Italian authorities have dismantled what prosecutors describe as a sophisticated Hamas financing network operating through charitable organizations across Europe, arresting nine individuals including Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy. The December 27 operation, coordinated by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, reveals how terrorist organizations continue to exploit humanitarian channels to fund their operations—a sobering reminder that the battle against extremism extends far beyond conventional battlefields into the financial arteries of Western democracies.
The arrests come as Israel grapples with fresh violence on multiple fronts. In northern Israel, a resident of the West Bank town of Qabatiya carried out a devastating ramming and stabbing attack on Friday, killing two people and wounding two others in Beit She'an. Israeli security forces responded swiftly, arresting the assailant's brothers—all three described as illegal infiltrators—while the IDF imposed a curfew on Qabatiya and conducted raids throughout the town. Footage from the area shows closed businesses and military bulldozers clearing local roads, a stark visual of the collective consequences that follow such attacks.
Meanwhile, Jerusalem itself witnessed unrest as religious youth protesters clashed with police during a demonstration marking the fifth anniversary of Ahuvia Sandak's death. The young settler activist was killed when his vehicle overturned while fleeing police after allegedly throwing stones at Palestinians. Two protesters were arrested Saturday after blocking roads and hurling stones at officers, injuring two policemen. The incident underscores the volatile intersection of ideology, grief, and law enforcement that continues to strain Israeli society from within.
As these human dramas unfold, the earth itself groans. A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan's northeastern coast late Saturday, shaking buildings in Taipei and prompting immediate government response. The quake, centered 32 kilometers off the city of Yilan at a depth of 73 kilometers, follows a pattern of significant seismic activity across the Pacific region, with additional tremors recorded in Peru, Indonesia, Alaska, and Papua New Guinea within the same 24-hour period. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time when the earth would 'reel like a drunkard' (Isaiah 24:20), and while we must be careful not to over-interpret natural phenomena, the clustering of such events invariably draws the attention of those watching for signs of the times.
Perhaps most consequential for the coming year is the diplomatic maneuvering between Jerusalem and Washington. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking understandings with the incoming Trump administration on three critical fronts: the prosecution of the Gaza war, Iran's nuclear threat, and broader U.S.-Israel relations. Reports indicate the administration hopes to soon introduce an International Stabilization Force in Gaza as part of a transition to Phase II of conflict resolution. Yet frustration with Netanyahu appears to be growing in American circles, even as analysts warn that the Israeli leader may be positioning to draw the United States into a more direct confrontation with Tehran.
The West Bank remains a powder keg. Israeli settlers attacked the Al-Malih community in the northern Jordan Valley on Saturday, while a separate incident saw an Israeli reservist released to house arrest after being filmed ramming his ATV into a Palestinian man who was praying roadside. The IDF confiscated the reservist's weapon and terminated his service, citing 'the severity of the incident.' Such lawlessness—whether from terrorists, settlers, or soldiers—erodes the moral foundations upon which any lasting peace must be built.
As we close this Sabbath and prepare to enter the final days of 2025, the convergence of terror financing networks, violent attacks, natural upheaval, and high-stakes diplomacy presents a picture of a world in profound transition. The Apostle Paul's words to Timothy resonate with particular clarity: 'In the last days perilous times will come' (2 Timothy 3:1). Yet for those with eyes to see, these developments are not cause for despair but for watchfulness. The trajectory of events in the Middle East, the exposure of hidden financial networks, and the shaking of the earth itself all point toward a culmination that Scripture has long anticipated. Watch Jerusalem. Watch the alliances forming. And watch the ground beneath your feet.