VFI News The Impact of the War on Children: 38 Murdered, 42 Taken Hostage, 19,407 Injured

In the shadow of mounting tensions and the ominous prospect of a full-scale conflict with Hezbollah, more than 100,000 Israeli residents have been compelled to evacuate to safer regions in the south. This mass displacement underscores the grave security challenges gripping Israel's northern border. Stay updated on the unfolding crisis as geopolitical tensions escalate in the volatile Middle East.

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Discover the devastating toll of war on children in Israel, with 38 innocent lives lost, 42 taken hostage, and over 19,000 injured.

Explore the latest data revealing the heartbreaking reality of conflict.

#WarImpact #ChildrenInCrisis #IsraelUnderAttack #PrayForPeace

The National Council for the Child submitted to the President data on the effects of the October 7 massacre and the Swords of Iron War on children and adolescents in Israel, as part of the “Children in Israel 2023” yearbook.

A total of 19,407 children have suffered physical and mental injuries in hostilities since the outbreak of the war, 37% of them under the age of six. According to the Council, 38 children were murdered in the massacre; three between the ages of birth and three, and four between the ages of 3 and 6.

Twenty children have been orphaned from both parents and 96 children from one parent. The document also indicates that 42 children were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip and two children are still being held captive by Hamas – Kfir (1) and Ariel (4) Bibas. The parents of 15 of the abducted children are also still being held captive by Hamas.

Further, a national survey found that 84% of parents reported that their children are suffering from emotional distress; 64% reported fear; 62% reported anxiety. A full 43% of parents reported that their children suffer from panic from sudden noises at a higher level in comparison to routine times, 36% reported that their children had a greater level of separation anxiety, and 34% reported that their children had difficulty falling asleep.

In addition, in October-December, there was a 28% increase in calls to the 118 hotline for violence and sexual assault, compared to the same period in 2022. From October to December, thirteen investigation files were opened against adults for criminal offenses against minors in hotels. Twelve of the cases were opened for violent offenses, and one was opened for sexual offenses. (INN / VFI News)

“God, we ask that You protect all your children and take special care of the ones who suffer daily because of the war. We pray for their physical and emotional healing, as well as for protection from any type of abuse. Unfortunately, in times of crisis, offenders exploit the vulnerable on a bigger scale. We pray that You prevent such awful cases of violence, that You bring back the two children still held by Hamas, and that You console the families of the children who were murdered by the terrorists. We offer our sincerest condolences to all of these families and we humbly pray that all children will grow to know Your Love and that their innocence will be restored.”

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.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday, March 3, visited IDF troops on the Gaza border and heard from the division commander about the ground operation in Khan Yunis and the destruction of terror infrastructure above and below ground.

“As a result of the extended fighting being carried out on the ground, we are even making contact with eliminated enemy forces, even with terrorists who are captured and who tell us a great deal, and also with information - computers, communications rooms, and so on. This information is examined, investigated, and sends us on to the next locations,” he said.

“We are dismantling neighborhood after neighborhood, and one thing is clear: Every place where the IDF decides to act, the division, the command, do their work, and in the end the result is clear. There is no one who will help the terrorists.”

“It is only a matter of our decision regarding what we will deal with first and what [we will deal with] second. We will not end this war until we eliminate Hamas. There will not be such a situation. There will not be Hamas as a ruling organization, no matter how long it takes.” (INN / VFI News)

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.” - Genesis 6:11

Israeli officials are reportedly increasingly pessimistic over the likelihood of reaching a hostage and truce deal before Ramadan.

According to similar comments from unnamed officials cited in several Hebrew media reports — generally indicating a coordinated leak — officials now believe that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar has no intention of agreeing to a temporary ceasefire in the coming days.

Instead, the officials say, Israel believes Sinwar wants to escalate the violence further over Ramadan. In such a scenario, Israel is wary of an escalation not just along its borders with Gaza and Lebanon, but also across Judea and Samaria, where tensions are high, as well as in Jerusalem, where clashes over the Temple Mount and access to the holy site are widely expected.

Ramadan is expected to begin next Sunday evening, March 10. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we pray for a quick end to the war and long-lasting peace. We come to You, tired and greatly sorrowed by all the hostilities and the massive loss of human lives. Our Heavenly Father, we pray to You for a quick resolution of all current matters concerning the war, as well as for the release of the hostages who have been held for almost 5 months, in the name of Yeshua. Thank You for all Your blessings and the noble people you have gifted us. Their perseverance and love strengthen our own and reflect Your never-failing love.”

The threat of a terrorist attack on British soil is rising rapidly because of the war in Gaza, senior security officials have privately warned MPs.

