VFI News Freed Terrorists Emerge as Millionaires Under PA Pay-to-Slay Scheme

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas: “Disarm or be destroyed.” After Hamas violated the ceasefire three times in just one week, Israel launched powerful air and naval strikes in Rafah and Khan Yunis, signaling that patience has run out. As the conflict threatens to reignite, U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Jerusalem to negotiate tense ceasefire details, while American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner continued efforts to recover the remains of murdered hostages from Gaza.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sparked outrage by threatening to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in Canada, further isolating Israel on the world stage. Inside Gaza, reports of Hamas executing its domestic opponents reveal the group’s violent grip on power and its refusal to disarm or surrender control. President Trump has vowed that the United States will not allow Hamas to rearm, warning that America will intervene militarily if necessary.

As Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards step up their efforts to rearm and threaten Israel’s northern border, tensions continue to rise across the Middle East. Iran’s defiance over its nuclear program and its refusal to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency have raised fears of another regional confrontation.

Amid political division inside Israel and growing financial hardship among ordinary citizens, Vision for Israel continues its mission to provide humanitarian aid, emergency shelters, and support for first responders. Barry Segal brings you the latest from Jerusalem with analysis, prophetic insight, and a call to prayer for Israel and the nations.

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A former senior military prosecutor said that 160 of the 250 convicted terrorists freed in the latest hostage deal left prison as millionaires after years of Palestinian Authority salary payments. He described a formal system that treats incarcerated terrorists as state “employees,” with monthly pay that rises with seniority and time served. Long-term prisoners saw those funds accumulate over decades, sometimes while also receiving larger canteen transfers and release bonuses upon their release from jail.

He argued that the policy, rooted in PA legislation and increased in 2006 and again in 2011, funnels hundreds of millions of shekels annually to imprisoned terrorists and families of deceased attackers. Israeli officials have documented these outlays in past public reports. The former prosecutor said the scale of the program means some of the recently freed convicts crossed the seven-figure shekel mark by the time of their release, and in some cases are now eligible for guaranteed PA jobs.

He also criticized the broader framework that enabled the funds to flow for years, warning that unless current agreements are enforced “to the last detail,” Israel could face renewed conflict and incentives for more violence. He urged clear, firm conditions in any ongoing negotiations over hostages and Gaza, saying that rewarding terror only perpetuates it.

(INN/VFI News)

“Lord, remember the victims of terror and protect the people of Israel. Cut off every incentive that rewards violence, and turn the hearts of those who plot harm. Give leaders courage to uphold justice and the wisdom to secure every hostage’s release quickly and safely.”

Opening the Knesset’s winter session on Monday, October 20, 2025, the prime minister delivered a combative address, asserting that halting the campaign last year would have led to catastrophe. He claimed that only sustained military pressure—including operations in Gaza City—brought about the current hostage-release framework on terms Israel could accept.

Amid frequent heckling and expulsions from the chamber, he argued that an early ceasefire would have been interpreted by enemies as surrender, raising the specter of mass-casualty threats. The premier said the government will continue to pursue the return of all captives while keeping forces deployed against remaining Hamas strongholds.

Opposition leaders pushed back, questioning his stewardship since October 7, 2023, and the path that led to the present stalemate. The exchange set a sharpened tone for the new legislative session as debates over wartime policy, security, and national cohesion intensify.

(TOI/VFI News)

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

The prime minister replaced National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi effective immediately, amid reported policy rifts over the war in Gaza. Hanegbi, a longtime Likud figure and minister, was said to have opposed a summer push to enter Gaza City as well as a recent attempt to target Hamas leaders abroad. Gil Reich, Hanegbi’s deputy and a former deputy director of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, was named acting head of the National Security Council.

In a parting statement, Hanegbi thanked the premier for the opportunity to present independent views during a demanding period, while noting that disagreements had persisted. He warned that, despite a current ceasefire, Israel remains on multiple fronts and that the missions to free all hostages and ensure Gaza cannot threaten Israel have not yet been fulfilled.

The reshuffle puts a new adviser at the center of war policy as officials weigh the next stages in Gaza and the broader regional picture. It also spotlights the delicate balance between internal debate and unified execution during an extended conflict.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14

Ankara is pursuing Western warplanes to modernize its aging fleet and narrow the gap with regional competitors, including Israel. Building on improved ties, Turkey has floated proposals to obtain 40 Eurofighter Typhoons and, down the line, US-made F-35s despite current American restrictions. Officials hope friendlier relations with Europe and Washington will help secure approvals and deliveries.

