VFI News 18,000 Terrorists Dead in Gaza and Israel Since October 7; Sinwar Pushes for Suicide Bombing

This week's episode of VFI News explores the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas massacre and the ongoing Swords of Iron War one year later.

As Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, approaches, this video examines how Israel is grappling with mental health challenges, rising tensions with Hezbollah, and the looming threat from Iran.

We dive into reports of skyrocketing anti-depressant and anxiety medication use, the internal struggles for unity, and the military operations on Israel's frontlines. Join us as we reflect on Israel’s future—both on the battlefield and in healing its people. Can Israel find peace after a year of war?

Watch now to find out.

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With Yom Kippur beginning today at sundown, we would like to wish all of our readers G'mar Chatima tovah. We pray that you will have a reflective and meaningful fast and that the Lord will gift you true sorrowful repentance as He forgives all your transgressions against Him. May He bless you, keep you, and make His face shine upon you at all times.

As the country marked one year since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023, the IDF on Monday published new data on its operations in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, and Lebanon, from the number of rockets fired at Israel to the number of sites struck by the Israeli Air Force.

According to the data, some 17,000 Hamas operatives and members of other terror groups have been killed by the IDF in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, in addition to some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7, when gunmen rampaged through southern communities massacring some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 to Gaza.

Israel responded with a military campaign to topple the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip, destroy the terror group, and free the hostages.

The Hamas-run health ministry has said over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, though the figure cannot be independently verified and is believed to include both civilians and Hamas members killed in Gaza.

The IDF’s data said that the military has killed eight Hamas brigade commanders and those of an equivalent rank, as well as more than 30 battalion commanders. More than 165 Hamas company commanders and operatives with a similar rank have also been killed, according to the data.

Some 40,300 targets have been struck in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, and troops have located some 4,700 tunnel shafts, the IDF said. (TOI / VFI News)

“Lord, we pray for all the innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians who have suffered immensely and lost loved ones during the war. We also pray for our soldiers who have been fighting daily for the last year to protect all the rest of us. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You will bring comfort, peace, and unity once again in the land You have so generously given us. May You help all the citizens rebuild their communities and live the rest of their lives in prosperity, peace, and brotherly love.”

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.

Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar is pushing for Palestinian terrorists to revive the horrifying practice of using suicide bombs against Israelis — as the “megalomaniac” terror leader surrounds himself with hostages for his own protection, according to reports.

After Israeli officials shut down speculation that Sinwar might be dead earlier this week, White House Mideast czar Brett McGurk confirmed Wednesday, October 9, that the Oct. 7 mastermind remains in power surrounded by human shields.

Sinwar has previously expressed zero desire to end the bloody conflict that has left more than 40,000 dead in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health. The terror leader, who described the death toll as “necessary sacrifices,” is now calling on Palestinian terrorists to revive suicide bombings as a viable way to attack Israel, Arab intelligence officials told American media.

The directive was sent out to Hamas operatives after Sinwar was named the new head in August following the assassination of former chief Ismail Haniyeh. A few days after the notice was sent to Hamas’ branch in Judea and Samaria, suicide bomber Ja’Far Sa’d Saeed Muna blew himself up with a backpack full of explosives in Tel Aviv.

In a video recorded before his death, Muna lavished at the thought of his bones turning to “shrapnel that blow apart the usurping Zionist Jews.” “It is Jihad, victory, or martyrdom,” he added. (NYP / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we ask in Yeshua’s name that You protect us from suicide attacks and dismantle Hamas and all other terror organizations once and for all. We pray that You will deliver to our security forces Yahya Sinwar and that the rest of the organization will crumble without its leader. We fervently pray for the return of our hostages and we hope that You will soon set them free and heal them from all the horrors they have experienced.”

The IAF conducted a precise, intelligence-based strike in the area of Beirut early on Tuesday morning, October 8, eliminating Suhail Hussein Husseini, Commander of the Hezbollah terrorist organization headquarters.

According to the IDF Husseini played a crucial role in weapon transfers between Iran and Hezbollah and was responsible for distributing the advanced weaponry among Hezbollah’s units, overseeing both the transportation and allocation of these arms.

Additionally, he was a member of the Jihad Council, Hezbollah’s senior military leadership council. In his role, Husseini was responsible for the budgeting and logistical management of Hezbollah’s most sensitive projects, including the organization’s war plans and other special operations, such as coordinating terrorist attacks against the State of Israel from Lebanon and Syria.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to confirm on Tuesday evening that Israel had successfully assassinated projected new Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine, who was targeted in an airstrike in Beirut last Thursday, and claimed Israel has also killed the next in line for the job.

The IDF also confirmed that Israeli forces have recently demolished a small Hezbollah tunnel that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon. According to the IDF, the 20-meter-long tunnel had no exit in Israeli territory, and its path crossed the UN-recognized Blue Line by about 10 meters, in the western sector of the border, near the Lebanese village of Marwahin, just across from the Israeli community of Zar’it. (INN/ VFI News)

“When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.” - Proverbs 28:28

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, addressed the UN Security Council on Thursday, October 10,  where he turned to the citizens of Lebanon and told them in Arabic that “the land of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people, not to Iran!”

“Israel has no desire to be in southern Lebanon,” Danon said in English. “Our goal is to protect our people, not to occupy Lebanese territory. But to prevent this from happening again, the Council must ensure the right mechanisms are in place for the Lebanese army and UNIFIL to meet their obligations.”

