IDF Strikes Hamas Commanders As Ceasefire Teeters; Hostage Plan Pressed

Israel Update: IDF Strikes Hamas Commanders as Ceasefire Wavers | VFI News

IDF Destroys Hamas Infrastructure Near Rafah, Says Senior Operatives Killed

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O Jerusalem by Barry & Batya Segal

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MK Presses Finance Ministry to Fund Implementation of UNRWA Law in Jerusalem

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VFI News: IDF Strikes Hamas Commanders As Ceasefire Teeters; Hostage Plan Pressed .  .  . 

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The latest Israel update covers a critical moment in the Gaza ceasefire as the IDF launches targeted strikes on Hamas commanders and infrastructure while negotiations continue under intense regional pressure. Intelligence-driven operations near Rafah and Khan Younis focused on tunnels, weapons depots, and command centers used by Hamas battalion figures and field operatives attempting to reestablish control. The ceasefire remains fragile as armed cells test red lines and Israeli forces respond to renewed fire and violations designed to exploit moments of quiet.

This report also examines the ongoing hostage crisis as families and officials demand the return of the final hostages and the remains still held in Gaza. Qatar urges continued progress in the Gaza framework, but Israeli families insist there can be no next phase until full accountability and closure are achieved. Testimonies from Hostages Square reveal the emotional and national weight of these demands.

Additional coverage includes new IDF documentation of the extensive Hamas tunnel network under Beit Hanun, described as a major terror stronghold designed to protect commanders, weapons, and kidnapping teams. Officials argue that dismantling these underground complexes is essential for demilitarization, deterrence, and any long-term “day after” governance plan in Gaza.

The update also addresses domestic and international developments, including calls to fund the implementation of the UNRWA law in Jerusalem, rising protests in New York City targeting Israel during Black Friday, and new archaeological insights from a 4,300-year-old silver goblet that may depict an ancient creation narrative.

This VFI News edition provides verified reporting on Israel, the Middle East, and Jewish communities worldwide. Stay informed on developments surrounding the IDF, Gaza ceasefire negotiations, hostage recovery efforts, regional diplomacy, and the security challenges that shape life in Israel today.

#IsraelUpdate #IDF #GazaCeasefire #Hamas #MiddleEastNews

On Sunday, November 30, the IDF reported a focused series of strikes on terror infrastructure in the Rafah area, describing destroyed tunnels, bunkers, and weapons depots tied to remaining Hamas cells. Military briefings said intelligence cues drove the sorties and ground raids, part of a strategy to prevent militants from regrouping under the cover of the fragile ceasefire. Officials emphasized that targeted actions would continue against operatives attempting to reconstitute command-and-control nodes near the Yellow Line buffer while talks proceed over demilitarization and governance.

The army said preliminary assessments indicated that several Hamas battalion-level figures were taken out in the day’s operations, alongside field operatives moving between safe houses. Images released by the IDF showed combat engineering units working with infantry and air assets to collapse shafts and booby-trapped spaces, with sappers clearing corridors before additional demolitions. Security sources framed the tempo as measured but firm—calibrated to deter renewed cross-border attacks without triggering a broad breakdown in the ceasefire’s terms.

Israeli officials maintained that regional diplomacy and pressure on Hamas must be paired with persistent disruption of its remaining infrastructure. They pointed to previous surges in rocket manufacturing when tunnel hubs were left intact and argued that degrading logistical routes now would reduce the chances of a wider flare-up later. The message from the security establishment was that deterrence rests on both negotiations and the denial of sanctuary to planners and bomb-makers who still seek to rearm.

“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” – Psalm 18:34

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Hamas gunmen fired on Israeli forces near Khan Younis, prompting a wave of retaliatory strikes that focused on Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood and other militant strongholds. Israeli officials said the response was designed to neutralize the immediate threat and reinforce red lines meant to protect troops deployed along the buffer. The military assessed that fire came from positions reactivated after weeks of relative quiet, underlining how quickly armed cells can exploit lulls to reposition.

In subsequent updates, the IDF said it eliminated the Zeitoun battalion commander and a senior naval operative associated with past infiltration attempts, describing the pair as deeply involved in training and operations. Palestinian authorities reported multiple casualties across several districts as strikes rolled through the afternoon and evening. Analysts warned that even limited escalations can create momentum of their own, particularly when disarmament benchmarks remain contested, and enforcement mechanisms are strained.

