Hamas Chief Rejects Disarmament; Iran Hardens Nuclear Stance

Hamas Chief Rejects Disarmament; Iran Hardens Nuclear Stance | VFI News

Top Hamas Leader Khaled Mashaal Rejects Disarmament or ‘Foreign Rule’

Iran Again Rules Out Giving Up Uranium Enrichment, Suggests US Not Taking Talks Seriously

Security Cabinet Okays Deeper Israeli Control In Judea And Samaria; Hamas Urges ‘Escalation’

Retired General Argues Military Action Against Iran Is ‘Best Option’ As Trump Faces ‘Historic Opportunity’

Latter Rain | Barry and Batya Segal Music

El Al Faces Record $39 Million Fine For Wartime Price Gouging

Queensland To Ban ‘From The River To The Sea’ And ‘Globalize The Intifada’ Chants

Israeli Bobsled Team Says Apartment Was Robbed Ahead Of Milan-Cortina Winter Games

Israel Museum Celebrates 60 With Towering Art, Color-Drenched Canvases And Historical Prints

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Hamas Chief Rejects Disarmament; Iran Hardens Nuclear Stance . . . 

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In today’s VFI News update (Monday, February 9, 2026), senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal rejects any form of disarmament or foreign governance in Gaza, while signaling openness to a long-term truce without surrendering weapons. Israel and the United States continue to insist that demilitarization is essential for long-term stability following the October 7 massacre.

Meanwhile, Iran hardens its nuclear stance, with Tehran again ruling out giving up uranium enrichment during indirect talks with the United States. Despite diplomatic efforts in Oman and increased U.S. pressure, major gaps remain over verification, sanctions relief, and missile restrictions.

We also cover Israel’s security cabinet decision to expand control and oversight in Judea and Samaria, Hamas calls for escalation, growing international debates over antisemitism, and a proposed Australian ban on inciting chants such as “From the river to the sea.

As always, VFI News seeks to inform and encourage prayer for Israel, the region, and all affected by ongoing conflict.

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Senior Hamas figure Khaled Mashaal, speaking in Doha, vowed that the terror organization would neither surrender its weapons nor accept any form of foreign administration in Gaza. He characterized disarmament as an attempt to “criminalize the resistance,” asserting that as long as there is occupation, armed struggle remains a right. At the same time, he floated the idea of a long truce—a pause measured in years—in which Hamas would commit not to use its weapons, with regional mediators acting as guarantors of the arrangement.

His stance underscores the core dispute at the heart of postwar planning for Gaza. Jerusalem and Washington insist that verifiable demilitarization is essential to any enduring stability, while Hamas continues to frame its arsenal as non-negotiable. The idea of warehousing or “storing” weapons under international supervision has been hinted at previously, but never in a manner that would amount to surrender. Israeli officials, for their part, maintain that Hamas retains thousands of fighters and a substantial cache of arms despite its losses during the war triggered by the October 7, 2023 massacre.

Mashaal also appealed to new diplomatic frameworks to pursue reconstruction and aid, while reiterating that “Palestinians are to govern Palestinians,” signaling categorical opposition to any return to external mandates or trusteeship over Gaza. His remarks point to an ongoing impasse over governance, security guarantees, and the sequencing of reconstruction with demilitarization.

“Lord, we ask that You stop any evil intent that Hamas is plotting and that You would disarm them. We continue to pray for the protection of the innocent, comfort for the grieving, and a swift end to violence in our region. Grant wisdom to leaders and bring about lasting peace, preventing those who plot harm. May Your shalom cover all Israel.”

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran will never abandon uranium enrichment in negotiations with the United States, casting the program as a sovereign right and a matter of national dignity. He dismissed the deterrent effect of US deployments in the region and suggested Washington lacks seriousness in the latest round of indirect talks. While repeating that Iran does not seek a nuclear bomb, he emphasized that sanctions relief must be paired with what he called “confidence-building measures” on the nuclear file.

The remarks came after a new round of diplomacy in Oman and a high-profile visit by US officials to the USS Abraham Lincoln, intended to project “peace through strength.” With sanctions tightening and Iran’s domestic unrest still reverberating, both sides publicly maintain that a diplomatic path remains possible, even as the threat of escalation looms over the process.

Tehran has also reiterated that its missile program is off-limits, and that domestic enrichment—perhaps with agreed caps—is non-negotiable. That position keeps the two sides far apart on verification, limits, and timelines, and leaves open the question of whether a second round of talks will materialize in the near term.

“He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear.” – Psalm 46:9

Israel’s security cabinet approved measures to reshape land registration and property acquisitions in Judea and Samaria, with officials saying the steps remove decades-old barriers and repeal Jordanian-era restrictions. Publishing registries would make ownership records public and enable direct private purchases, including by non-Muslims—changes supporters argue align the area’s practices with norms inside Israel. Oversight and enforcement on issues such as environmental hazards and antiquities damage would be expanded into Areas A and B.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the decisions and called for international intervention, while Hamas urged a “rebellion” in [Judea and Samaria] and Jerusalem and pressed Muslim nations to sever ties with Israel. Pro-settlement groups hailed the policy as a de facto assertion of sovereignty; critics warned that shifting certain authorizations to the security cabinet could entrench divisive moves and complicate future reversals.

