Foreign

Rockets Hit Bat Ayin Amid Gaza Militants, Israel Clashes

By Web News 509

A barrage of rockets has reached an area close to Jerusalem for the first time in four days of fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza.

Local media say a rocket from Gaza landed near the Jewish settlement of Bat Ayin in the occupied West Bank, about 16km (10 miles) south of Jerusalem. No injuries were reported.

Israel says it has attacked rocket-firing sites in Gaza in response.

It comes as Egypt mediates a ceasefire between the two sides.

Thirty-one people – about half of them civilians – have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza since Israel carried out a surprise attack killing three Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants on Tuesday, the health ministry in Gaza says.

One Israeli has been killed and five wounded by rocket fire in the same period, Israeli’s Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service says.

PIJ said “The firing of rockets at Jerusalem is a message, and everyone should understand its aim”. Israel considers Jerusalem its capital and its targeting marks a significant escalation by the militants. It is the first time rockets have landed near there since a 10-day conflict between the two sides in May 2021.

The resumption of fighting comes after hours of relative calm, which gave rise to hopes for a ceasefire. Israel carried out an air strike of militant sites in the early hours of Friday, but there had been no rocket attacks overnight. Rockets also hit two houses in the towns of Sderot and Nir Am during the barrage on Friday, though without causing injury.

This week’s fighting is the heaviest since three days of hostilities between Israel and PIJ last August, in which 49 Palestinians were killed in Gaza.

PIJ is the biggest militant group after Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is sworn to Israel’s destruction.

Israel said the three PIJ commanders were planning attacks when they were killed in an air strike on Tuesday morning. It killed two further commanders – the head of PIJ’s rocket force and his deputy – in strikes on Thursday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says more than 850 rockets have been fired at it from Gaza over the past four days, most of which it says have been intercepted or have landed in open areas. It says about a fifth have fallen short and landed in Gaza. According to the IDF, four people, including three children, have been killed in Gaza by failed rockets, though this has not been corroborated by Palestinian sources.

It says it has hit 215 militant targets with air strikes in Gaza.

BBC/Adebukola Aluko

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Religion

Significance and Lessons of Good Friday

By Web News 927

This day, far away on a skull shaped hill called Golgotha, in Jerusalem, stood an old rugged cross.

 it was a cross the world so much despised, being an emblem of reproach, suffering and shame.

 Yet, it was on that same cross; a great king who did not commit any offense was crucified to atone for the sin of humanity.

 Not minding the shame, this king, Jesus Christ, left his glory and endured that cross for the sake of humanity. 

 Apparently, the event of that day was nothing short of a horrible, unimaginable, inexplicable, humiliating and worst of treatment meted out to Jesus Christ till he breathed his last on that gloomy day which today is being remembered as Good Friday.

 It was the most gruesome killing ever recorded in the history of mankind. 

The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus, lacerated his flesh with lashes, smote his head with a reed, placed on it crown of thorns and nailed him to the cross. 

Darkness enveloped the entire land as blood flowed from his head to the feet with groans of pain, anguish and sorrow mingled with love.

Though, so dark a day it was, yet so good, as the wrath of God against the sins of men, met with mercy at the cross, demonstrating the peak of God’s love for a world that discountenanced him, and willingness to forgive, even the most despicable among men.

By this sacrifice, the ultimate price of forgiveness for humanity was totally paid, the righteousness of God was vindicated and man was reconciled to God.  

Light conquered darkness and sin was conquered by love.

 Satan and death became vanquished, the power of sin subdued, and a new chapter was opened in man’s relationship with God.

 Man regained freedom and the hope of eternal life

Thus, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ unarguably became the boast and glory of the Christian faith.

 Good Friday is also considered “good” by Christians because as terrible as that day was, it paved the way for eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which was three days after his death.

 Considering what the crucifixion of Jesus Christ symbolized, it therefore behoves on Christian faithful and the entire human race to have a deep reflection on how the message of the cross can be applied to save the nation from the challenges bedeviling it.

 Leaders in all sectors of national life should emulate the heart of love Jesus Christ demonstrated despite the agony of the cross, to see their position as an opportunity to deliver the masses from incessant suffering, occasioned by socio-economic and political upheavals.

 Just as Jesus forgave all, individuals, families, friends, aggrieved members of political parties and even world leaders should use the occasion of the Good Friday let go of all offences and forgive one another just as Christ did to mankind.

 If God did not spare his only son so that man could be restored, then, every Nigerian should forsake all manners of sin and live as a good ambassador of Christ for positive transformation in the society.

 Only then, can the nation witness the much desired peace, joy, stability, harmony and blessings which God intended for humanity.

Olaitan Adeitan