Leaders of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Greece and Italy have all taken turns visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the last two weeks to express what appears to be support for Israel amid the war with Hamas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first to visit on October 17. “In such difficult times, there is only one place we can be: at Israel’s side,” he told Netanyahu. “Germany’s history and the responsibility it had for the Holocaust requires us to help maintain the security and existence of Israel.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni followed, visiting Israel on October 21. “We defend the right of Israel existing, of defending itself, security for its people,” she told Netanyahu.

Two days later, the Israeli leader welcomed both Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Jerusalem. “Just as the world united to defeat [the Islamic State], the world has to unite against Hamas, unite with Israel to defeat them,” Netanyahu told Rutte. Rutte responded by calling the Hamas onslaught “horrible” and “horrific.” Netanyahu repeated similar comments to Mitsotakis, who said, “You can count on our support.”

The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron also reassured Netanyahu. “You are not alone,” he said. “The fight must be without mercy, but not without rules, because we are democracies that are fighting against terrorists.”

Should Israel trust Europe? Support from European leaders might seem valuable in the short term, especially since the United States is becoming an unreliable ally. But the Bible prophesies of a terrifying turn of events for the Israelis because they place their faith in men instead of God.

In his booklet The King of the South, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry explains that a German-led Europe will soon unite to conquer the force behind the horrifying attacks on Israel: Iran and radical Islam, which Daniel 11:40 calls “the king of the south.” Mr. Flurry writes:

Notice what their first action is after their victory: “He shall enter also into the glorious land …” (Daniel 11:41). They “enter” into the glorious land, or the Holy Land. The Hebrew indicates this is a peaceful entry—not forced.

The Jews appear to invite them in as peacekeepers.

However, just when it looks like Israel is about to have peace, the nation will realize it has completely misplaced its faith. A prophecy in Jeremiah 1:14-15 says these united European nations, or “the families of the kingdoms of the north,” will attack Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah in a spectacular double cross. In Jerusalem in Prophecy, Mr. Flurry writes:

This army has just conquered the king of the south and is probably there to keep peace in Jerusalem. The Holy Roman Empire will undoubtedly make some kind of a peace pact to protect Jerusalem.

It will look like the world is about to have peace. …

At that point, this European power will double-cross the Jews (see Ezekiel 23). It will become one of the greatest double crosses in the history of man (emphasis added).

This betrayal will cause terrible suffering for Israel. But there is good news. All wars in the Middle East and elsewhere will eventually be put down by a power far greater than this European army. Jesus Christ will return and establish the true and everlasting peace Jerusalem has been longing for (Isaiah 66:10-12).

To learn more about the prophecies surrounding Europe’s betrayal of Israel, read our November-December Trumpet magazine article “Should Israel Trust Germany?”