VFI News 'Never Again Is Every Day,' Countries Stop Funding the UNRWA amid Allegations of Aiding Hamas

UNRWA Funding Freeze Amid Allegations of Hamas Ties . . .

#hamas

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday, January 27, called on all citizens to defend Germany’s democracy and fight antisemitism as the country marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II.

Since 1996, Germany has also marked January 27 as a day to remember the horrors of the Holocaust. “‘Never again’ is every day,” Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. “January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy — and for our democracy.”

On that day in 1945, Soviet Red Army troops liberated some 7,000 prisoners at Auschwitz in German-occupied Poland. The Nazis murdered more than a million people in Auschwitz, most of them Jews.

In the days before the liberation, the Germans had evacuated tens of thousands of other inmates on foot in what is now called the Death March, because many inmates died of exhaustion and cold in the sub-freezing temperatures. Altogether, they killed six million European Jews during the Holocaust.

On Saturday, as people in Germany put down flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, the German chancellor said that his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this “crime against humanity.”

He stressed that the fight against any kind of antisemitism and for democracy is not something that can be done by the government only, but needs the support of all Germans. (TOI / VFI News)

“Lord, we pray for all the Jewish families that have been affected by the Holocaust and suffer generational trauma to this day. We ask that You do not permit such a horrifying genocide to ever occur again and we pray that You stay near your people and shield them from malice. May we all be reminded of the Holocaust and the horrors Jewish people endured, and honor the memories of the dead.”

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 head of the UN’s Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) urged donor countries not to freeze funds in the wake of allegations that staffers had participated in the October 7 massacre in southern Israel, calling the move “immensely irresponsible” as Germany and Scotland became the latest to announce funding freezes.

“It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation,” Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said Saturday night, January 27.

Israeli intelligence and investigations in the months following the terrorist attack led to the accusations, which were presented to the UN last week.

Ten countries - the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, and Japan have said they are also suspending funding for the agency.

The US and Germany make up the agency’s two largest donors, providing around half of the $1.1 billion the agency collected in 2022.

Twelve United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East employees were allegedly “involved” in the attack, and the US funding is reportedly paused. It will resume subject to the investigation from the UN. (TOI / VFI News)

“Lord, we ask that everyone who has harmed Israelis within the Palestinian Authority be quickly apprehended and delivered to justice. We pray that UNRWA will be cleansed from terrorists and those who cooperate with them. We ask for justice and for the funding to go where it’s supposed to go, instead of supporting terrorism against Israel.”

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dismissed the United Nations as an irrelevant and unhelpful organization in remarks alongside Islamist Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, demanding “reform” to make the UN more favorable to Tehran’s pro-jihadist ideology.

Raisi, in Ankara to sign a package of bilateral trade and diplomacy deals, railed that the UN had not done enough to prevent Israel from protecting itself from the Iran-funded Sunni terrorist organization Hamas, and called support for Hamas and Palestinian terrorism “the top issue of humanity,” according to Iranian state propaganda media.

“Those who claim to defend human rights and whose mission is to defend global peace and security have been on the sidelines and are no longer effective,” the Iranian state media quoted Raisi as saying.

“The Iranian president said international organizations have failed the test of Gaza and showed they’re no longer effective,” the news outlet report continued. “He said the world should move toward forming new mechanisms to deal with threats to international peace and security.”

The two leaders signed ten memoranda of understanding, cementing deals in trade, infrastructure, and other core areas. Among the deals were a new media partnership, a “framework agreement on railway transportation,” and an agreement to expand cooperation between the Turkish National Police Academy and Iran’s Amin Police University. (BB / VFI News)

“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” - Nehemiah 4:8

Critics took aim at President Biden’s Middle East policy after three American service members were killed in an attack on a base in Jordan near the border with Syria.

“Hit Iran now,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement after the Sunday attack, January 28. “Hit them hard.”

Graham’s comment comes after three U.S. service members were killed and 25 more were injured in a drone attack on northeast Jordan which sits close to the border with Syria, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed.

“On Jan. 28, three U.S. service members were killed and 25 injured from a one-way attack UAS that impacted at a base in northeast Jordan, near the Syria border. As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with DoD policy, the identities of the service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “Updates will be provided as they become available.”

Biden was briefed on the matter by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, according to the White House, with Biden blaming “radical Iran-backed militant groups” for the attack. (FN / VFI News)

“Lord, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families mourning the three American soldiers and we pray that You comfort them. We also pray for the injured and hope for an immediate recovery. May You bring about the end of Iranian terror throughout the Middle East and help re-establish peace in all its nations.”

Join us in commemorating strength and resilience at the Millennium Center, where Vision for Israel proudly honors Holocaust survivors. Despite challenging times, the event radiates joy and warmth as survivors, in their eighties and nineties, share their stories. Discover how Vision for Israel's donors' efforts provide tangible support, including winter blankets, showcasing the commitment to positively impacting the lives of these remarkable individuals. Your support makes these meaningful events possible — let's continue this journey of remembrance, hope, and celebration together.

The leader of the Shi’ite Iraqi Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ (KSS) terror group says that his group has begun the second stage of its military campaign against Israel, its main objective being a blockade of shipping routes to Israel in the Mediterranean Sea and taking Israeli ports out of commission.

