About 13,200 Launches from Gaza, at Least 726 Soldiers Have Fallen Since October 7

One Year Since October 7 Attack: Swords of Iron War in Numbers

Army Destroys 3.5-Kilometer Smuggling Tunnel from Syria to Lebanon

PM Netanyahu: No Country Would Accept the Attack from Iran, and Neither Will Israel

One Year Since October 7 | Vision for Israel

US Offers Compensation if Israel Won't Hit Certain Targets in Iran

'I Love Hezbollah': Anti-Israel Protesters in London Carry Pro-Hezbollah Banners

The Lithuanian Parliament Lists IRGC as a Terror Organization

10,000 Malawians to Work in Israel As Labor Deal Strengthens Ties

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VFI News Final | VFI News | Vision for Israel

As today dawned on the first anniversary of the horrifying October 7 Hamas attack, we would like to take a moment to commemorate and honor the victims of the massacre, their families, the hostages, and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives or have been injured. We stand beside them and we continually pray for them, that they may be comforted by our Lord. We pray in Yeshua’s name for God’s love and mercy to cover these families, as well as the hostages who have been living for one year in unimaginable horror. May our Lord keep them safe and return them to us quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uCSGGJiKjqA 

As Israel marks a year since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit is publishing updated data on its operational activity in the past year. As of September 19, 2024, a total of approximately 300,000 reservists have been enlisted from the beginning of the war. Approximately 18% of reservists are women, and approximately 82% of reservists are men.

Since the start of the war and as of September 25, 2024, eight terrorist brigade commanders have been eliminated in Gaza. About 30 terrorist battalion commanders have been eliminated, and about 165 terrorist company commanders have been eliminated.

In the northern arena, more than 800 terrorists have been eliminated, and about 90 commanders have been eliminated. In the central arena, about 690 terrorists have been eliminated. Over 7,000 interrogations have been conducted by Unit 504 since the beginning of the war.

As of October 2, 2024, approximately 13,200 launches from Gaza toward Israeli territory have been recorded. Approximately 12,400 launches from Lebanon toward Israeli territory have been recorded. There have been approximately 60 launches from Syria, approximately 180 launches from Yemen, and approximately 400 launches from Iran toward Israeli territory.

726 soldiers have fallen since the start of the war whose names have been cleared for publication, including 346 since the beginning of ground operations on October 27, 2023. (INN / VFI News)

“Lord, we pray fervently for all the families and individuals who have been afflicted by the year-long war. We hope that they will find Your peace and rebuild their lives with very few memories of the devastating situations they have witnessed. We pray in Yeshua’s name for an end to the war and a permanent cessation of all hostilities so that we may live in peace in the land You have given us.”

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

The military says fighter jets struck a 3.5-kilometer-long tunnel that crossed between Lebanon and Syria, and which the IDF says was used by Hezbollah to smuggle Iranian weapons.

According to the IDF, the tunnel was operated by Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, which is tasked with delivering weapons from Iran and its proxies to Lebanon.

The strike destroyed the tunnel where weapons were transported through and stored, as well as buildings, weapon depots, and other infrastructure in the vicinity, the military says.

A separate overnight strike targeted “infrastructure” at the Masnaa Border Crossing between Lebanon and Syria after the IDF said it identified attempts to deliver Iranian weapons to Hezbollah.

The IDF has said it has stepped up efforts to prevent any weapons being delivered from Iran to Hezbollah via Syria. On Tuesday, October 1, the commander of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 was killed in a strike on Beirut. (TOI / VFI News)

“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” - Daniel 12:10

An Israeli security source on Saturday, October 5, confirmed to Saudi media that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s successor, Hashem Safieddine, was eliminated in a Friday night strike.

According to another Saudi news outlet, commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were eliminated together with Safieddine. On Friday, Israel estimated that Safieddine was injured in the strike since those who were with him in the underground area that was struck could not have escaped the site alive.

In addition, it is estimated that alongside Safieddine, senior Hezbollah intelligence officials were also present at the site and were also injured. Safieddine, 60, is a cousin of Nasrallah and last month was appointed his successor.

Before his appointment, Safieddine served as the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council. He is Nasrallah's cousin from his mother's side. His brother, Abdullah, is Hezbollah’s envoy to Iran. In addition, Safieddine is one of six clerics currently serving on Hezbollah’s Shura Council. (INN / VFI News)

“I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.” - Jeremiah 8:6   

“We have an obligation to respond to Iran - and we will,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded message broadcasted on Israeli media on Saturday night, October 5.

The statement came as the world awaits an Israeli response to Iran’s missile barrage on Tuesday. “No country in the world would have accepted such an attack, and neither will Israel,” he added.

Netanyahu began his statement by recounting Israel’s progress in the war over the last month. “About a month ago, towards the end of the destruction of the Hamas battalions in Gaza - we began to fulfill the promise I gave to the residents of the north.”

“We eliminated Nasrallah and the top echelon of Hezbollah. We eliminated the commanders of the Radwan force who planned to invade the Galilee and carry out a greater and more terrible massacre of our citizens than the one on October 7,” he added.