The plan would also boost Israeli control at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and improve maintenance at Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem. Proponents cast the package as long-needed normalization of property rules; opponents say it risks inflaming tensions and undermining existing agreements.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure.’” – Psalm 122:6

Retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane said the United States should consider military action against Iran while the regime is at what he called its “weakest,” contending that Tehran remains committed to deception about its nuclear ambitions even as Washington keeps the door open to a deal. He described a narrow window for decisive pressure and argued that a regime collapse would remove a central driver of regional instability.

Keane acknowledged that the administration continues to leverage diplomatic and economic tools but maintained that the “military option” may ultimately be necessary to end Iran’s nuclear threat. He framed the moment as an opportunity with potential legacy implications for the White House and suggested that calibrated force—paired with intensified sanctions—could change the regime’s calculus.

The comments came amid renewed—but fragile—talks and additional US sanctions on Iranian entities. Whether a harder approach will materialize remains uncertain as Washington weighs risks of escalation against the desire to secure a negotiated outcome that verifiably prevents weaponization.

Explore the hidden connections between East and West—with this unique musical experience that spans across Israel and the nations, while blending Middle Eastern and country-western musical styles as well.

Israel’s Competition Authority has notified El Al of its intention to levy the maximum legal fine—NIS 121 million (about $39 million)—alleging the carrier charged “excessive and unfair” fares during the months when most foreign airlines suspended service to Israel after October 7, 2023. The proposed penalty would go to the state treasury but is not yet final; the airline will have an opportunity to contest the claim in a formal hearing.

Regulators said El Al effectively monopolized air travel for roughly seven months and used its dominant position to keep ticket prices unusually high. El Al rejected the allegations, arguing that an average 16% increase in economy and premium fares does not constitute excessive pricing and noting that unprecedented demand and reduced capacity distorted normal market conditions.

The carrier has recently reported record revenue and profits, driven in part by near-total control of routes to North America during the period in question. The case now turns on how Israeli law defines and measures “excessive” pricing in emergency conditions and whether El Al’s market dominance amounted to abuse.

“Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.” – Proverbs 16:11

Queensland, Australia announced a legislative package aimed at combating antisemitism that would outlaw the chants “globalize the intifada” and “from the river to the sea.” The proposed law would also increase penalties for displaying terrorist symbols—extending prohibitions to include flags and emblems of groups such as Hamas, ISIS, and Hezbollah—and add new protections for people and places of worship.

Premier David Crisafulli said the reforms respond to a surge in hate and intimidation and are intended to “draw a clear line.” The bill would create offenses for impeding or harassing worshipers, stiffen penalties for assaults against clergy, and introduce a special offense for willful damage to houses of worship. Jewish community leaders welcomed the measures as an overdue step to safeguard vulnerable minorities.

If adopted, Queensland would become the first Australian state to explicitly criminalize those particular slogans, a move likely to prompt debate over balancing free expression with the need to curb incitement and intimidation amid ongoing tensions.

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:14

Just before Israel’s Olympic bobsled debut, pilot AJ Edelman said the apartment used by team members during final training was burglarized, with passports, equipment, and other valuables taken. The loss, he indicated, amounted to thousands of dollars. Despite the disruption, the athletes resumed training as local authorities opened an investigation, and supporters rallied around the team.

The setback adds an emotional twist to a history-making moment: Israel is fielding bobsled entries in both the two-man and four-man events at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The squad’s journey—spanning logistical hurdles, limited funding, and the challenge of building a niche winter sport program—has become a point of pride across communities in Israel and the diaspora.

Even amid geopolitical tensions and heightened scrutiny, the team’s message has been one of perseverance and unity. Edelman and his teammates emphasized they would not allow the theft to define their Games, committing to compete with determination and represent Israel with dignity on the world stage.

Lord, guard these athletes and all who travel to the Games. Provide what has been lost, calm fears, and let their witness of resilience inspire many. May Your protection surround them and may peace prevail at every venue.

Visitors entering the signature exhibition marking the Israel Museum’s 60th birthday are greeted by a faint smell of mildew—part of “Ages of the World,” a monumental installation by artist Anselm Kiefer. The towering four-meter-high pyramid piles canvases in varied stages of decay among old photo albums, history books, dried sunflowers, dust and paint chips, and mid-sized rocks. Many of the 140 canvases were previously stored in shipping containers and left to the elements, a hallmark of Kiefer’s process and the source of the scent.

The work reflects Kiefer’s ongoing themes of destruction and reconstruction, and the legacy of World War II and the Holocaust, inviting reflection as the country’s foremost cultural institution marks six decades since its 1965 founding near the Knesset. Curator Orly Rabi, who coordinated with the artist’s Paris team to reassemble the piece after it was donated by collector Martin Margulies, noted the connection to Kiefer’s influential 1984 solo exhibit at the museum, which engaged Hebrew Bible and Kabbalah motifs.

Museum director Suzanne Landau said the museum began marking its 60th in 2025 during wartime, and that the new exhibits offer a chance to consider the institution’s achievements and generosity of donors over time. The museum is also renovating its Isamu Noguchi sculpture garden and displaying the entire Great Isaiah Scroll in the Shrine of the Book for the first time since 1968.

Lord, bless the creators and caretakers of Israel’s culture. May art and learning bring comfort and renewal, protect the institutions that preserve our heritage, and let beauty point hearts toward Your peace.

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

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