Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Shalom from Israel! After a long stretch in the United States, I am finally back home. It was a wonderful reunion with my family – both those in my house and those at CONNECT. Whenever I depart the country, I prayerfully leave behind my wife and children in the hands of God. Graciously, He always protects them.
It was a hectic time in America that included numerous opportunities to speak in churches, a week to teach through Daniel and Revelation on board a cruise ship in the Caribbean, and four days to brainstorm with Steve Yohn through our next thriller. For those of you who follow Nir Tavor’s bestselling adventures, let me just say that God took us in a direction that we were not expecting. I’ll be looking forward to hearing what you all think when we ultimately release this next novel in spring 2026.
When I arrived home, I hit the ground running. There is so much to do in the ministry that I often find myself yearning for time dedicated to what the apostle Peter described as “prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). But I know that God gives to each of us what we need to carry on with that to which He has called us. Please join us at Behold Israel as we pray for God to continue His leading as we seek to best serve Him through organization, staffing, and vision.
MidEast Update
For a detailed analysis of what’s happening in the Middle East, watch my “MidEast Update: The Truth about Gaza, Hostage Deal, and Trump’s Plan Revealed.”
The Continuing Hostage Saga
When I first made comparisons between the October 7 slaughter and the Holocaust, some people said, “Exaggeration!” I equated the torture and rape and brutalization of that horrible day in 2023 with what was seen in the Third Reich, but there were those who accused me of hyperbole and clickbait. Then, on Saturday, the emaciated figures of Ohad Ben Ami (56), Eli Sharabi (52), and Or Levy (34) were paraded on a Palestinian stage, forced to read anti-Israel statements, and then manhandled to their freedom. Before and after captivity pictures were circulated of these men, and comparisons of their starved bodies were juxtaposed with those of German death camp survivors. My hope is that finally in the minds of some of the naysayers, they’ll say, “I finally get it.” The only differences between Hamas and the Nazis are time and location.
There was one person upon whom those pictures had a profound effect, and that was U.S. President Donald Trump. Already iffy on the whole “a few hostages at a time” agreement, his viewing of Ami, Sharabi, and Levy pushed him over the edge. Trump demanded that Hamas release all the remaining hostages by noon this coming Saturday or “all hell will break loose.” I am so grateful for this statement, because Hamas has been playing games with the 59 remaining hostages. The Israeli cabinet also recognizes this and has voted to affirm Trump’s threat. Senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, has told Al Jazeera that they are committed to the original agreement and will not release the hostages on Saturday. This could be a very interesting weekend. But more probably, it won’t.
Sadly, I still see Israel once again choosing to push through with the shameful ceasefire agreement. Why? The guilt felt by our nation and its leaders regarding the hostages, and the duty to release as many of them as possible while they are still alive, trumps all other considerations. Hamas knows this very sensitive spot, which is exactly why so many innocent civilians were kidnapped on October 7th. This is their winning card. They know they can extort our political and military leadership because the Jewish people sanctify life.
So, if you’re asking me what is going to happen this Saturday at noon, I will simply say, “Nothing.” The scheduled release of hostages in exchange for excessive “humanitarian aid” and the release of terrorists from our prisons will take place.
Say goodbye to Trump’s “all”, and adios to his “hell”! A businessman sitting in the White House across the ocean knows far better how to handle Hamas than a group of pathetic Israeli generals and politicians. The terrorists of the world know full well that when it comes to Israel’s hostages, our leaders will always blink first.
The evidence of Israel’s ready capitulation is already being seen in Gaza. Hamas is drunk with success. The ceasefire has forced the IDF from the Netzarim corridor, so now Hamas has free rein to move back into the north. Meanwhile, the worst of the Hamas prisoners being held by Israel have been sent home in return for innocent hostages, so the terrorists have gotten all they want. Already, they have begun training and planning for the next October 7 attack.
The one element of this whole equation that Hamas doesn’t seem to get is the Trump factor. Unlike other politicians, he will carry out his threats. When he says that he is going to remove Palestinians from Gaza, he will remove Palestinians from Gaza. His plan to completely revamp the region into a new Riviera is one that he has every intention of going through with. And King Abdullah II of Jordan and President El-Sisi of Egypt are slowly learning that when Trump says that he expects their countries to open their borders for some Palestinian settlements in return for the billion-plus dollars in aid that America sends their way, they better unlock the gates. Right now, both leaders are saying they’re still pulling for a two-state solution, and Egypt has even ordered military brigades in the Sinai and Rafah regions to maintain the highest readiness for war. That resistance will likely be short-lived.
Netanyahu Visits the United States
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a very productive visit to the United States. During his time in Washington, the arms embargo was lifted, sanctions for certain settlers were removed, the commitment to expanding the Abraham Accords was affirmed, and the ceasefire in Lebanon was extended. The Prime Minister and the President also both agreed that they were on the same page when it came to Gaza’s future, although, as I stated earlier, I have strong doubts about how the hostages will be handled. For the honor of being the first foreign dignitary received in the President’s new term, Netanyahu presented to Trump a golden pager in remembrance of the brilliant attack against Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies.
