VFI News 2 Israelis Murdered in Washington DC, Suspect Caught; Five Aid Trucks Entered Gaza

In this week’s VFI News, Barry Segal reports on a week of intense emotion and unfolding history in Israel. From the tragic murder of Tze’ela Gez, a young mother of four, to Israel’s renewed offensive—Operation Gideon’s Chariots—against Hamas in Gaza, this episode covers both heartbreaking and hopeful developments.

We look at Yuval Raphael’s inspiring second-place finish in Eurovision, despite hostile protests, and analyze the growing global bias against Israel. Barry offers sobering commentary on the spiritual dimensions of anti-Israel hatred, the irrational behavior of Iran and its proxies, and the urgent stakes of ongoing nuclear negotiations.

We also highlight Vision for Israel’s ongoing humanitarian work—supporting families in need, distributing food and supplies, and building bomb shelters that save lives.

Stay informed. Stay prayerful. Stay involved.

📺 Watch now and join us in standing with Israel.

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Elias Rodriguez, the shooter accused of the murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington DC on Wednesday night, May 21, was charged on Thursday with two counts of murder. 

The investigation has found that the victims were leaving an event at the Jewish Museum when Rodriguez approached a group of four people and began shooting. The two victims have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim.

According to an affidavit quoted by American media, Rodriguez has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

“During an interview with MPD detectives, after having been advised of his Miranda rights and waiving them, Rodriguez expressed admiration for the actions of an individual who self-immolated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on February 25, 2024, as a form of protest intended to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the affidavit alleged.

Further, a British news outlet reported on Thursday that Rodriguez was affiliated with a radical left-wing organization and regularly disseminated anti-Israel messages.

The report stated that Rodriguez had scheduled a post to publish an hour after the attack, accusing Israel of committing atrocities against Palestinians. (INN/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray for the families of Yaron and Sarah who were murdered on Wednesday. We send our sincerest condolences to them and we pray that You comfort them and give them Your supernatural peace and hope amid this intense period of grief. We thank You for helping the police officers apprehend the suspect and we pray that he will receive the punishment he deserves. We pray Lord that You will prevent any more acts of hostility against the Jewish people and that Your hand of protection will be over every Jewish individual around the world. In Yeshua's Name we pray, amen.”

Five trucks of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip on Monday, May 19, via the Kerem Shalom Crossing, Israel said, marking the first such delivery since March 2, when Israel barred goods from entering the territory.

Eden Bar Tal, the Foreign Ministry’s director general, said the shipment included flour, baby food, and medical supplies.

Aid was blocked from Gaza since March 1, with Israel arguing that sufficient humanitarian assistance entered the Strip during a six-week ceasefire and that Hamas has been stealing much of that aid, with the blockade necessary to pressure the terror group to release dozens of hostages it is holding. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the immediate resumption of “basic” humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday evening, making a highly unpopular decision among his right-wing circles given the mounting pressure from Washington to end the blockade.

United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said the amount of aid that entered Monday was “a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed, and significantly more aid must be allowed into Gaza, starting tomorrow morning.” (TOI/VFI News) 

“Dear Lord, we pray that the aid intended for the Palestinian civilians will reach them and won’t be looted by Hamas. We pray that the world would see that the famine in Gaza is not because of Israel, but because of Hamas’ actions and exploitation of the humanitarian aid. We continue to pray for our hostages. Set them free, heal them completely, and strengthen them. We trust in You and we know that You always work for the good of those who love You. We pray that You bring an end to the war and heal all the people and the land.”

The leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada issued a joint statement Monday, May 19, condemning Israel’s handling of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling on the Jewish state to immediately halt military action in the enclave and allow in more aid, threatening “further concrete actions in response” if Jerusalem refuses.

The three leaders — Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s Mark Carney — called Israel’s announcement Sunday to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza “wholly inadequate” and said the country’s failure to assist the Gazan civilian population “is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law.”

Netanyahu hit back in a statement, saying London, Paris and Ottawa were “offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”

The earlier statement from the three Western countries called on Israel to engage with the United Nations “to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles.” 

Meanwhile, Netanyahu delivered his first press conference since December 2024 on Wednesday, calling the offensive in Gaza “an unprecedented operation in the history of wars” and publicly stating that there are 20 hostages still alive in Gaza.

“We have returned, so far, 197 hostages, of whom 148 are alive. Twenty are alive; we will return them all,” he said (TOI/VFI News) 

“It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” - Proverbs 21:15

Iran has firmly rejected the United States’ demand to halt all uranium enrichment, asserting its right to continue its nuclear program under international law. This stance comes amid ongoing negotiations between the two nations over Iran’s nuclear activities.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently reiterated that any uranium enrichment by Iran is a "red line" for the United States, emphasizing concerns over potential weaponization. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran would persist with its enrichment activities regardless of the outcome of the talks, citing the country’s rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also said on Tuesday, May 20, that nuclear talks with the United States were unlikely to yield any results.

