Amir Tsarfati: The Disintegration of Hamas

Greetings from Galilee! I am home for the next few weeks prior to departing to Europe for stops in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It’s so good to be back with my family. Now, if I can only convince my body that I am no longer on Japan time. The smoke from the raging forest fires near Jerusalem and the sirens due to a Yemeni missile aren’t helping much.

It was a wonderful trip! I already told you about our time in Nagano. In Osaka, we had a sold out Awaiting His Return prophecy conference on Saturday. What a blessing it was as people from not only Japan, but from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Guam, China, New Zealand, and Norway, all gathered together to hear about Israel and learn more about God’s plans for the end times. The next day, we had a full congregation gathered at the Gospel Center Church to celebrate Resurrection Day with worship, fellowship, teaching, and communion. Huge thanks go to Yoshinori Tanaka-san, Pastor Justin Lucero, and the Gospel Center Church family for hosting us and for your warm hospitality!

There are certain events in history that we cannot allow ourselves to forget. For the world, and even more so for Israel, the Holocaust is one of those occurrences. To that end, yesterday in Israel was Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is a day for the nation to remember and to grieve the heinous atrocities committed against an innocent people. To unify us as a people in our acknowledgement of the genocide, a siren sounds at precisely 10:00 AM and continues for two minutes. As it blares, everyone throughout the country stops what they are doing and stands in silence. It doesn’t matter if you are working or in a restaurant or driving on the freeway, everyone ceases their activity, gets to their feet, and remembers. We will never forget what was done to our people. And we will never let it happen again.

Our remembering is not finished after Yom HaShoah. This coming Tuesday is Yom HaZikaron, or Memorial Day. At 8:00 PM Tuesday night, a siren will sound for one minute, once again bringing the nation to a standstill. Then the next morning at 11:00 AM it will sound for two minutes more, with the same response from the populace. In Israel, Memorial Day is not a time for cookouts or mattress sales. It is a full day set aside to remember and grieve all those who have given their lives to ensure that the State of Israel remains standing.

But the moment Yom HaZikaron is over, everything changes. Mourning is turned into dancing. Sorrow becomes joy. At sundown, Yom HaAtzmaut begins – Israel’s Independence Day! On this day, everywhere you turn there is a party or a barbecue or a cookout. Everything is decorated in blue and white and there are Israeli flags everywhere. Once we have acknowledged the sacrifice of our fallen warriors, we owe it to them to celebrate what their lives bought for us. Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut fully cover both sides of the emotions, and I’m so glad to be back home to experience these days with my family.

You can listen to my brief commentary on these unique holidays HERE.

MidEast & Beyond
Pastor Barry Stagner and I had a strong episode of “MidEast & Beyond” yesterday really focusing in on where Israel is in its conflicts and what we can expect in the future. If you missed it, please check out “MidEast & Beyond: Unprecedented U.S. Military Support, Nazis in 2025, and the Iran Clock Ticks Down”. When you do, please like and share the video. That helps us to defeat the restrictive YouTube algorithms. Also, it you have not yet subscribed to my Telegram channel, do so today to ensure you are equipped with all the most important news of the day.

The Disintegration of Hamas
The great French General Napoleon Bonaparte once said that “A leader is a dealer in hope.” This is likely why the upper echelons of Hamas can’t lead their people out of a wet paper bag. There is no hope left for the soldiers of Hamas, nor for the people of Gaza. The military arm of Hamas is being strangled, losing routes for weapons, equipment for tunneling, and, saddest of all, young, ideological warriors who the leadership has convinced to fight for a heinous lie. Eventually, there will be nothing left with which they can fight with and no one left to do the fighting.

Many of the Gazan people are fed up with Hamas. The terrorists are trying to starve them, taking what little humanitarian aid there is for themselves. Cities are in ruins and the infrastructure had collapsed, all because Hamas insisted on hiding themselves in hospitals and schools and government buildings and in tunnels that webbed underground from home to home. Now, people just want out, and already more than 100,000 have left. Recently, a scam site offered to Gazans immigration to the Gulf states. In just four hours, 140,000 registered to escape the collapsed region. Prime Minister Netanyahu made clear in a speech on Saturday that he was not going to let the liberal, anarchist left stop him from destroying Hamas. The people see the writing on the wall. They want out. Unfortunately, they just can’t seem to find any neighbors who want to take them in.

The Disintegration of Hezbollah
Hamas isn’t the only terrorist group falling apart. Hezbollah is collapsing like a Jenga tower after an ill-advised pull. The government hates them. The people hate them. The only ones who have their back are their handlers back in Iran over a thousand miles away. Israel is continuing their air attacks on terrorist military sites, but Hezbollah is no longer responding due to its weakness. Despite the secretary general of the terrorist group vowing never to disarm, the Lebanese leadership is making it clear that they are done not only with Hezbollah, but all the other terrorist groups that operate in their nation, including Hamas, various Palestinian factions, Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, the Islamic State (ISIS), and al-Qaeda. The very strong deputy U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, has told the Lebanese government that they will never have a great future as long as Hezbollah is part of the country’s makeup.

As Far as We can Throw Syria
At the end of last week, Syrian authorities arrested two key members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) who were operating in their country. This is a move that never would have happened under the previous government of Bashar. The PIJ leadership, as well as rebel leaders in Gaza, are calling for the immediate release of the terrorists, but their pleadings are falling on deaf ears. I don’t trust new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at all. But for now, it’s certainly preferable to be working with him than against him.