Lebanon’s Deepening Hole
As mentioned above, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended. It will now carry on past Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (March 29). This does not mean that the IDF is silent in southern Lebanon. Terrorist infrastructure which is contrary to the rules of the agreement continues to be destroyed by the Israeli military.
There are two more areas where Lebanon finds itself in trouble. The first is within its political structure. The recent national elections were an opportunity for the people to free themselves from Iran’s oppressive involvement in their country. Sadly, they blew it. Five Shiites were elected to the parliament, two of whom are members of Hezbollah. As long as the people include radicals in their government, their whole system will be compromised. Even more dangerous, however, is the threat from north and east. The new Sunni Syrian government, along with many of its Sunni citizens, want revenge for the torture and murder perpetrated upon them and their loved ones by Shiite Hezbollah. A war between a militarized Syria and a reeling Lebanon could certainly be on the horizon.
A Decision for Iran
When Donald Trump nixed Barack Obama’s Iran deal, he was roundly criticized. However, we are at a point now when the deal would have expired, and Iran would be free to do what they wanted when it came to nuclear weapons. Rather than enjoying that freedom, they are now faced with a choice – either the U.S. and Israel destroys their nuclear capabilities or they do it themselves. Trump is offering a deal in which Iran’s nuclear facilities would be thoroughly checked. Anything found connected to the creation of nuclear weapons would be required to be destroyed by Iran. Why would Iran go for a deal like that? Because if they don’t, the U.S. and/or Israel would. And since it would not be clear what was for power purposes and what was for weapons purposes, it would all have to go. This is the type of hard-thinking, line-in-the-sand strategy that is understood in the Middle East. If you are wishy-washy, you will be taken advantage of. However, if it is understood that you will follow through with your “or else”, you may be hated but you will be respected and listened to. The choice is clear for Iran. Already there are anti-regime protests in the streets of numerous cities, and just yesterday all schools, banks, and government offices in Tehran were closed to save electricity and gas. They are not in a position to fight a war. Their reign of terror is at an end.
Russian and Ukrainian Peace?
President Trump spoke to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy separately yesterday. All three agreed that peace is wanted. At least, they said the words. It’s hard to know with Putin, because you can’t trust him as far as you can throw him. Besides, this war has had an ideological element for him in which he sees the historical necessity of reuniting the two countries into a Greater Russia. Zelenskyy, also, is hard to read. As the aggrieved party, he has payback on his mind and his military is making some headway in certain areas. Let’s pray that peace can come to the region. Reliable numbers are hard to come by, but estimates say that anywhere from one hundred thousand to half a million soldiers and civilians have been killed in this “special military operation” of Putin’s.
USAID
I am not an American, so I don’t want to step deeply into the USAID scandal. It’s not my country; it’s not my business. Instead, I will just say that from what I have read about USAID, the way it has used its money is a macrocosm of everything that is wrong in culture, media, international relations, and politics. If you can find an in-depth article on this subject published in a news source that has never received funding from USAID, it will be worth your time to read. It is truly appalling.
Ministry
I highly recommend you downloading the Telegram Messenger app for your device – phone, tablet, iPad, etc. The online URL is proving very inconsistent and it’s completely out of our control. So again, the Telegram Messenger app is the most reliable way to stay in touch with my real-time updates pertaining to Israel, the region, and around the world, as well as ministry event information.
Monday, please join us for a another CONNECT Round Table at 8:00 AM PST as we discuss “Living in the Days of Birth Pangs”. The next day, Tuesday, will be my live MidEast Update, also at 8:00 AM PST.
I’m home now, but I won’t be for long. At the end of next month, I’ll be off to Denmark where I’ll spend the evening of March 26 in Kolding and the afternoon of March 29 in Copenhagen. Then, in the middle of April, I’ll be back in Osaka, Japan. Registration is already open for this April 19 event, so get your seat now!
We have a vast array of resources available in our online shop right now! Books, study guides, Bible stuffers, clothing, accessories, and more – including bundle options that allow you to receive the best possible price on your order. Currently, you can get the first three Nir Tavor fiction thrillers for just $12.00! Head over to our shop to see what’s available for your next personal and/or group study.
Right now it appears that Hamas is playing a game of chicken with Israel and the United States. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, swerves first. If no one does, it could lead to a violent crash with the primary victims being the remaining hostages. Please pray for their protection over these next days. As was evident by the three men who were freed this week, their lot has been very difficult. Ask for God’s mercy in bringing them home.
May God bless you for your persistent faithfulness in praying for this ministry and supporting us financially. We continue to see the Lord work in wonderful ways, and it is a glory to behold.
Awaiting His Return,
Amir Tsarfati
Photo credit: By IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, CC BY-SA 3.0, link
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.