Netanyahu also slammed French President Emmanuel Macron and other Western leaders on Saturday who he said had called for an arms embargo on Israel over its airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza.

He emphasized, “Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, on the Houthis, on Hamas, and on its other proxies? Of course not. This axis of terror stands together, but countries who supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel.” (JPost / VFI News)

“Dear God, we pray for our leaders and those in charge of making important decisions regarding our nation. We pray that You keep them level-headed, give them wisdom, and guide them while negotiating and deciding the course of action for a plethora of difficult situations. We thank you for our army and are extremely grateful for our soldiers who bravely defend our civilian population daily.”

Join us as we reflect on the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, a tragic day that marked the deadliest attack on Israel since the Holocaust. 

In this special edition of VFI News, Barry Segal discusses the ongoing war that started with this devastating event, Israel’s brave defense against threats from Hamas and Hezbollah, and the global rise of anti-Semitism. We honor the hostages, mourn the lives lost, and celebrate the strength and hope of the Israeli people. 

Now, more than ever, it's crucial to stand with Israel. Learn how you can pray, advocate, and offer support through Vision for Israel.

#October7 #HamasMassacre #IsraelResilience #PrayForIsrael #SupportIsrael #OneYearSinceOctober7 #VFINews #Hostages #StandWithIsrael

The US offered Israel compensation if it would refrain from striking certain targets in Iran, Amichai Stein revealed on Sunday, October 6, on Israeli media.

According to the report, since the massive Iranian missile attack on Israel last week, there have been discussions between Israeli and American officials regarding an Israeli retaliation.

During the discussions, the US officials offered their Israeli counterparts extensive diplomatic support and additional military aid if they would not attack certain targets in Iran.

An Israeli source stated: “We take the US, our ally, into consideration, and we are always ready to listen. However, we will do what is needed to defend Israel’s citizens and security.” (INN / VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we ask that you would give the US leadership wisdom regarding its advice to Israel. We thank You for our ongoing relations with the US and we ask that You lead those in decision-making positions to stand with Israel and to have our best interests in mind. We also pray that you give our Israeli leaders wisdom as they consider the necessary actions against Iran.”

Protesters carrying banners in support of Hezbollah marched through central London on Saturday, October 5, British media reported. 

Police made more than a dozen arrests as tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian Arab activists demonstrated through the city to Whitehall, ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on southern Israel. 

Among the crowd were several demonstrators holding placards and banners expressing support for the Hezbollah terrorist organization. One placard on display showed a silhouette of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with the words “We will not abandon Palestine.” 

Others declared, “Hezbollah are not terrorists” and “I love Hezbollah”, according to the British news outlet. The banners were visible despite the Metropolitan Police’s warning on Friday that they would crack down on any displays of support for banned terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. 

As the pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators passed the British Library, they chanted, “Yemen, Yemen make us proud. Turn another ship around” and “British Museum. Paint it red. Over 100,000 dead.” (INN / VFI News)

“Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— You, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.” - Psalm 7:9

The Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, on Thursday, October 3, passed a resolution designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, Lithuanian media reported. 

On Friday, Conservative MP Emanuelis Zingeris told a press conference, “We were the first among EU parliaments to declare this (...). We recognize the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Starting yesterday, our Interior Ministry must monitor whether members of this terrorist organization are crossing our borders.” 

The country called on the European Union to follow suit, according to Lithuanian media. The parliament “calls on the EU, together with its partner countries, to adopt new sanctions packages against Iran, targeting individuals and companies involved in the development and transfer of Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs to Russia and terrorist organizations, as well as imposing restrictive measures on Iran’s aviation sector.”

“For more than 40 years now, the current government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which came to power undemocratically during the 1979 revolution, has systematically carried out repression, pursued discriminatory policies against women, violated the rights of its citizens, as well as human rights, and cracked down on protesters,” the resolution continued. (INN / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray that You prevent Iran from acquiring more power and inflicting additional harm on our people and the Middle East. We pray that all Western powers come together to regulate it and help its citizens who are also devastated by its authoritarian leadership.”

Around 10,000 foreign workers from the southeast African country of Malawi are expected to arrive in Israel by the end of the year to support industries such as agriculture, construction, elder care, and tourism, according to Malawian parliamentarian Joyce Chitsulo. 

In February, Malawi’s parliament approved the program following a fact-finding mission to Israel, where 700 Malawians were already working. Chitsulo noted that despite the conflict between Israel and Gaza, these workers were content and had no desire to return home. 

At the inaugural Africa-Israel Parliamentary Summit in Ethiopia earlier last month, Chitsulo told the media that many young Malawians finish school without job prospects. She said that working in Israel offers a win-win solution, especially given Israel’s labor shortage following restrictions on Palestinian workers after October 7. 

“Now the people of Malawi know Israel is really good, and we are not ashamed to talk about it,” Chitsulo said. “People now know that Israel is a friend indeed.” 

Further, over the last Jewish calendar year, 31,000 Olim (immigrants) arrived in Israel from more than 100 countries around the world despite the disruption of the Swords of Iron War, according to data released in advance of the Jewish New Year by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and The Jewish Agency for Israel. (YNet / VFI News) 

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” - Psalm 133:1

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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Remembering October 7th