heartless enemy determined to use that very commitment against itIt is plainly inconceivable, under the terms set by this very court, that a state conducting itself in this way, in these circumstances, may be said to be engaged in genocide. Not even prima facie.The key component of genocide — the intention to destroy a people, in whole or in part — is totally lacking. What Israel seeks by operating in Gaza is not to destroy a people, but to protect a people — its people, who are under attack on multiple fronts — and to do so in accordance with the law, even as it faces a heartless enemy determined to use that very commitment against it.As will be detailed by counsel, Israel’s lawful aims in Gaza have been clearly and repeatedly articulated by its prime minister, its defense minister, and all members of the war cabinet. As the prime minister reiterated yet again this week, Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the civilian population. Israel aims to ensure that Gaza can never again be used as a launch pad for terrorism.As the prime minister reaffirms, Israel seeks neither to permanently occupy Gaza nor to displace its civilian population. It wants to create a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike, where both can live in peace, thrive and prosper, and where the Palestinian people have all the power to govern themselves, but not the capacity to threaten Israel.If there is a threat to that vision, if there is a humanitarian threat to the Palestinian civilians of Gaza, it stems primarily from the fact that they have lived under the control of a genocidal terrorist organization that has total disregard for their life and well-being. That organization, Hamas, and its sponsors, seek to deny Israel, Palestinians and Arab states across the region the ability to advance a common future of peace, coexistence, security and prosperity. Israel is in a war of defense against Hamas, not against the Palestinian people, to ensure that they do not succeed.Madam President, members of the court, the Genocide Convention was a solemn promise made to the Jewish people and to all peoples of Never Again. The applicant, in effect, invites the court to betray that promiseIn these circumstances, there can hardly be a charge more false and more malevolent than the allegation against Israel of genocide.The applicant has regretfully engaged in a transparent attempt to abuse the convention’s compulsory jurisdiction mechanism nd in particular, the provisional measures phase of proceedings, to bring, under the purview of the court matters over which, in truth, it lacks jurisdiction.

**Madam President, members of the court, the Genocide Convention was a solemn promise made to the Jewish people and to all peoples of Never Again. The applicant, in effect, invites the court to betray that promise.If the term “genocide” can be so diminished in the way that it advocates, if provisional measures can be triggered in the way that it suggests, the convention becomes an aggressor’s charter. It will reward, indeed encourage, the terrorists who hide behind civilians, at the expense of the states seeking to defend against them.To maintain the integrity of the Genocide Convention, to maintain its promise and the court’s own role as its guardian, it is respectfully submitted that the application and request should be dismissed for what they are: a libel, designed to deny Israel the right to defend itself, according to the law, from the unprecedented terrorist onslaught it continues to face, and to free the 136 hostages Hamas still holds.I thank you for your kind attention.

MY MOHAWK RACEWAY PREDICTIONS 2024 RD 006 THU JAN 11, 2024

    MOHAWK STANDARDBREAD HARNESS RACEWAY 2024 - RESULTS AS OF THU JAN-11, 2023 - DAY-006

MOHAWK PICKS
01-7-4-1-3 4TH WBP (8-1), MEX-7.60 - 7.60
02-6-7-4-1 W-3.70, S-2.40, 4TH WBP (13-1), MSUP-102.50 - 116.20
03-4-2-7-0 W-3.60 , SEX-4.80, DD-5.40 - 130.00
04-1-5-3-2 W-3.50, DD-7.80, P3-6.50 - 147.80
05-4-9-10-7
06-5-4-1-2 W-3.60, MTRI-10.60 - 162.00
07-5-3-7-6 W-3.50, 4TH WBP (4-1), DD-7.70 - 173.20
08-1-7-5-4 4TH WBP (10-1)
09-3-5-6-4 W-7.10, S-2.20 - 182.50
10-5-6-2-10-7 4TH (30-1), MEX-20.30, HI-5-436.70 - 639.50
MOHAWKS TONIGHTS TOTAL $639.50 OVERALL TOTAL $4,541.40

