Years of attempts to diplomatically persuade Iran to end its nuclear weapon development program, most recently by the Trump administration, have failed. Iran has mastered the art of dragging out negotiations before ultimately neglecting its commitments. Earlier in the week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) charged Iran with failure to abide by its agreement to restrict the development of its nuclear weapons.

Iran’s leadership brazenly responded to the IAEA charges by declaring its sovereign right to develop nuclear weapons and promising to accelerate its pace of enriching plutonium to create nuclear missiles. Iran bragged that Israel’s annihilation was very close, and it conspired with its proxies to launch a multi-front attack on the nation soon.

It is a shame that many Western nations that will benefit from the demolition of Iran’s nuclear weapons program have left Israel to destroy it alone, rather than joining the Jewish state. Israel had no choice but to act or face another potential holocaust. Thankfully, the United States is supporting Israel with weapons and helping to intercept Iranian missiles and drone attacks.

We don’t know how long this conflict will last. Israel has warned it could take many days or weeks to complete its objective of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Please pray for our field workers in Israel, especially as several serve in the military or have children serving. Also, please pray for the young men and women and Friends of Israel staff currently on mission with our ORIGINS volunteer program. They arrived in Israel just hours before Operation Rising Lion began.

Israel critically needs your support! This is a time to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against evil. Please continue to pray that God will fight for Israel and give her a complete victory over her enemies. Psalm 122 commands us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (v. 6).

I invite you to prayerfully consider a gift to the Stand With Israel Fund. This is an opportunity to tangibly express your love for and solidarity with the people of Israel in their hour of need. Your gift boldly declares that you stand with this tiny yet resilient nation, helping her withstand deadly threats through our compassionate outreach and life-changing programs.

You can make a lasting difference for God’s uniquely Chosen People. Please help with a gift today as the Lord enables you to bless the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:8).

Burdened for Israel,

Jim Showers, DMin
President & CEO

Israel is preparing for the attack but is restrained from launching a potentially devastating preemptive strike on Iran and Hezbollah due to U.S. pressure. This restriction highlights the challenge of partnering with the United States and other nations, as Israel often cannot act solely according to its national interests, leading to significant loss of life and destruction.

Fearing a regional war, the United States is pressuring Iran not to attack Israel. Iran, which only respects strength, perceives U.S. attempts to appease it as weakness to exploit. In exchange for Israel’s restraint, the United States has promised to help Israel defend against an Iranian attack and has released weapons, shipments, and funds it has been holding.

Israel is forced to play a wait-and-see game with Iran, which is part of Iran’s strategy to repay Israel for the recent death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was visiting Iran. The tension of waiting for an imminent attack is a form of torture and retribution to Israel. The events of October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza have left many Israelis suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

But Israel has another partner who is greater than the United States or any other nation: the Lord.

For the Lᴏʀᴅ your God is He who goes with you,
to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (Dt. 20:4).

The Lord has promised to fight for Israel and to preserve the nation so long as the sun, moon, and stars exist (Jer. 31:35–36). Iran’s attempt to strike Israel in April was a total failure, and whether God intervenes in the same way this time or chooses another way, Israel will not be destroyed.

Iran's goal to wipe Israel off the map is doomed to fail. Its hatred of Israel and desire to annihilate all Jews stem from a deeper hatred of God and His plan to bless the nations through Israel. They are doing the bidding of the Evil One. We are witnessing a battle between God and Satan unfold on Earth, but we know the Creator, not the created, will prevail.

Today, during these desperate times when there is a great risk of peril, destruction, and injury, I call on you to pray for Israel. It’s not easy waiting for your enemy to strike. Please bring your prayers before the throne of grace and ask God to demonstrate His power to the world through Israel. I am asking you to pray for:

• An intervention by the Lord to protect Israel from an attack
• Israel’s protection from serious loss of damage, injury, and life
• The well-being and release of all of the hostages in Gaza
• Wisdom and skill for the leadership of Israel as they face this threat
• Protection for the Israel Defense Forces soldiers who put their lives at risk to fight Israel’s enemies
• Open doors for ministry in Israel as we stand in solidarity with Israel
• Many to believe in the Messiah of Israel through this time
• The peace of Jerusalem—“May they prosper who love you” (Ps. 122:6)

If you would like to do more to help Israel in addition to praying, you can make a gift to our Stand With Israel fund. Your gift will help bring aid and relief to Israelis. At a time when they feel alone and opposed by the world, your generosity speaks love and compassion to them.

It’s easy to make a gift to the Stand With Israel fund by clicking this link.

God bless you for your kindness to Israel,

Jim Showers, DMin
Executive Director/President

Initial reports tell us Hamas initially launched a barrage of over 5,000 missiles that overwhelmed the Iron Dome missile interception defense system. Many of Hamas’s missiles struck homes and streets in Israel and took a toll on human life, killing many and injuring even more. The missiles reached as far north as Tel Aviv and as far east as Beersheba. Hamas used explosives and bulldozers to punch holes in the Gaza border fence through which hundreds of Hamas soldiers poured into Israel on motorcycles and on foot; others used motorized hang gliders to cross the fence and enter Israel.

They attacked the communities around Gaza, killing Israelis, taking hostages, and gaining control of many of the Jewish neighborhoods along the Gaza border. They are indiscriminately attacking innocent Israeli civilians—men, women, and children. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed, wounded, or have been taken back to Gaza as hostages. Before this conflict is over, these numbers are expected to rise. Hamas is calling upon Israeli Arabs to use whatever they have at hand to kill their Jewish neighbors.

Southern Israel is on fire. Israel has declared a state of war, the first such declaration since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is calling up reservists and starting its response to the Hamas attack named “Iron Sword.” The IDF is the most equipped and best-trained army in the Middle East, but the war will take its toll on the young men and women of Israel who defend the Jewish state. As the IDF regains control of the communities around Gaza, the full extent of the loss will be known.

There is an imminent risk that Hezbollah, the Palestinian Arab terrorist organization in Lebanon, could launch an offensive along Israel’s northern border, creating a second front for Israel to defend. Hamas is also calling upon the enemies of Israel in the West Bank to attack Jerusalem and Jewish communities in the West Bank.

Some of our own Friends of Israel family have been called up to duty by the IDF and will be a part of its military response to Hamas’ brutal, unprovoked attack on Israel. Please lift up in prayer Israel and all who are under threat there. Pray that the Lord will protect our staff and friends in Israel and give the nation’s leadership great wisdom to handle this threat.

The atrocities of the attack in Israel have not only shed light on the antisemitism toward the Jewish state, but also on the growing antisemitism around the world. In this time of prayer and fasting, pray not only for the peace of Jerusalem, but for the peace and protection of the Jewish people globally.

Our hearts ache for all of those who are impacted by this tragic attack. The enemies of Israel are the enemies of God. You may be wondering what you can do beyond praying to provide help and show support for Israel.

You can help Israel by giving to our Israel Relief Fund. Gifts to the Israel Relief Fund go directly to Israel to help provide missile shelters, purchase critical supplies for Magen David Adom (Israel’s Red Cross), and support other humanitarian organizations that are saving lives and helping victims of the war. A gift to our Aliyah Return Fund will go to the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Victims of Terror Fund to help those impacted by the war.

With thanks,

Jim Showers, DMin

Executive Director/President

The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry