Bodies of 4 Slain Hostages Returned; Terrorist Attack with at Least 13 Injured in Central Israel; A 17-Year-Old Girl in Critical Condition

Lecha Dodi by Barry & Batya Segal

At Least 13 Wounded in Terror Attack in Central Israel 

Returned Hostages Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi Murdered in Captivity, Israel Confirms 

Hamas Reportedly Repurposing Explosives, Repairing Tunnels As Ceasefire Deadline Nears    

Israeli Former Hostage Addresses UN Security Council: ‘I Know What It Feels Like to Be Left Behind’  

WATCH: Parashat Teruma - Bible Teaching with Batya Segal                          

Parashat Teruma - Bible Teaching with Batya Segal

Iran On ‘High Alert’ Over Potential Strike by U.S., Israel on Nuclear Sites   

Iranian Resistance Leaders Call for End of Tehran Regime at Hill Hearing

UK Lawmaker Demands Investigation into Whether BBC Transferred Money to Hamas   

Pro-Hamas Protesters Seize Control of Historic Barnard Academic Building and Reportedly Assault College Employee        

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Discover the profound beauty of 'Lecha Dodi,' a cherished Jewish tradition that invites us to embrace the sanctity of Shabbat. The refrain, 'Let us go, my beloved, to greet the bride/the Sabbath presence, let us welcome,' echoes the heartfelt request of Israel's 'beloved' (God) to unite in welcoming the 'bride' (the Sabbath). This poetic composition, originating in the 16th century by Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, draws inspiration from the Song of Songs and the Prophets, symbolizing the relationship between the Jewish people and God. Join us on a journey that culminates in a powerful call for Messianic deliverance and the celebration of the great Shabbat.

At least 13 people were wounded after a terrorist rammed into pedestrians on Highway 65 near the Pardes Hanna-Karkur intersection, Israeli Police confirmed on Thursday afternoon, February 27.  

Following the ramming, police officers immediately identified the suspect’s vehicle traveling toward Gan Shmuel and blocked its path. The terrorist accelerated, rammed a police vehicle, and then exited while charging at officers with a sharp object, later identified as a screwdriver. At this point, the terrorist was shot. 

Thirteen civilians were injured in the attack, including one critically and two seriously. A police officer was also among the injured. MDA reported that a 17-year-old girl was the person who was critically wounded.

The police confirmed that the terrorist was a 53-year-old Palestinian from Jenin who was residing illegally in Israel with his family. The circumstances of his presence in Israel are under investigation by the ISA.

According to the Israel Police spokesperson, “The terrorist ran over several people at a bus station, then proceeded to stab others with a screwdriver and crashed into a police vehicle.”

MDA Paramedic Avi Cohen said the responders arrived at a “complex scene with a lot of commotion.” There were two people in serious condition, three in moderate condition, and three in mild condition. (JPost/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray in Yeshua’s name for the quick recovery of the thirteen or more injured citizens. Thank You for saving their lives and allowing them to recuperate with the help of the medical staff. We pray that You guide the latter and help the injured, especially the 17-year-old girl, regain their vitality and fully recover physically and mentally.”

According to forensic findings, slain hostages Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, and Itzhak Elgarat were murdered in Hamas captivity, and Shlomo Mantzur was killed on October 7, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Thursday morning, February 27. 

Hamas released the remains of the four hostages on Wednesday night, and the confirmation of their identities was announced on Thursday morning.

After the announcements, the Hostages Families Forum said, “We received with profound sorrow the news about the identification of Shlomo Mantzur, Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, and Ohad Yahalomi of blessed memory, who have been laid to eternal rest in Israel.”

“Tsachi, Itzhak, and Ohad were kidnapped alive from their homes in Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Kibbutz Nir Oz and endured a prolonged period in Hamas captivity in Gaza. They should have returned alive; they could have been saved and brought back through an agreement. Shlomo was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Kissufim and murdered on October 7.” 

“59 hostages remain in captivity with no release date in sight. We urge all decision-makers to ensure the return of the last hostage by the 50th day of the agreement. The hostages have no time left - they must return home to be reunited with their families or brought to a dignified burial.” (JPost/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we thank You for being with the families of the deceased. We send our sincerest condolences to them and we pray in Yeshua’s name that You give them rest and comfort during this trying period. We also pray for the continuation of the release of hostages.”

Hamas terrorists have repurposed unexploded material into improvised explosive devices and scanned properties for listening devices left behind by the IDF to track their movements, American media reported on Wednesday, February 26. 

According to the report, Hamas is monitoring Gaza for potential spies and has designated a separate unit to detect and counter any Israeli infiltration, Arab officials told the news outlet. 

In addition, Hamas’s armed wing has appointed new commanders and begun repairing its underground tunnel network in preparation for the possibility of returning to war with Israel, according to officials. 

These preparations from Hamas come as Israel and US officials push to extend the current ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which is meant to expire on Saturday.

The 42nd day of the ceasefire is supposed to signal the transition from phase one to phase two of the signed deal.  However, if no negotiations are reached, Israel and Hamas will return to war, putting a pause on any further release of Israeli hostages in Gaza or Palestinian prisoners.

On Thursday morning, soon after the remains of four slain Israeli hostages and some 600 Palestinian prisoners were released, Hamas stated that the only way the remaining hostages would be freed was through a commitment to a ceasefire deal, according to Israeli media. (JPost/VFI News)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” -  John 16:33

Israeli former hostage Noa Argamani addressed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, February 25, sharing details of her experience on October 7, 2023 and over more than eight months as a hostage in Gaza. 

Argamani, who was held by Hamas for 246 days before her release, called for all remaining hostages to be returned home: “We are talking about innocent people, taken from their bed, from a dance party, from their simple life, into a pure hell.”

At one point, Argamani described in detail an incident that occurred after 54 days in captivity — and the deaths of two of her friends, Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky. 

“It was just me, Itay Svirsky, and Yossi Sharabi. One evening, the house we were held in was blown up, and we found ourselves in the destruction. Itay was able to stand up, but Yossi and I were stuck under the rubbles,” she said. “I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe - I thought it’s going to be my last seconds of my life.” 

“I screamed so loud so someone would hear me, and I heard Yossi screaming too. But after a few seconds, I stopped hearing from Yossi. I was pulled out of the rubbles and I tried to help Yossi. But when we got to him, it was already too late,” she continued.

“Itay and I had to find somewhere else to hide, so one of our captors took us to another house. But two days later, Itay was murdered by the same captor. Itay was with me since the first day of captivity.” (DW/VFI News)

“The Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.” - Psalm 146:8b-9

In this video, we discuss why Parashat Terumah is so essential to our faith and our lives. Reading the Parashot each week allows us to reconnect with the covenant God made with us, and the promise we made to Him. They are a reminder that God gives us a choice between good and evil. We must work every day to choose good, and give gladly from our hearts in order to praise God. Parashat Terumah calls us to be generous with what we have, no matter how much we have. When we give from the heart as God calls us to do, we honor Him just as Moses honored God by building the Tabernacle. God has given us all things, we must give generously in return.  

Iran is reportedly on high alert fearing that the United States and Israel are on the verge of striking its illicit nuclear facilities. 

British media reported that multiple high-level government sources confirmed Iran had changed the preparedness level for its defense systems in response to fears that an attack is imminent. 

The Islamic regime, which is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, is increasing its defenses around the nuclear facilities, including the deployment of anti-aircraft launchers. 

“They [Iranian authorities] are just waiting for the attack and are anticipating it every night and everything has been on high alert – even in sites that no one knows about,” one source told the British news agency.

“Work to fortify nuclear sites has been ongoing for years but it has intensified over the past year, particularly since Israel launched the first attack.” Trump’s victory in November has only “further intensified the activities,” the source added. 

Meanwhile, a Wednesday, February 26, report from the nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency found that Iran is sitting on 605 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% as of early February. That is a 34% increase from what the IAEA found in its last report from November, which found the stockpile sitting at 401.9 pounds. (DW/VFI News)

The Iranian theocratic government’s hold on power in Tehran has not been this tenuous since the overthrow of the Shah more than 45 years ago. Its economy is in a freefall and with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, Iran lost one of its major allies in the Middle East, a leading Iranian opposition figure told lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday, February 26. 

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said the situation in Iran today could only be described as explosive. “The mullahs are surrounded on all sides by a society that is filled with anger and rebellion, by resistance units [and] by selfless and rebellious youths,” Mrs. Rajavi said. “The regime is trying to preserve its shameful rule through executions in Iran and by creating fear.”

Mrs. Rajavi added the Iranian resistance would welcome any loosening of power by the rulers in Tehran because it would only accelerate their eventual downfall. Efforts to engage the current regime through diplomacy are misguided, she said. 

“Such an expectation is an illusion,” she said. “The regime has used negotiations as a tool for deception to continue its nuclear weapons program and its destructive policy in the region.”

Meanwhile, members of the bipartisan Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus on Wednesday introduced a resolution calling for the support of efforts to create a democratic, secular and non-nuclear Iran. The measure had the support of 150 Democratic and Republican lawmakers.  (WT/VFI News)

“Dear God, we pray that You help the Iranian people establish a democratic system and elect their own officials. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You dismantle the authoritative regime currently in power and that You assist the civilians to be free from oppression, unjust imprisonments and executions.”

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, has demanded an investigation into whether Hamas received payments from the nation’s public broadcasting channel BBC during the production of the documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone,” which aired last week. 

In a letter to BBC Director-General Tim Davie, Badenoch questioned whether UK taxpayers’ money — funding the BBC in part through television license fees — ended up in the hands of the terrorist group.

According to the outlet, she argued that the BBC’s biased coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not an “isolated incident” and called for an end to its “systemic and institutional bias against Israel.” She also threatened to withdraw her party’s support for the license fee unless “serious action” was taken, including an investigation into senior BBC executives. 

She noted that Hamas exerts significant control over Gaza and questioned how the BBC could commission a program from there without ensuring that presenters and participants were not affiliated with the “appalling regime.” 

The controversy erupted after independent journalist Dave Collier revealed that the film’s central figure, Abdullah Ayman al-Yazouri, is the son of senior Hamas official Ayman al-Yazouri, who currently serves as the terror group’s agriculture minister. The information was not disclosed to viewers, despite al-Yazouri narrating the documentary.  (YNet/VFI News) 

“Everyone will deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.” - Jeremiah 9:5

Dozens of keffiyeh-clad anti-Israel protesters took over a building at Barnard College for several hours Wednesday evening, February 26, assaulting a school employee while protesting the expulsions of two students who stormed a Columbia University class in January and threw around flyers loaded with hateful rhetoric. 

Videos circulating online, posted on X by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, show the masked students lining a hallway in Milbank Hall, the oldest building on campus, beating drums and loudly chanting through megaphones.

 One of the X posts made by the group — which proclaims “Long live the student intifada” in its bio — includes a list of demands, among them a reversal of the expulsions, amnesty for students punished during last year’s anti-Israel campus protests and a public meeting with dean Leslie Grinage and Barnard president Laura Rosenbury. 

The pro-Hamas student group claimed in a follow-up post that Barnard public safety officers have “harassed and shoved” several students, and knocked at least one to the ground.

However, a Barnard spokesperson said the protesters “physically assaulted” a college employee, sending them to the hospital. “They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community,” Robin Levine, Barnard College’s vice president for strategic communications, said in a statement. (NYP/VFI News)

“The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.” - 2 Samuel 22:3

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

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