He then turned to the Lebanese representative and said, “I have listened to your words and condemnations very carefully, but the truth is that you should be sitting next to me, not next to the Iranian representative. Because whether you can admit it or not, Israel, Lebanon, and the free world are on the same side against the Islamic regime of Iran. All of us should declare, shoulder to shoulder, that Iran must keep its blood-stained hands off Lebanon.”

Danon then directly addressed the Lebanese people in Arabic, saying, “Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese, not to the Iranians.” Earlier in the same discussion, the Iranian representative eulogized Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was eliminated in an Israeli strike in Beirut about two weeks ago. (INN / VFI News)

“Dear God, we pray for all the innocent Lebanese civilians who are being plagued by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. We pray for the dismantling of Hezbollah and that it will be brought to justice. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You will protect all the citizens, as Israel battles Hezbollah and all its proxies, and that You will provide appropriate shelter for them in case they have to be displaced. We also pray for continued protection over the citizens of Israel and residents of the north who had to relocate during this war, that You would provide all their needs and bring them back to their homes where they can live in safety again.”

Yom Kippur? Day of Atonement? What is this holiday all about and why is it important to observe? Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is a solemn celebration of fasting. Join Barry Segal for this special Yom Kippur exclusive. Have a Blessed Day of Atonement!

Tehran is issuing covert diplomatic warnings, threatening to target oil-rich Gulf Arab states and other US allies in the Middle East if their territories or airspace are used for attacks on Iran, Arab officials told American media on Thursday, October 10.

Israel has threatened harsh retaliation after Iran launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month. In response, Iran has warned it will strike Israel’s civilian infrastructure and retaliate against any Arab state involved in facilitating such an attack, the officials told the American news outlet.

The countries threatened by Iran include Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, all of which host US troops, according to the Arab officials.

These countries have communicated to the Biden administration that they do not want their military infrastructure or airspace used by the U.S. or Israel for offensive actions against Iran, the officials added.

Although the Iranian threats remain vague, they have alarmed energy-rich Gulf states, which have long believed their oil facilities were shielded by American security guarantees, the Arab officials noted. (INN / VFI News)

“Put your sword back in its place,” Yeshua said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” - Matthew 26:52

A new survey analyzing the impact of antisemitism on American Jews has revealed a significant increase in antisemitic experiences since October 7, 2023. The study found that 3.5 million American Jews have personally encountered antisemitism since October 7, 2023.

The study revealed that one-fifth of Jewish children (380,000) have personally experienced antisemitism since October 7. There was also a sharp increase in local community experiences, with 25% of Jewish adults reporting antisemitism in their area, more than double previous reports.

The survey found that 3 in 4 Jews don’t report incidents to external entities outside their family. The impact of these experiences is profound, with 61% of American Jews reporting feeling less safe since October 7.

This growing sense of insecurity has led to changes in behavior– 27% of respondents now avoid displaying their Jewish identity in the workplace, up from 18% before October 7.

Furthermore, among respondents who are affiliated with a Jewish organization or synagogue, 25% report that their institution has been targeted with graffiti, threats, or attacks since October 7. 21% say local businesses have been targeted by antisemitic vandals in the same period, and 18% felt uncomfortable or unsafe in the workplace because of their Jewish identity. (INN / VFI News)

“Lord, we lift our Jewish brothers and sisters in the US and around the world and we ask that you place Your hand of protection over each one of them. We declare that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. We ask that the authorities take these threats to the Jewish community seriously and will act to protect us accordingly. In Yeshua’s name, amen!”

The number of recorded antisemitic incidents in France soared by a staggering 192% during the first half of this year, according to government figures.

The National Directorate of Territorial Intelligence (DNRT) of the French Interior Ministry revealed this week that 887 “antisemitic acts” were committed in the first six months of the year, noting that the trend of rising antisemitism in the country following the October 7 terror attacks on Israel “seems to be long-term.”

This represented an increase of 192% compared to the same period of 2023, media reported. The increase means that antisemitic acts represent 67% of all religiously motivated incidents, despite the Jewish population only accounting for less than one percent of the country.

Previously, anti-Christian acts were the most recorded in France. According to the DNRT, antisemitic incidents appear to be strongly correlated to the news cycle in the Middle East. For example, in the week after Israel bombed Rafah, antisemitic acts in France shot up to 187 compared to 54 the week before.

The DNRT also revealed that there was a 165% increase in physically violent antisemitic attacks, with 53 recorded in the first half of the year compared to 20 during the same time in 2023. (BB / VFI News)

“Many have become my enemies without cause; those who hate me without reason are numerous.” - Psalm 38:19

An Afghan citizen living in Oklahoma has been charged with plotting a terror attack on Election Day on behalf of the Islamic State in which he and an underage co-conspirator expected to die as martyrs, the Justice Department said Tuesday, October 8.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, obtained firearms and ammunition to conduct a violent attack on U.S. soil, as well as taking a number of steps to prepare for the plot, authorities said. He entered the United States on Sept. 9, 2021, weeks after U.S. troops pulled out of Afghanistan, on a special immigrant visa, and is currently on parole status pending adjudication of his immigration proceedings, officials said.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our investigators and law enforcement officers for successfully uncovering and stopping this terrorist plot before innocent lives were put in danger,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said.

“This is a powerful example of how the information-sharing measures we implemented between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are making a real difference. Those who seek to harm our nation, threaten our freedoms, and disrupt our way of life will be held accountable and face the full force of the law.” (FN / VFI News) 

“The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.” - Psalm 37:40

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

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