Turkish strategists see the procurement as part of a dual track: procuring advanced jets abroad while developing a domestic stealth-fighter program. The effort reflects Ankara’s desire to bolster deterrence, enhance interoperability with NATO partners, and expand its industrial base.

Regional observers note that airpower balances can shift quickly based on access to platforms, training, and sustainment. For Israel, which already fields F-35s and plans further upgrades, Turkey’s shopping list underscores how Gaza-related diplomacy is intersecting with evolving defense postures across the Middle East.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7

Experience the uplifting and inspiring words of Shabchi Yerushalayim, a beautiful song based on Psalm 147:12-13. This powerful passage calls on Jerusalem to praise the Lord for His blessings, protection, and strength. With stirring melodies and heartfelt lyrics, this song reminds us of God's unwavering love and His promise to bless and safeguard His people. Sing along and let the words fill your heart with gratitude and faith. "Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you." - Psalm 147:12-13 

Iran ratified a law to join a United Nations convention against terror financing, part of a broader push to gain access to global banking and trade. The move aligns with Tehran’s bid to address long-standing concerns of the Financial Action Task Force, which returned Iran to its blacklist in 2020. Officials suggest the pivot could lessen isolation around its financial sector if accompanied by verifiable reforms.

The administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian campaigned on easing sanctions and reengaging with Western economies. Yet the step comes as Iran is accused internationally of backing armed groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Whether this legal change brings tangible relief will depend on implementation and the perceptions of watchdogs and partner states.

For Israel and its allies, Iran’s financial posture is inseparable from regional security. Any reduction in terror financing—if it materializes—would mark a significant shift. If not, the signature risks being seen as a tactical gesture rather than a change in behavior.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Father, expose and uproot every stream that funds violence against Israel. Restrain those who plan evil, and give international authorities the resolve to enforce truth, transparency, and peace. Let genuine repentance replace double talk, and deliver our region from bloodshed.”

As the war enters its third year, the army has tracked dozens of suicides among service members and a surge of applications for recognition of war-related mental illness. Veterans grappling with PTSD have maintained an encampment outside the Knesset, pressing for faster care and long-term support. Their stories point to traumas carried home from Gaza and to the steep human costs borne by soldiers and families.

Clinicians and advocates describe a system racing to expand services: more treatment slots, improved benefits, and streamlined recognition processes. Even so, many say the gaps remain painful—wait times, stigma, and the challenge of returning to ordinary life while the conflict grinds on. Families of the fallen emphasize that timely intervention and follow-up can save lives.

The debate over resources and responsibility echoes across Israeli society. Policymakers face the task of funding comprehensive mental health care while sustaining operational readiness. For veterans and their loved ones, the need is immediate: accessible therapy, community support, and hope.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Healer of Israel, bind up the brokenhearted and comfort those who mourn. Strengthen veterans, families, and caregivers; shorten wait times for therapy; and provide effective treatment that restores minds and lives. Let Your peace guard the hearts of all who have carried the weight of battle.”

A Haifa researcher reports a new approach that flags high suicide risk among people with bipolar disorder using a simple blood test. The team built an artificial-intelligence model that reads genetic signatures in white blood cells and, in a peer-reviewed publication, surpassed 95% accuracy. With bipolar patients facing far higher lifetime suicide risks than the general public, a reliable screening tool could enable earlier intervention and closer monitoring.

The study, produced with Canadian and Italian collaborators, is framed as a first step toward broader risk models that combine biomarkers, brain measures, and behavioral data. Researchers stress the need for larger, long-term studies across diverse populations to validate and refine the method, and for protocols to guide treatment responses when a test signals elevated risk.

If confirmed, such testing could give psychiatrists and caregivers a practical tool to personalize care plans, adjust medications, and mobilize support services before a crisis. The hope is to save lives through timely, targeted action.

(TOI/VFI News)

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3

A Knesset report tallies a sharp rise in emigration over the past three years, with roughly 125,000 Israelis leaving the country and no immediate plans to return. The analysis describes a “tsunami” of departures tied to economic pressures, prolonged insecurity, and social strains intensified by the Gaza war. Demographers warn that departures among working-age professionals can ripple through tax revenue, innovation, and public services.

Government ministries have floated responses: incentives to bring citizens home, expanded support for families, and programs to rebuild battered sectors. The debate over causes and cures is likely to dominate the policy agenda through the coming year, alongside the urgent tasks of recovery and defense.

Community leaders, meanwhile, call for initiatives that renew social trust and a shared sense of the future. They argue that restoring stability and opportunity at home is essential to reversing the outflow and keeping Israel’s brightest minds invested in the nation’s next chapter.

(TOI/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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