The episode revived debates over how to safeguard the ceasefire’s core commitments while allowing Israel to act against imminent threats. Security officials reiterated that troops would retain freedom of action to protect lives, while diplomats cautioned that progress toward a durable “day after” framework depends on sustained pressure against rearmament. The day’s events thus served as both a tactical reset and a reminder of how delicate the current equilibrium remains.

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” – Psalm 27:3

On Sunday, November 30, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that the unresolved return of the remains of two hostages should not halt movement toward the next phase of the Gaza framework. The comment drew swift pushback from families, who stressed that closure for every hostage—living or deceased—must anchor any transition. Mediators continued to argue that demilitarization, international monitoring, and a stabilized civil administration are inseparable goals, even as Hamas resists concrete steps on disarmament.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum renewed calls for full compliance with obligations dating back to the initial stage of the agreement. The group said the piecemeal transfer of remains has prolonged trauma and left parents and spouses suspended between mourning and uncertainty. Israeli officials indicated that efforts to locate and retrieve the bodies are ongoing, with teams relying on intelligence and coordination channels developed across previous exchanges.

The dispute highlighted the moral and strategic weight carried by the fate of the last hostages. For Israel, the issue is an imperative of national responsibility; for mediators, it is a test of whether enforcement can coexist with forward motion. Until the final return is secured, the broader plan will continue to be measured by its ability to deliver concrete outcomes for families who have waited through many seasons of promises.

“Lord, bring the remains of the last hostages home swiftly. Give strength and consolation to every family still waiting, courage to negotiators who seek truth, and protection to all who risk their lives to recover the missing. May justice and mercy meet as this agreement advances, and may peace take root where sorrow has endured.”

On Saturday night, November 29, Itzik Gvili stood before supporters in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and insisted there can be “no next phase” until the remains of his son, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili are returned. His appeal captured the mood of a weekly gathering that has spanned more than two years—part vigil, part rally, and part communal act of perseverance. Families of hostages said any political timetable must yield to the basic obligation to bring loved ones home and to reckon honestly with the price of delay.

The remarks came amid decisions to wind down some long-standing protest installations in Jerusalem, a symbolic shift that left many torn between closure and unfinished grief. Attendees described the square as a place where hope and mourning have learned to stand together: a stage for testimonies, a wall for pictures and prayers, and a reminder that names must not be forgotten. Organizers urged mediators to intensify pressure on Hamas to honor the earliest commitments of the ceasefire’s first phase.

The rally’s resonance lies in its ordinariness: grandparents and teenagers, flags and candles, and a microphone passed from hand to hand. Even as negotiations circle familiar hurdles, the families’ persistence has become its own form of witness. By insisting that the day after must wait for the last return, they reshaped the conversation about what a responsible transition requires.

“God of all comfort, strengthen the Gvili family and every household still waiting for closure. Wrap them in community, steady their steps, and surround them with wise counselors and courageous friends. Move leaders and mediators to act with urgency, and let truth and compassion prevail until every hostage is brought home.”

O Jerusalem (Shalom Yerushalayim), is a heartfelt song that calls for peace and blessing over the city of Jerusalem. This song blends both Hebrew and English lyrics, expressing a prayer for "Shalom" (peace) and "Shalva" (tranquility) within the ancient city's gates. Inspired by sacred scripture, the song reflects the spiritual and historical significance of Jerusalem, often called the "City of God". As a timeless symbol of hope and unity, this melody reaches across cultures and faiths, resonating with anyone longing for peace and joy. Join us as we sing Shalom Yerushalayim and share this message of peace. If you enjoyed this lyric video, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more songs and prayers that uplift the spirit.

On Friday, November 21, 2025, the IDF presented what it called a detailed look at an extensive Hamas tunnel complex beneath the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanun. The network was described as a lattice of interconnected passageways and rooms linked to weapons storage, command spaces, and fighting positions embedded among residential and public structures. By mapping and publicizing the system, the army said it aimed to explain operational choices and to make the case for thorough demilitarization before any durable governance arrangement.

