VFI News Hamas Threatens Hostage Execution Amid IDF Gaza Operations

Hamas Threatens Hostage Execution Amid IDF Gaza Operations . . .

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Hamas on Saturday published a new photo of hostage Matan Zangauker, claiming Israeli troops were “besieging” the area where he was being held in Gaza and threatening to execute him should troops come near.

The military stressed in a statement that no attempt had been made to extract Zangauker.

In the image, Zangauker is propped up on his side as a blanket covers his lower body, while an IV drip bag can be seen in the background.

“We affirm that the enemy will not be able to recover him alive. We have preserved his life for 20 months; if this prisoner is killed during an attempt to free him, the occupation army will be the one responsible for his death,” said Hudhaifa Kahlout — known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida — the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

“This is a final warning,” he added.

The photo was published amid intensified military operations throughout Gaza, as negotiations for a new ceasefire and hostage release deal continue.

Following Hamas’s publication of the photo, Zangauker’s mother, Einav, told a 1,000-strong crowd during a weekly protest: “I’m very worried about Matan’s physical and emotional state. I’m very afraid of a deterioration in his condition.”

She added in remarks addressed to the premier that her son’s “blood will stain your hands” if he fails to bring him back.

It was reported in May that Zangauker was struggling to stand on his own and was suffering from ongoing intestinal problems. He has gone through long periods of closing himself off in a corner, refusing to speak or eat, and suffers from muscular atrophy.

Zangauker was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, alongside his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. Gritzewsky was released on November 30, 2023.

Hamas has previously said it would execute hostages if Israeli troops were seen approaching. In August 2024, Hamas murdered six hostages in Rafah as Israeli forces operated nearby.

Military officials have reiterated that every strike and operation in Gaza is carefully planned to avoid endangering hostages. (TOI/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we pray for all the hostages who are still alive in Gaza and we ask that You sustain them miraculously. Please give them the strength to persevere and bring them back home to their families. We ask that you comfort and heal the wounded, protect the innocent, and let Your peace dwell over the land of Israel.”

President Trump warned that Iran will not be allowed to enrich uranium—hinting at possible military strikes after it was revealed Tehran has been secretly advancing a near weapons-grade nuclear program.

“They won’t be enriching. If they enrich, then we’re going to have to do it the other way,” Trump told reporters. “There’s not going to be enrichment.”

Israel reassured the White House that it wouldn’t attack Iran unless Trump signals that talks have failed. Trump emphasized he may act willingly if a deal isn’t reached.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that ending uranium enrichment was “100%” against Iran’s interests and criticized US proposals.

The drafted US deal allowed low-level enrichment for civilian use. However, the UN’s IAEA disclosed that Iran increased its 60%-enriched uranium stockpile by 50% between February and May. 90% enrichment is considered weapons-grade.

Officials warned that Iran could convert its stockpile to weapons-grade within two weeks. Netanyahu called on international allies to stop Iran.

Trump revived a maximum pressure sanctions campaign and European nations may also reimpose sanctions previously lifted. (NYP/VFI News)

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn." – Isaiah 54:17

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas praised the October 7 Hamas attack as achieving “important goals,” describing it as a strategic blow to Israel while ignoring the casualties.

In an interview published in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and translated by Palestinian Media Watch, Abbas said the attack “shook the foundations of the Israeli entity,” exposing military and intelligence failures.

Abbas stated that Hamas’s actions “exposed the false claims” about Israel’s military strength and criticized the army’s failure to prevent losses. His only criticism focused on the consequences for Gazan residents.

Adding to the controversy, his adviser Mahmoud Al-Habbash defended the attack as “legitimate resistance.”

These comments come as France and Saudi Arabia prepare to sponsor a UN event to promote recognition of Palestinian statehood—an event Israel condemns as rewarding terror.

Critics say Abbas’s remarks reveal a disturbing support for terror within the PA and call into question its eligibility for statehood. (JP/VFI News)

“Our heavenly Father, we pray that You bring conviction to those who justify violence and remove those who seek violence and war from positions of power. Please protect the innocent from those who pursue harm and bring healing to the many who suffered because of this war. We ask for your wisdom and strength to prevail and for peace to come upon Israel.”

IDF Spokesman Effie Defrin delivered a statement from beneath the European Hospital in Gaza, revealing that Hamas had diverted European aid to fund terror tunnels.

Defrin condemned Hamas’s use of civilian infrastructure, stating, “This is where European aid funds ended up—not in medical care, but in the construction of terror tunnels.”

