Threats and Extraditions
The Trump administration is breaking with longstanding American policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
The White House confirmed Wednesday that it’s talking with Hamas directly to secure the remaining 59 hostages from Gaza, 5 of whom are American citizens. President Trump issued a public “last warning” to Hamas, saying, “It’s over for you” if all living and dead hostages aren’t released “immediately,” adding that he’s “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”
Hamas said his threats “encourage” Israel to violate the current ceasefire deal.
In other news, the ISIS-K member accused of plotting the 2021 Kabul airport bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was extradited to the U.S. Tuesday night. FBI Director Patel said the man responsible for killing 13 American service members and about 170 Afghan citizens will “face American justice.”
ABOVE ALL, LOVE
As earthly powers work out their visions for justice on an international scale, believers remember the radical call of Jesus to show uncommon kindness and mercy to the enemies in our personal lives—whether global terrorists, politicians with whom we disagree, or a coworker making life difficult.
“The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.”
1 John 4:8–11 (CSB) (read full passage)