They issued their chilling alert as the level of extremists’ “chatter” intercepted by spies has reached its highest level since the September 11 atrocities in America. One insider has warned of a “real risk” of coordinated terrorist activity or a lone outsider carrying out an isolated attack.

Politicians have been told that war in the Middle East has been used as a “recruitment advert” by global terror groups. At the same time, security officials are understood to fear an upsurge in extremist activity during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

One MP with knowledge of the most recent briefings said: “The level of extremist chatter is off the scale. This is something they’ve seen growing and growing.” Referring to intelligence from the last two weeks, the politician added: “It’s like when the Twin Towers came down in 2001, there was a big spike of hate.” (DM / VFI News)

“Lord, we ask that You eliminate violence against Jews, as well as antisemitic acts and/or speech in general. We pray that the terrorists currently scheming throughout Europe and the rest of the world will not be able to materialize their plans, but that You will guide each country’s defense forces to successfully thwart any potential attacks and apprehend the terrorists.”

Holocaust survivors in Israel live off very small stipends, and the cost of living in Israel can be a heavy burden on them. In special events that we organized for the survivors, they could choose from thousands of clothing items and received money vouchers to help them with their needs.

Antisemitic politician George Galloway has been elected to the British parliament as the representative for the city of Rochdale in a recent by-election.

Galloway is known for his radical stance and longtime support for various terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah and has in the past been expelled from Egypt due to his support for Hamas.

His extreme views have also caused Canada to declare him persona non grata, and he has been banned from Canada since 2009. Galloway was a member of parliament in the past. Following his loss in 2015, he blamed his defeat on “the venal and the vile, the racists and the Zionists.”

Throughout his campaign, he has referred to himself as Gaza George and has referred to the ground offensive into Gaza as invading a concentration camp. He has also called the Hamas forces who carried out the October 7 massacre “warriors.” (INN / VFI News)

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

Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled was featured on signs at the International Women’s Day march on Saturday, March 2, in Toronto.

“Palestinian women are heroes,” read a sign emblazoned with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist’s face. The PFLP is listed by the Canadian government as a terrorist entity.

The airplane hijacker was also featured in an online promotional advertisement bearing the names of the organizations Women 4 Palestine, Roads to Liberation, Canadians for Palestine, and Palesign. Khaled’s sign was part of a series of pink signs that matched the online advertisement and featured famous Palestinian women. It can be seen in the videos posted on social media by the organizers and individual activists.

A video in which marchers chanted, “Resistance is justified when people are occupied,” was posted on Sunday by activist Zaheera Soomar. “Celebrating the resilient and warrior women of Palestine,” she wrote on Instagram. A banner reading, “Palestinian women are the mothers of resistance,” with three red triangles, was posted by the organizers. Red triangles were originally used in Hamas propaganda videos to denote when Israeli vehicles or personnel were being targeted. Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was also shown on a sign.

Last November, Tamimi was arrested for writing on Instagram, “We are waiting for you in all the… (Judea and Samaria) cities from Hebron to Jenin – we will slaughter you and you will say that what Hitler did to you was a joke.” (JPost / VFI News)

A survey conducted online within the United States by the Harris Poll and HarrisX from February 21-22 among 2,022 registered voters found majority support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

More than 80% of those polled support Israel in the war and close to 70% say that they believe that Israel is trying to avoid civilian casualties.

Another question in this survey related to the favorability of state institutions. Only 5% claimed that Hamas was a favorable institution, while a majority (54%) claimed that Hamas is a “very unfavorable” institution. (INN / VFI News)

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” - 1 Peter 1:22

The Bronx’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine will be tuition-free for the indefinite future thanks to a $1 billion donation from a Jewish philanthropist.

The massive gift from Dr. Ruth Gottesman, an emerita faculty member, will be “transformational” in drawing students to the medical school in the city’s poorest borough. And by eliminating up to hundreds of thousands in student debt, the donation aims to make Einstein accessible to a broader range of candidates, the college said in a statement on Monday, February 26.

“This donation radically revolutionizes our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it,” Dr. Yaron Tomer, Einstein’s dean, said in the statement. “Additionally, it will free up and lift our students, enabling them to pursue projects and ideas that might otherwise be prohibitive.”

Einstein’s statement called the donation “the largest made to any medical school in the country.” It shared footage online of students leaping out of their seats and cheering for more than 30 seconds as Gottesman announced that tuition would be free starting in August.

Gottesman, 93, said the donation will help students attain expertise “to find new ways to prevent diseases and provide the finest health care to communities here in the Bronx and all over the world.” (TOI / VFI News)

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” - Deuteronomy 15:10

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

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