Senior Hamas leaders, including Mohamed Sinwar and Shabana, used the facility. Sinwar was confirmed killed in a strike.

Alongside large amounts of cash, a weapons stockpile was found. The facility was a hub for orchestrating terror operations, including the October 7 attacks.

Defrin emphasized the IDF’s mission to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure and end the exploitation of humanitarian resources. (INN/VFI News)

"You shall not pervert justice... you shall follow what is altogether just." – Deuteronomy 16:19-20

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IDF troops from the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit early Monday morning took over the “Madleen” flotilla, which was making its way to the shores of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the maritime blockade imposed by Israel.

The activists on the ship were detained without incident, and the ship is now on its way to the port of Ashdod.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.”

“While Greta [Thunberg] and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza,” it added.

“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the ‘celebrities’ will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,” said the Foreign Ministry.

The IDF takeover was preceded by the activists reporting that an alarm had sounded on deck. Later, they clarified that it was a false alarm. The activists on the flotilla further claimed that drones surrounded the ship and sprayed it with a white, irritating substance.

In response to the activists' claims, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement in English which said, “The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law.”

“The yacht is claiming that it is delivering humanitarian aid. In fact, it is a media gimmick for publicity (which includes less than a single truckload of aid) - a ‘selfie yacht’.”

“The Gaza maritime zone remains an active conflict area, and Hamas has previously exploited sea routes for terrorist attacks, including the October 7th massacre. Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts,” it continued. (INN/VFI News)

“Dear God, we thank You for stopping the “Madleen” flotilla from arriving at the shores of Gaza. We pray that you would silence the lying tongues and reveal the truth to those who seek to harm and spread lies and hatred against Israel. We ask for Your justice to be done with those who were on the flotilla and for the truth to prevail. In Yeshua’s name we pray.”

Hamas and other terrorist groups have issued a warning to residents of the Gaza Strip, urging them not to trust what they described as “false promises from the occupation” or participate in “enemy plans,” threatening that doing so could provoke a severe response.

In an official statement, the groups claimed that the humanitarian aid distribution centers operated by the United States have become “death traps,” where civilians are allegedly lured by hunger and killed in what they referred to as daily “massacres.”

The statement further alleged that the true objective behind these aid centers is to dismantle UNRWA and shift the Palestinian Arab question from a political cause to a purely humanitarian one. According to the groups, this is part of a broader effort to facilitate forced displacement and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

In the past 24 hours, Hamas-affiliated militants have also issued direct threats toward aid workers distributing humanitarian supplies to civilians in Gaza, heightening concerns for the safety of relief personnel operating in the region. (INN/VFI News)

"Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." – Psalm 82:4

Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, announced on Sunday that the latest United States proposal for a nuclear deal fails to include the lifting of sanctions, signaling a significant roadblock in ongoing negotiations.

"The US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions," Ghalibaf stated in a video aired on Iranian state TV, accusing Washington of dishonesty and attempting to impose a "unilateral" agreement.

He added, "The delusional US president should know better and change his approach if he is really looking for a deal."

Since April, Tehran and Washington have engaged in five rounds of Omani-mediated talks, aiming to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement. Key sticking points in the negotiations remain the removal of economic sanctions and Iran's uranium enrichment program.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last week explicitly rejected the latest US proposal, emphasizing that enrichment is "key" to Iran's nuclear program.

Iran's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reiterated Tehran's stance, asserting, "Iran will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium."

Meanwhile, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran warned Sunday of potential reductions in cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog if a resolution is adopted against it. (INN/VFI News)

COPD, a deadly and incurable lung disease, is rising in Israel, especially among youth. Experts link this increase to post-October 7 stress and the lack of enforcement of public smoking laws.

Professor Zvi Fridlender emphasized the danger of both direct and secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoking and second- and third-hand smoke exposure accounts for over 70% of COPD cases in high-income countries. Symptoms include coughing, breathing difficulty, and fatigue.

Patients are at higher risk of other health problems such as lung cancer, infections, heart issues, and depression. Many can't walk a hundred meters and require oxygen tanks.

Smoking rates have significantly declined in other countries but increased in Israel since the Iron Swords War began. Fridlender highlighted the behavioral addiction involved, particularly among youth.

E-cigarettes also pose severe health risks and are linked to lung cancer. Activists are calling for higher taxes on tobacco products and stricter enforcement of public smoking bans. (JP/VFI News)

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit... Therefore honor God with your bodies." – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

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

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