A message it published stated that these actions will continue until the siege of the Gaza Strip is removed and Israel’s “acts of massacre” stop.

Ali Fadelallah, the spokesperson for the Kata’ib Hezbollah terror group stated that as long as the American strikes escalate the attacks by Iraqi resistance, especially those by Kata’ib Hezbollah, against American bases and interests in Iraq and nearby countries will too.

Ali al-Falawi, the spokesman for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), noted that the Iraqi resistance groups will act against Israeli and American interests, and are tracking new vital interests which will serve as targets for missile strikes.

According to him, these organizations possess innovative weaponry and advanced technology which give them the ability to carry out “high-quality” operations against US forces in Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea to assist Yemen in its effort to implement a complete naval blockade on Israel. (INN / VFI News)

“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” - Proverbs 12:20

Israel’s defense echelon estimates that Hamas’ rocket supply has dwindled significantly, and currently stands at just a few hundred, Israeli media reported.

At the start of the war, Hamas was believed to possess about 20,000 rockets and mortars, most of them short-range. In the first four hours of the October 7 attack, Hamas fired 3,000 rockets and mortars towards Israel. In total, throughout the war, around 9,000 rockets crossed into Israeli territory.

It is estimated that many of the rockets fired by terror groups fell within Gaza, and therefore the number of rockets used is over 9,000. In addition, IDF operations have significantly reduced the supply of rockets which the terror groups still hold.

The IDF’s search for rockets is still ongoing, and the IDF continues to destroy both rockets and rocket launchers. In recent days, the IDF has operated in an area from which rockets were fired last week toward Gaza border towns, and rocket launchers were discovered. It was also reported that the IDF located rocket launchers in an olive grove.

Due to the dramatic decrease in the number of rockets still held by the terror group, the rocket fire toward Israel has dramatically decreased. To further reduce Hamas’ ability to manufacture rockets during the fighting, and reduce the ability to fire rockets on the “day after” the war ends, the IDF is focusing on locating the rocket manufacturing sites. (INN / VFI News)

“But the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.” - Proverbs 2:22

The IDF has established a humanitarian corridor in recent days for Palestinian residents of western Khan Yunis to move from combat areas to the town of Al-Mawasi in southwestern Gaza, IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on Saturday, January 27.

Adraee said that Gazan residents would be safe in Al-Mawasi and that the corridor has been opened to evacuate civilians every day so that the IDF can focus on fighting the Hamas terrorist organization and deepening its incursion into Khan Yunis without the risk of civilians being injured in the process.

Tens of thousands of Gazans have already passed through this corridor safely, according to the spokesperson. Adraee also quoted several Gazan civilians passing through the corridor, who informed IDF soldiers that Hamas was preventing them from leaving combat areas, using threats and violence.

Additionally, IDF soldiers were also assisting civilians at the scene, including the elderly and sick. “The people want to topple Hamas,” can be heard from the Palestinian civilians chanting.

COGAT official Major-General Rasan Aliyan said “In recent days, we see more and more evidence of public criticism voiced by the residents of Gaza against the terrorist organization Hamas. The residents of the Gaza Strip rightly prefer their well-being and the safety of their children over the continued military strengthening of Hamas and the terrorist activities that harm them and their future.” (JPost / VFI News)

“Lord, we continue to pray for the Gazan civilians who have been used as pawns and human shields since the beginning of the war. May You eradicate the terrorist organization that is preventing them from living peacefully and may You protect all of us, and allow us to co-exist peacefully in our land.”

According to American media, the number of massacre deniers in the United States is currently small, but growing. Some claim the IDF carried out the massacre to “justify genocide in Gaza,” while others believe some hostages were kidnapped by Israel. Some are even confident that the United States is behind the attack.

These false narratives have circulated on social media, and users on platforms like TikTok and Reddit are already blaming Israel for a “false flag” attack – a staged attack designed to justify a harsh retaliatory action. This phenomenon is troubling Jewish leaders and researchers who see a connection between it and Holocaust denial.

In the article, the American news outlet shared the story of Mirela Monte, a real estate agent and holistic healer from South Carolina, who was shocked when she first heard about the October 7 massacre. She continued to read more about it on a Telegram group with 2,958 members focusing on international news and “supposed perils” related to vaccinations.

According to posts in the group, Israel stood behind the attack. Now, Monte is convinced that the massacre is a “false flag” attack by Israel – carried out with American assistance. Monte called Israel “pure evil.”

The false narrative according to which “Israel murdered their own people on October 7,” isn’t only growing online but is also present in anti-Israel demonstrations and protests where posters of Israeli hostages were hung in London, Chicago, and other cities.

Following Hamas’ attack, Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, claimed the terrorist organization didn’t kill Israeli civilians, saying it was “Israeli propaganda.” Some Reddit users are convinced he’s telling the truth. “So basically the Hamas attack was a false flag for Israel to occupy Gaza and kill Palestinians. Expected behavior from Nazi wannabes.” wrote one user in r/LateStageCapitalism, a left-wing forum on Reddit. (YNet / VFI News)

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” - Matthew 24:10-11

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

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