War Comes to My Son

It often amazes me how I open a post to write about one thing and end up writing about another. I wanted to write about a journey of faith, but switched, as I often do, to a window with the latest news. According to most news sources, artillery began firing into Gaza today. You don’t have to be a military genius to realize that there is a purpose to this operation, including the use of artillery.

YNET and others will tell you the news; I can only tell you that what this means is that my son has gained a knowledge I will never know and hoped he would never know as well. Today, my son learned what war is closer and more personal than anything I could have imagined.

According to YNET:

For the first time since the operation in Gaza got underway, IDF artillery cannons started to shell targets in the Strip.

IDF artillery cannons began pounding the eastern sector of the Gaza Strip around 4 pm Saturday. Ynet correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai reported that portable artillery batteries are engaging in a heavy bombardment of the area.

This is the first time in three years that the IDF has fired artillery shells at Gaza targets. Most shells are landing in what the Palestinians characterize as the “security zone” adjacent to the Gaza Strip fence. The IDF is targeting rocket launching sites in Jabaliya, Khan Younis, and Beit Hanoun.

Palestinian witnesses said the barrage caused a large explosion in Gaza City. There was no immediate word of casualties.

Meanwhile, Air Force aircraft continued to drop leaflets in Gaza, calling on residents to leave their homes in order to avoid injury. The leaflets dropped Saturday read: “Area resident, as result of the acts undertaken by terror activists in your area against Israel, the IDF is forced to respond immediately and operate in this area. For your own safety, you are asked to leave the area immediately.”

The Air Force targeted more than 40 sites in Gaza Saturday, including a launching site used for firing rockets on the southern city of Ashdod. A training facility and underground tunnel were also attacked. Overall, the Air Force struck more than 800 targets since the Gaza operation got underway.

IDF officials say that the aerial assaults on Gaza have achieved their objectives and were planned to cause Hamas significant damage by targeting terror infrastructure and senior figures.

8 Comments

  1. Wow—your military is so gracious and kind and wonderful. That is great. I don’t remember hearing about the leaflets in the media here in the USA because the USA media are cowards and they are biased. God bless you. And God bless His special land that He loves.

  2. I can’t do better than the IDF Prayer: He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

    May Hashem cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men and women from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

    May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you. Amen
    May G-d bless Elie and all the soldiers of the IDF.
    A Nahal mother (still at the Lebanon border at this moment)

  3. An acquaintance sent me your son’s name to keep in mind. He is in my tefillot. May Hashem guard him and the rest of the soldiers and bring them home safely and in a peaceful state for Eretz Yisrael.

  4. G-d willing our boys will be safe.

    Mine haven’t been called yet, but the elder was in Olmert’s first war and has stories. G-d willing this is run better.

  5. I know it doesn’t help to tell you I’m praying for your son, for all the soldiers of Israel, and for all the innocent people affected by this conflict. I know it doesn’t help your anxiety and that, far away from Israel, there is nothing I can do apart from write and talk and pray.
    I wish you strength and determination, and the same to your son and all the brave soldiers of Israel.

  6. I wish there was more I could do than speak out against Palestine and Hamas here in the US.

    I send my thoughts to you and my mother’s love to keep your son safe.
    You and yours are in my thoughts daily. Be safe…

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