STANS PICKS
01-3-4-7-1-5 MTRI-11.20 - 11.20
02-6-1-7-4-2 W-3.70, P-7.70, 4TH WBP (2-1), SEX-24.20, MSUP-102.50 - 149.30
03-4-2-5-1-7 W-3.60, P-2.10, S-4.00, 4TH (16-1), SEX-4.80, STRI-9.85, SSUP-18.80, DD-5.40 - 197.85
04-3-5-6-1-8 4TH WBP (3.5)
05-4-10-8-9-7 4TH (4-1)
06-1-5-4-7-2 S-2.10, MEX-10.90, MTRI-10.60 - 221.45
07-2-5-3-4-6 S-3.70 - 225.15
08-7-5-1-3-4 W-3.40 - 228.55
09-4-2-3-5-1 P-3.50 - 232.05
10-2-5-4-7-6 P-3.00, 4TH WBP (5-1) - 235.05
HI-5 MONEY BEFORE TONIGHT = $81,087.15
STANS TONIGHTS TOTAL $235.05 OVERALL TOTAL $1,129.80

ACTUAL RACE RESULTS
01-4 (1-1)-7 (3.2)-3 (8-1)-6 (16-1)
02-6 (4.5)-1 (13-1)-4 (2-1)-7 (8-1)
03-4 (4.5)-2 (7.5)-5 (31-1)-1 (16-1) (3-SCR) (6-REF-SCR)
04-1 (3.5)-8 (5-1)-5 (8-1)-9 (60-1)
05-2 (7.2)-4 (4.5)-6 (48-1)-9 (4-1)
06-5 (4.5)-1 (6-1)-4 (2-1)-3 (11-1)
07-5 (3.5)-6 (4-1)-3 (6-1)-2 (4-1)
08-7 (3.5)-4 (10-1)-2 (29-1)-6 (28-1)
09-3 (5.2)-2 (2-1)-6 (9.5)-1 (32-1)
10-6 (7.2)-5 (1-1)-7 (5-1)-10 (30-1)-2 (5.2)

MOHAWK PREDICTIONS)-RECORD 2024

01-022-BIG-$07.80 (JAN 06-6TH) (5.2), $07.70 (JAN 01-7TH) (5.2), $07.10 (JAN 11-9TH) (5.2),
02-011-BIG-$06.30 (JAN 06-8TH) (5-1), $05.80 (JAN 08-7TH) (8-1) $05.60 (JAN 05-3RD) (6-1),  
03-007-BIG-$03.40 (JAN 06-8TH) 4-1), $02.90 (JAN 01-7TH) (5.2), $02.60 (JAN-05-10TH) (5.2),
04-006-BIG-35-1 (JAN 06-6TH), 30-1 (JAN 11-10TH), 19-1 (JAN 08-7TH), 10-1 (JAN 06-2ND),
04-027-W B P-BIG-18-1 (JAN 01-3RD), 13-1 (JAN 08-2ND), 13-1 (JAN 11-2ND), 11-1 (JAN 04-5TH),
S EX-008-BIG-$36.70 (JAN 01-1ST)
M EX-004-BIG-$20.30 (JAN 11-10TH)
S TRI-001-BIG-$18.75 (JAN 08-7TH)
M TRI-005-BIG-$55.40 (JAN 06-10TH)
S SUP-001-BIG-$98.10 (JAN 08-7TH)
M SUP-006-BIG-$121.75 (JAN 04-4TH)
DD-1,2-01-BIG-$04.00 (JAN 08-2ND)
DD-2,3-01-BIG-$05.40 (JAN 11-3RD)
DD-3,4-01-BIG-$07.80 (JAN 11-4TH)
DD-4,5-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-5TH)
DD-5,6-01-BIG-$21.70 (JAN 06-6TH)
DD-6,7-01-BIG-$07.70 (JAN 11-7TH)
DD-7,8-01-BIG-$13.10 (JAN 01-8TH)
DD-8,9-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-9TH)
DD-9,10-01-BIG-$11.70 (JAN 04-10TH)
DD-10,11-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
DD-11,12-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-12TH)
DD-12,13-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-13TH)
P3 (1-3)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-3RD)
P3 (2-4)-01-BIG-$06.50 (JAN 11-4TH)
P3 (3-5)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-5TH)
P3 (4-6)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-6TH)
P3 (5-7)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-7TH)
P3 (6-8)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-8TH)
P3 (7-9)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-9TH)
P3 (8-10)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
P3 (9-11)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
P3 (10-12)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-12TH)
P3 (11-13)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-13TH)
P4 (4-7)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-7TH)
P4 (7-10)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
P4 (8-11)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
P5 (1-5)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-5TH)
P5 (6-10)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
10TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
10TH -P5 (HF)-M-01-BIG-$436.70 (JAN 11-10TH)
11TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
11TH -P5 (HF)-M-01-BIG-$3,031.80 (JAN 08-11TH)
12TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
12TH -P5 (HF)-M-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-12TH)
13TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
13TH -P5 (HF)-M-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-13TH)
5-1+ LONG-(03)-018
5-1+ LONG TOT-(10)-074-24.3%
PICK 4 PLACINGS-25-40
OA PICK 4 PLAC TOT-163-252-64.7%
TOTAL RACES-(10)-063
TOP 4 PICKS EACH RACE-01-03,02-04,03-02-04-02,05-02,06-02,07-03,08-02,09-02,10-03,11-00,12-00,13-00=25-40-OATOT 0,163-0252-64.7%


