By Philip C. Johnson – July 23, 2025
Israel’s global image is under siege, with media often amplifying the harshest narratives about its actions. Yet, the Jewish state retains strong allies, especially the United States. Let’s cut through distorted reporting, clarify recent events, and provide a balanced counterpoint to one-sided portrayals of Israel’s challenges.
Israel’s Multifront Struggle
As of July 23, 2025, Israel battles on multiple fronts—Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. The war with Hamas, reignited after a March 2025 ceasefire collapse, sees operations in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah targeting Hamas strongholds. Since October 2023, over 59,000 Palestinians and 1,700 Israelis have died, per Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports, contested for potential inflation. Israel restricts Gaza aid to block Hamas’s diversion of supplies for tunnels and weapons, a security necessity it defends despite global criticism over the humanitarian toll.
Hamas War: Persistent Deadlock
Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack sparked this conflict. A January 2025 ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, collapsed when Israel resumed strikes, citing Hamas’s rearmament via smuggled arms. Hamas still holds hostages, including two Americans, but talks falter as Israel rejects a permanent ceasefire. Israel’s goals—eradicating Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and deradicalizing Palestinian society—face hurdles, with Hamas offering a “positive spirit” but no deal.
Aid Site Tragedies: Fact vs. Fiction
A July 2025 incident killed 67 Palestinians near Gaza aid sites. Hamas claims Israeli fire caused the deaths, but Israel insists warning shots deterred looting, with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee citing drone footage showing no direct fatalities. BBC Verify notes chaotic conditions, with Israel admitting stray munitions but denying intent. Israel’s aid restrictions, aimed at starving Hamas’s war machine, are often misreported as indiscriminate, ignoring the group’s misuse of resources.
Gaza Church Strike: Error, Not Intent
On July 17, 2025, an Israeli strike hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, killing three and injuring ten. Israel’s Prime Minister called it a “stray ammunition” error targeting a nearby Hamas operative. Pope Leo XIV urged peace and protection of holy sites. The IDF is investigating, rejecting deliberate targeting claims. Media often omits Israel’s apology and context.
Taybeh Church Fire: Media Missteps
Claims of settlers burning the fifth-century Church of St. George in Taybeh, West Bank, were debunked by The Israel Guys on July 21, 2025. The Latin Patriarch, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, alleged arson, citing scorched orchards. Israel Police and Binyamin Regional Council found the historic ruins undamaged, with fire limited to a nearby field. Jewish residents aided firefighting, per Eliana Passentin, international spokeswoman for the Binyamin Regional Council, which governs Jewish communities in southern Samaria. Police called arson claims “factually incorrect,” with investigations ongoing.
Visa Issues for Christians: Resolved
Visa denials for evangelical groups like the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem were resolved on July 21, 2025, after Huckabee’s intervention. Israel cited vetting for proselytizing concerns, not anti-Christian bias, with streamlined processes now in place.
Huckabee’s Stance: Settler Violence, Not State Terrorism
No evidence supports claims Huckabee called Israel a terror state. He condemned specific settler violence, like the killing of Sayfollah Musallet and the Taybeh fire, as “terrorist acts” needing accountability, but supports Jewish settlements, calling them “communities, neighborhoods, cities” in Judea and Samaria, rejecting terms like “West Bank,” “settlements,” and “occupation.” He views these areas as biblically and historically Israeli, aligning with evangelical beliefs. Media distortions of his comments fuel false narratives, ignoring his strong pro-Israel record.
Prophetic Lens: A World Turning?
Some Christians, citing Zechariah 12:2-3, Joel 3:1-2, and Ezekiel 38, see global opposition—UN resolutions, European protests, sanctions calls—as prophetic signs of the Last Days, with God as Israel’s sole ally. Critics label Israel a pariah for its wars and aid policies, often ignoring Hamas’s provocations.
Israel’s Steadfast Allies
The U.S. remains Israel’s anchor, with 66% of Americans viewing its security as vital, particularly evangelicals (66%) and Jewish Americans (92%) who champion Israel’s fight against Hamas. The Trump administration, via Huckabee, backs hostage talks and Israel’s sovereignty, emphasizing its right to self-defense. Groups like The Israel Guys argue Israel faces a “seven-front war” against Iran’s proxies, justifying its measures. Yet, Israel often loses the PR game, with media amplifying its missteps while downplaying Hamas’s provocations. A growing segment of the U.S. population, especially younger Democrats and independents, expresses anti-Israel sentiment, with Pew Research noting that 37% of Republicans under 49 holding unfavorable views of Israel in 2025. Within the Christian community, some Reformed voices, like Texas pastor Joel Webbon, promote anti-Israel views, dismissing Christian Zionism as misguided. Webbon has stated, “Christian Zionists are idol-worshippers who betray Christ for a false Israel,” arguing that supporting Israel contradicts biblical priorities and fuels nationalism over faith. These critiques, while loud, remain a minority but highlight tensions within evangelical circles, complicating Israel’s support base. Still, Israel’s defenders underscore its existential fight for survival against relentless threats.
The Global Nexter 