Commanders emphasized that the tunnels were designed to outlast surface setbacks and to draw battles into areas where civilians are most at risk. They argued that neutralizing such infrastructure reduces the likelihood of renewed rocket manufacturing and violent ambushes while also reinforcing deterrence. The disclosures were accompanied by imagery and explanations intended to show how underground routes tied together strongpoints above ground, transforming neighborhoods into fortified zones.

Officials framed the release as both a military update and a diplomatic signal. If the objective is a calmer border and a safer future for civilians on both sides, they said, then hiding places for leaders, bomb-makers, and kidnap teams must be closed. The presentation also underscored why international monitors and aid flows must be shielded from exploitation by armed groups as the ceasefire is tested.

“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.” – Isaiah 54:17

On Saturday, November 15, 2025, MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beyteinu) asked the Finance Ministry to immediately allocate funds needed to transfer health, education, and sanitation responsibilities from UNRWA-linked bodies to Israeli authorities in eastern Jerusalem. She warned that administrative gaps and budget delays would hinder the smooth integration of services and weaken the enforcement of legislation already on the books. The appeal was forwarded to the Knesset Finance Committee as municipal officials pressed for clarity on timelines and staffing.

Malinovsky positioned the demand as both a matter of sovereignty and public safety, citing concerns that ideological content and lax oversight had flourished under the current arrangements. City actors have likewise called for resources to absorb students and employees into municipal frameworks while minimizing disruptions for families. Supporters of the shift say that moving to direct Israeli provision will reduce duplication, improve standards, and curtail incitement.

The debate turns on logistics as much as politics: classrooms, clinics, payrolls, and the everyday interfaces through which residents meet the state. If budgets align with plans, the transition could become a practical test case for how policy changes are experienced at the street level. If not, critics fear the vacuum will invite confusion and leave vulnerable communities without reliable services.

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” – Isaiah 54:13

On Friday, November 28, a demonstration moved along Midtown Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, where roughly 70 protesters targeted several flagship retailers. Marchers waved Palestinian flags and carried banners as they wound past storefronts crowded with holiday shoppers. Police officers made several arrests amid tense exchanges on sidewalks and at store entrances, and by early evening, authorities said the situation was under control without serious injuries.

The action reflected a broader shift from campus and municipal protests to commercial corridors during high-visibility shopping days. Organizers accused global brands of ties to Israel and urged boycotts, while bystanders alternated between support and frustration as traffic was briefly disrupted. Store managers coordinated with officers to redirect foot traffic, and some businesses lowered security gates until the march moved on.

City officials said that while the right to protest is protected, public safety and business operations must be preserved during peak hours. By day’s end, police reported a handful of detentions and summonses, limited property damage, and no major incidents. The episode added to a record of recurring demonstrations that now punctuate New York’s retail calendar.

A study published on Sunday, November 16, 2025, offered a fresh interpretation of a small silver chalice unearthed decades ago in the Judean Hills, proposing that its miniature scenes portray a journey from chaos to order. Researchers argued that the imagery could predate well-known Mesopotamian myths by more than a millennium, placing an ancient vision of creation within the southern Levant. The artifact, housed at the Israel Museum, has long intrigued scholars for its craftsmanship and narrative density.

The article explained how the vessel’s panels might track cosmic beginnings: darkness yielding to light, waters arranged, and time marked. While not all academics agree with the reading, the reevaluation opens a window onto how early cultures pictured the world’s first moments and humanity’s place within them. Even skeptics acknowledged that the cup’s iconography, whether literal or symbolic, anchors a conversation about belief, art, and memory in the region where biblical traditions took shape.

For museum-goers and students alike, the goblet’s allure is the convergence of beauty and mystery. It invites comparison with texts and tablets from surrounding civilizations, asking viewers to consider what different peoples believed about origins and purpose. As new imaging and cross-disciplinary work continue, the piece may yet yield more clues about the imagination of its makers and the stories they told.

“Creator of heaven and earth, thank You for the gifts of discovery and learning that deepen our awe. Bless the work of researchers and curators who preserve history and inspire young people across Israel to pursue wisdom. May the truths uncovered in stone and silver point hearts toward dignity, purpose, and reverence for life.”

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


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