(STANS PREDICTIONS)-RECORD AT MOHAWK 2024

01-014-BIG-$06.70 (JAN 01-6TH) (2-1), $06.60 (JAN 01-5TH) (2-1), $06.50 (JAN 05-8TH) (2-1),
02-012-BIG-$10.90 (JAN 01-7TH) (11-1), $07.70 (JAN 11-1ST) (13--1), $06.40 (JAN 08-5TH) (9.2),
03-012-BIG-$06.00 (JAN 04-5TH) (17-1), $05.90 (JAN 01-10TH) (26-1), $04.30 (JAN 01-4TH) (6-1),
04-007-BIG-46-1 (JAN 01-5TH), 28-1 (JAN 04-2ND), 16-1 (JAN 11-3RD), 13-1 (JAN 08-1ST),
04-021-W B P-BIG-19-1 (JAN 01-4TH), 15-1 (JAN 05-7TH), 10-1 (JAN 06-4TH), 09-1 (JAN 05-2ND),
S EX-005-BIG-$24.20 (JAN 11-2ND)
M EX-002-BIG-$21.60 (JAN 05-9TH)
S TRI-003-BIG-$18.85 (JAN 01-6TH)
M TRI-008-BIG-$421.25 (JAN 01-9TH)
S SUP-001-BIG-$18.00 (JAN 11-3RD)
M SUP-002-BIG-$102.50 (JAN 11-2ND)
DD-1,2-01-BIG-$04.00 (JAN 08-2ND)
DD-2,3-01-BIG-$05.40 (JAN 11-3RD)
DD-3,4-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-4TH)
DD-4,5-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-5TH)
DD-5,6-01-BIG-$28.80 (JAN 01-6TH)
DD-6,7-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-7TH)
DD-7,8-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-8TH)
DD-8,9-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-9TH)
DD-9,10-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
DD-10,11-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
DD-11,12-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-12TH)
DD-12,13-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-13TH)
P3 (1-3)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-3RD)
P3 (2-4)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-4TH)
P3 (3-5)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-5TH)
P3 (4-6)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-6TH)
P3 (5-7)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-7TH)
P3 (6-8)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-8TH)
P3 (7-9)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-9TH)
P3 (8-10)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
P3 (9-11)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
P3 (10-12)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-12TH)
P3 (11-13)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-13TH)
P4 (4-7)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-7TH)
P4 (7-10)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
P4 (8-11)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
P5 (1-5)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-5TH)
P5 (6-10)-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
10TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
10TH -P5 (HF)-M-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-10TH)
11TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
11TH -P5 (HF)-M-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-11TH)
12TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
12TH -P5 (HF)-M-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-12TH)
13TH -P5 (HF)-S-00-BIG-$
13TH -P5 (HF)-M-00-BIG-$00.00 (JAN 01-13TH)
5-1+ LONG-(06)-034
5-1+ LONG TOT-(10)-074-45.9%
PICK 4 PLACINGS-24-40
OA PICK 4 PLAC TOT-147-252-58.3%
TOTAL RACES-(10)-063
TOP 4 PICKS EACH RACE-01-03,02-04,03-04-04-02,05-02,06-02,07-03,08-01,09-02,10-01,11-00,12-00,13-00=24-40-OATOT 0,147-0,252-58.3%