Despite the impasse, both sides have expressed a willingness to continue discussions. A fifth round of negotiations is anticipated in Rome, aiming to bridge the significant gaps between the two countries’ positions. 

Meanwhile, new intelligence obtained by the US suggests that Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, American media reported on Tuesday, citing multiple US officials familiar with the matter.

It was not clear whether Israeli leaders have made a final decision, American media stated, citing the officials, adding that there is "deep disagreement within the US government about the likelihood that Israel will ultimately act." (INN/VFI News) 

“Dear God, we thank You for protecting us and the whole world from a nuclear war so far. We thank You for not allowing Iran to harness nuclear energy to the point of weapons-grade material and for guiding world leaders into vehemently trying to stop it. We pray in Yeshua's Name that You continue the good work You have started and that You completely dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.”

Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.

The U.S. State Department on Monday, May 19,  announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the “disruption of financial mechanisms” in South America for the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

The State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program offered the reward for “information on Hezbollah financial networks in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.”

RFJ said Hezbollah “financiers and facilitators” make money in the TBA through “illicit activities such as money laundering; narcotics trafficking; charcoal and oil smuggling; illicit diamond trade; smuggling of items including bulk cash, cigarettes, and luxury goods; document forgery; and the counterfeiting of U.S. dollars.”

“They also generate revenue from commercial activities across Latin America, including construction, import and export of goods, and real estate sales,” the statement added. 

The State Department wants information that could help disrupt Hezbollah's revenue streams, target its donors, shut down financial institutions which facilitate its transactions, identify its front companies, and take down “criminal schemes involving Hezbollah members and supporters.” (BB/VFI News)  

“For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” - Luke 8:17

One in five Israeli combat soldiers is female, a senior officer said in a recent Knesset hearing, underlining a major uptick in women serving in fighting roles.

“Today, women make up 20.9% of the IDF’s combat force – this is an unprecedented figure. We’re also seeing an increase in the technological units, but the main surge is in women serving as combat soldiers,” Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb, head of the Personnel Directorate’s Planning and Personnel Management Division, said on May 7 while presenting official data to Knesset members in a discussion focused on female combat soldiers in the context of the need for an equitable conscription law for ultra-Orthodox men.

Out of 18,915 Haredim who received initial draft orders since July 2024, around 319 have enlisted; 2,521 who ignored multiple draft orders were sent immediate call-up orders requiring them to show up at an induction center within 48 hours or be declared a draft evader.

In direct opposition to Haredi men evading the draft, Maj. Sapir Barabi, head of the Sources Department at the IDF Personnel Directorate, noted that between 2012 and 2024 – based on recruitment yearbook data – the number of female combat soldiers rose tenfold.

Regarding the types of combat roles open to women, the IDF said that women can today be assigned to 58% of combat positions. Units still closed to women include all of the IDF’s maneuvering infantry and armored forces, along with the vast majority of commando units, all of which are trained to operate within enemy territory. (TOI/VFI News)

On Tuesday, May 20, the Berlin-based Research and Information Center on Antisemitism (RIAS Berlin) released its annual report documenting antisemitic incidents in the German capital during 2024. 

The numbers are shocking: RIAS Berlin documented 2,521 antisemitic incidents in Berlin throughout 2024, representing a staggering 98.5% increase compared to 2023 (RIAS Report 2024, p. 12).

What’s particularly alarming is the direct connection between this surge and the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in southern Israel. Nearly 44% (1,101) of all documented incidents referenced the October 7 attacks or the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas (p. 12). 

The monthly average of antisemitic incidents in Berlin reached 210 in 2024 – approximately 7 incidents per day (p. 12). For context, from January to September 2023, RIAS Berlin recorded an average of 53 incidents per month.

Particularly concerning is the sharp rise in attacks against individuals, which reached the highest level since RIAS Berlin began documenting such incidents. The 2 cases of extreme violence and 36 of the 53 non-life threatening attacks targeted Jews, Israelis, or people perceived as Jewish. In 10 attacks, even children and teenagers were the victims (p. 18). (TOI/VFI News)

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” - Proverbs 8:13  

A gold ring set with a red gemstone, reportedly around 2,300 years old, was discovered in excavations conducted in the in the Jerusalem Walls National Park.

The excavations, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, are funded by the Elad Association. This is the second gold ring discovered in less than a year from the same excavation and the same period.

Rivka Lengler, a City of David excavator present when the ring was uncovered, says: " Already at first glance, you could see its great similarity to the ring discovered in our excavation only a few months ago, just that this one was even smaller. When I held this ring in my hand, I felt part of my history." 

Dr Marion Zindel, who conducted the ring’s research, shares, "That the two small rings and the rest of the jewelry were all discovered under the building’s floors raises the possibility that they were buried there on purpose." 

"One of the possibilities now being examined is that the jewelry found in the building’s foundations was in the context of executing of a well-known Hellenistic period custom in which betrothed women would bury jewelry and other childhood objects in the house foundations as a symbol of the transition from childhood to adulthood.”(INN/VFI News) 

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

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