Hamas terrorist attack on Israel – Shabbat 7.10.23
On Saturday 7 October 2023 at the beginning of the day, as the people of Israel were either still sleeping or waking up to celebrate Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law of God), some 1,000 fully armed terrorists backed by Hamas, the terrorist government in Gaza, invaded by land, air and sea the southern part of Israel which borders with the Gaza Strip. The result was a massacre of 1,200 Israelis living in the communities close by, all while a volley of 3,000 rockets were being fired into Israel from Gaza in the opening hours. In a well planned and bloodthirsty barbaric attack the terror regime carried out a modern day pogrom within Israel itself. Over two thousand were hospitalized as a result of that initial attack and some 150 were taken into captivity by Hamas back inside Gaza.
It has become the greatest emergency in Israel since the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, and the worse loss of life for Israel in a single day since the establishment of the state in 1948. As nation after nation condemned outright the terror attack of Hamas, including New Zealand, they also declared Israel’s right to defend itself against such unprovoked aggression. As advocates for Israel in New Zealand communicated on how to respond initially to the painful blow inflicted upon the people of Israel, we decided vigils around our country should be held in order to show our support for Israel at this time.
Coordinated vigils took place in Auckland, Hastings, Whangarei, Wellington and Christchurch. In Hastings we went back to the CBD heart, the Clock Tower, and we gathered to stand with Israel. Some 300 gathered to mark their respects for the slain, to pray for the injured and those held in captivity by Hamas. Here is a brief summary of that event.
IN VIDEO
IN PICTURES
Read the Hawkes Bay Today Report online – HERE
VIGIL LEAFLET
OTHER INFORMATIVE CLIPS ON THE ATTACK AND RESPONSE
Israel Mobilizes for War
“This People, small as it is, surrounded as it is by enemies, has decided to live. And if we have to pay the price for living, we have to pay it.
This is not a people that can give in. And we know that giving in means death, means destruction, of our sovereignty, and physical destruction of our entire people. We will not be destroyed. We dare not be destroyed.
Therefore the spirit of our men on the front, the spirit of our people in every home, in every city, in every village, is a spirit of a people who hates war, but knows that in order to live, it must win the war that has been forced upon it.”
PRIME MINISTER GOLDA MEIR – OCTOBER 1973
2 Responses
Thank you for this update on the war against the Gaza terrorists.
Very much in prayer for Israel