The Best Offense is a Good Defense
About seven-to-eight United States’ cargo planes are landing in Israel every day. Once on the ground, air defense weapons of numerous types are being unloaded, then deployed. All of this is in preparation for an attack by Iran on Israel. Why would Iran be planning an attack on Israel? In retaliation for the attack that Israel is preparing for Iran. As Iran’s nuclear program grows ever closer to completion, both the United States and Israel know that something must be done. After a phone call Tuesday night, both President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that they are on the same page. From all current indications, it seems that when the time comes, the U.S. will provide both the offensive and defensive weapons, while Israel will supply the fingers to pull the triggers.

Jordan Bans the Muslim Brotherhood
Syria wasn’t the only Muslim nation to recently arrest terrorists. On April 15, Jordanian intelligence announced they had taken into custody 16 people on charges related to terrorism. Apparently, they had been involved in plots against both Jordan and Israel. When it was discovered that a number of those arrested were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the government decided to act. “It has been decided to ban all activities of the so-called Muslim Brotherhood and to consider any activity [carried out by it] a violation of the provisions of the law,” declared Jordan’s Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, since the Brotherhood’s political party, the Islamic Action Front, currently holds 31 of the 138 seats in the chamber of deputies, the most of any party. As always, this radicalization can be traced back to Iran, who have looking for a new western base now that Syria and Lebanon are closing doors to their interference.

Yemen is on Fire
The United States has been intensifying its attacks against Houthi military sites in Yemen. Day and night, military stores, gas and oil depots, weapons warehouses, and ports are being demolished. A Friday attack on the Ras Isa oil port completely destroyed the site and killed 74 people. Still, the Houthis continue to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea and fire missiles at Israel, one of which got me and my family into the bomb shelter Tuesday night. How much longer the rebels can hold out is anyone’s guess, but you have to think that they are regretting by now ever getting into this fight.

Growing Global Antisemitism
With yesterday being Yom HaShoah, it emphasized the shocking amount of antisemitism that still exists in the world 80 years after the Holocaust. Nazi flags were hung from a bridge in Stockholm, Hitler’s Mein Kampf is the number two book sold in Arabic, and throughout cities and college campuses the cry goes out to drive Israel into the sea. This hatred of the Jews has also gotten a foothold in many churches in which Israel is either totally ignored or is “doctrinally” replaced by the church. This is what happens when pastors neglect to preach the whole counsel of God. In the last decade, antisemitic activity has increased 893%, with most of it taking place after the massacre of October 7, 2023. Sadly, I only expect it to get worse until the day comes when the Lord will return and draw the children of Israel to Himself.

All Eyes on India
On Tuesday, a group of tourists were taking in the sights of the beautiful Lidder River valley in Kashmir, India, when a group of Islamist terrorists from across the border in Pakistan approached them and opened fire. Soon, 26 people were dead and another 17 were wounded. A day earlier, a Pakistani army chief had declared, “Those who do not live by Sharia law are not true Pakistanis.” Apparently, these militants took these words into India and murdered the Hindu sightseers.

India was quick to react. They immediately canceled all visas for Pakistanis, then yesterday they ordered every Pakistani national in India to leave the country within 48 hours. They also suspended a water treaty with Pakistan which could quickly lead to a severe crisis in the neighboring country. For Pakistan’s part, they have placed their army on maximum alert. It is always nerve-wracking when the tempers flare between these two nuclear-equipped nations. Let’s pray that calmer heads will make right decisions before this conflict really explodes.

The Passing of Pope Francis
Pope Francis closed his eyes for the last time on Monday at the age of 88. Very leftist in his ideology, he was a hero to many and a villain to others. It will be interesting to see if the Roman Catholic Church continues its watering down of biblical morality in its choice of the next pontiff or whether it will pendulum back toward more conservative values.

A New Ambassador in Town
Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, officially presented to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog his credentials as United States ambassador. I have known Ambassador Huckabee for many years and am very excited to see him in this position. He is a true man of God, and I know that he has a love for the Lord and a love for Israel. Welcome to my country, Mr. Ambassador!

Ministry

“There are difficult days ahead for the people of Israel. But we Jews can take solace in knowing that thousands of years ago, God made a promise to us. He gave us land, He gave us a heritage, and He gave us a blessing. The Lord is faithful. He will deliver on that decree.” That is a quote from my new book, The Israel Decree, releasing May 6. This incredibly important book traces through Scripture God’s covenantal assurances and their certain fulfillment. Please, arm yourself with the truth found in this book. At only 128 pages, it’s a quick read and it packs a powerful punch. Preorder your copies today!

Looking for a way to start your week right? Try joining Jan Markel, Pastor Barry Stagner, Pastor Mike Golay, and me for “CONNECT Round Table” on Monday, April 28, at 8:00 AM PDT. We’ll talk Israel, we’ll talk Bible prophecy, and we’ll even take time to answer your questions. We hope to see you there!

One more opportunity to stay in touch is with “MidEast & Beyond” on Tuesday morning, April 29, at 10:00 AM PDT. Pastor Barry Stagner and I will use that hour to fill you in on all the most important stories of the past week.

Next Wednesday, the Behold Israel board will be hopping a plane and coming to my neck of the woods. Once here, they will be able to meet the CONNECT team and see how the place operates. We’ll also be taking time to meet, pray, and talk about what God has planned for the days ahead. Please be praying for us. This is and always has been God’s ministry and not ours. We don’t want to force any doors open, but we also don’t want to miss any opportunities that He has laid out for us. We are seeking His wisdom and His leading.

As always, I want to close by thanking you for your faithful prayers and for your support of this ministry. I am amazed when I sit back and look at what the Lord has done. Your prayers are a big part of it. May God bless you greatly this week.

Awaiting His Return,

Amir Tsarfati

Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.

The views expressed in opinion articles are solely those of the author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Black Community News.