Yad L’Ami – Day 666 – August 2, 2025
“By faith he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin.”
Hebrews 11:25
This verse emphasizes the importance of faith over earthly pleasures and shows Moses’ willingness to endure persecution rather than to participate in sin.
It has to stop!
These are the shouts of the foolish demonstrators who don’t even know where Israel is situated and are ignorant of history. This was also shouted by more than 200 Believers dressed in red (members of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands) who were standing outside the headquarters of the PKN in Utrecht. They believe that the PKN does not speak out sufficiently against Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the actions of Jewish settlers in the West Bank. I’m sorry, they also are unfamiliar with history and the Word of God.
These are harsh words, and I’ve managed to keep calm for a long time. I’ve been brooding all week, pondering whether or not to express these thoughts, until I no longer had the energy to do anything. I always thought it wasn’t appropriate to write such things on behalf of Yad L’Ami; maybe there’s some validity to this view. However, someone asked me this morning to express our opinion in all of this. As sponsors, it’s also good to know where we stand.
The pressure on Israel is increasing and God’s enemies are raging; those who hate God are surfacing.
They mock the God of Israel and therefore also my God (I am quoting from Psalm 83).
Therefore, we can no longer remain silent! I can no longer bear it, because so much of my work/relationships/friendships are based in the south of Israel and I know how many people are still devastated by what happened on October 7.
- One of my best friends lived and worked for 20 years at the Gaza border as head of security in attempts to protect his community from Hamas rockets. He is no longer working and is receiving treatment; if not for that, he would, according to his loved one, shoot himself in the head.
- Another dear friend has already tried all available therapies and doesn’t want to return to the south, because it is not safe. (After all, Hamas says another October 7 is coming!).
- Another one says: “I do not understand how I managed to endure packing my suitcase repeatedly over 20 years and evacuating with my children whenever rockets were fired from Gaza.”
Understand this well: these children who grew up under Hamas rocket fire for more than 20 years carry a burden. I don’t know anyone who isn’t receiving psychological help and no child who is unafraid. The suicide rate is very high. There is no family in Israel that has not lost someone.
All those loudmouths, ignorant people, government leaders, UN, come and live here for a while! Sometimes I can no longer bear to watch the news and see those photos of very sick and disabled children being portrayed lyingly as suffering from malnourishment and starvation; they are being used as propaganda material to cast Israel in a bad light!
I actually find it unfathomable that all those Believers accept the lies as truth. They accept reports blindly and have no knowledge. The spirit of the lie reigns! Israel stands alone. But we do too: If we love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His people Israel, then we too stand alone! You feel that already, don’t you? But praise God, we are on the right side.
By faith Moses made his choice…..
And Joshua? God had a word for him too:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and Joshua had to lead them into the promised land. When the prospect of that enormous task overwhelmed him, the Lord encouraged him. God says it even three times, “be chazak (‘strong’)” in the Hebrew original.
Also Yeshua says:
“You will find peace in Me. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16: 33
Let us be strong and brave at this time. Let us join the fight together and hold on to each other! We also need you!
That is why I am also incredibly grateful for all your help that has enabled us to give 56 children from one of the kibbutzim who experienced October 7 firsthand a trip of three incredibly beautiful days. In addition, 2 other groups of 20 children were able to receive surfing lessons, during which they also received therapy. At Mosad Siqma, the youth center that underwent a complete renovation after October 7, we were able to help with materials that enabled the youth to build themselves a pergola. We send thanks on behalf of all those children who receive horse, dog, and music therapy. We are going to help expand the underground music room so that many, both young and old, can be helped in that underground bunker.
And the population? They are strong, yet they feel abandoned, and many are still in survival mode, or do not yet have the energy to pick things up again. Do not forget that there are still 50 hostages being held in Gaza. Think of the desperate families! I write it again: “Hostages free, war over!”
Here are 2 of the hostages. Thank you, Hamas, for the photos we received yesterday. Now we can see who is truly starving!
With pain in my heart, I am showing you these pictures, as the media will not show them. These young men, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, languishing in underground tunnels, are really starving. And the world keeps quiet. Why? Because they are Jews.
Next month, during the General Assembly of the UN, world leaders are preparing for the formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
- Not a demand for the release of the hostages.
- Not the imposing of sanctions on Hamas.
- Not an investigation of the massacre of October 7.
But to reward Hamas’s terror, which unleashed a war with a horrifying, repulsive attack and to this day prefers the disastrous path of death and destruction to life; that’s the UN!
Yes, the situation in Gaza is horrible, unbearable. No, it was not caused by a baby-killing, genocidal army, but by theirown leaders.
I end by thanking all those beautiful, strong men and women who have come as volunteers, who rolled their sleeves up, saying, “Israel, you are not alone!” Volunteers who have helped rebuild the destroyed kibbutzim/villages, clean houses, and have done whatever needs to be done.
Yes, that helps the population to face the future. God willing, from September 12–19, a group of 7 people are coming again. This will then be a bit of a closure in Kibbutz Sufa. In that last week, every family will receive, thanks to a sponsorship run in the Netherlands, a pot of flowers with a handwritten card.
People of God, be strong and courageous!
We began this letter with: “It must stop.”
Now my question is: “What should actually stop?”
A loving greeting and blessing from Israel,
Ria Doekes