VFI News IDF Recovers Dead Bodies of 5 Hostages, Netanyahu Speaks at US Congress

Join Liran Segal Snyder on this week's VFI News from Israel as we delve into Prime Minister Netanyahu's controversial address to Congress, the absence of Vice President Kamala Harris, and the intense reactions that followed.

We'll also cover Netanyahu's key meetings with President Biden and former President Trump, the ongoing military conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and the IDF's daring rescue mission in Gaza.

Additionally, we'll explore the Temple Mount controversy involving Itamar Ben Gvir, updates on the Philadelphi Corridor, and the escalating tensions on Israel's northern border.

Finally, get the latest on Israel's Olympic team heading to Paris amidst a hostile global atmosphere. Don't miss out!

#vfinews #netanyahu #congress #hamas #gaza

The bodies of hostages Maya Goren, Master Sergeant (Res.) Oren Goldin, Staff Sergeant Tomer Ahimas, and Sergeant Kiril Brodski have been recovered from Hamas captivity in Gaza, the IDF and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said in a joint statement on Thursday morning, July 25.

The bodies were recovered from Khan Yunis during an IDF operation led by ISA field analysts and coordinators, the statement said.

According to reliable intelligence obtained, it was determined that Maya Goren was murdered, and Master Sergeant (Res.) Oren Goldin, Staff Sergeant Tomer Ahimas, and Sergeant Kiril Brodski fell in combat during the brutal October 7th attack, and their bodies were subsequently abducted to the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday morning, the IDF added: “It has been cleared for publication that during the joint IDF and ISA operation, the body of the fallen soldier held captive, Sergeant Major (Res.) Ravid Aryeh Katz, who fell in combat during the brutal October 7th attacks and whose body was abducted to the Gaza Strip, was also rescued.”

The IDF and ISA will continue to operate to “bring the hostages home.” The rescue was conducted on Wednesday by ISA and IDF soldiers from the Commando Brigade, “Yahalom” Unit, and Egoz Unit with the direction of the 98th Division. (INN / VFI News) 

“Lord, we pray for the families of the deceased and we ask that You bring them comfort and peace which transcends all understanding. We send our heartfelt condolences to them and we hope that they cherish their memories in the years to come. We thank You for all Your provisions and for allowing us to receive the bodies of the hostages who perished. We pray in Yeshua’s name for all the hostages who remain captive that they are either released or rescued very soon.

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

All countries who are at peace with Israel and who will make peace with Israel must join a military alliance against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday, July 24, as he delivered his historic fourth address to a joint session of the US Congress.

“We saw a glimpse of that alliance in April,” when five armies took to the skies to shoot down an Iranian missile and drone attack against the Jewish state, he said. “This new alliance would be a natural extension of the groundbreaking Abraham Accords,” he stated, noting that it should be called the “Abraham Alliance.”

Netanyahu thanked both US President Joe Biden for his role as the architect of that April defense and spoke of his gratitude to former US President Donald Trump for brokering the Abraham Accords. “Israel will always remain America’s indispensable ally,” he said, adding that “I came here today to say: Thank you, America ‘for your support and solidarity’ and ‘for standing with Israel in our hour of need.’”

Netanyahu also appealed to the US to fast-track military aid to help Israel destroy Hamas, end the Gaza war, and prevent a broader war in the Middle East. He was received warmly in the House Chamber, with his 55-minute address interrupted some 80 times by applause, the vast majority standing ovations.

Outside of the Congressional building anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrated against Netanyahu. According to the Jewish American group J-Street, some 68 out of the 263 Democratic members of Congress boycotted the speech. Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was also absent from the speech. Further, Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky skipped it in protest. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we thank You for the invaluable ally You have given us in America. We are extremely grateful for all the support we are getting and we pray that You guide the leaders You have allowed to govern our nation into being Godly leaders who fear You and make all their decisions based on Your Word.”

Approximately 200 people were arrested after anti-Israel agitators gathered in the Cannon Rotunda on Tuesday afternoon, July 23, to protest the Israeli government.

A video shows a large group of protesters wearing red shirts sitting in circles in the Cannon House Office Building’s rotunda. Demonstrators clapped and chanted as police officers were seen apprehending fellow protesters, who were escorted away.

The protesters appeared to be part of a Jewish group, with several of them wearing kippahs. Some of the shirts read “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel.” Other shirts read “Stop Arming Israel” and “Not in Our Name.”

Further, US Capitol Police (USCP) confirmed on Thursday that officers arrested six protesters inside the Capitol building during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Wednesday remarks to Congress. Five individuals were first arrested in the House gallery for standing up during the prime minister’s address.

The five were wearing yellow shirts with the words “Seal the Deal Now!” prominently displayed in black and red, according to police sources. All individuals arrested have direct ties to hostages who have been held in Gaza for over 292 days by Hamas terrorists, according to an analysis by American media.

Around the same time, an anti-Israel organization let loose thousands of maggots and crickets inside the hotel where Netanyahu was staying during his visit to Washington DC. The Palestinian Youth Movement posted a video of the incident on its Instagram page on Wednesday. The video showed the insects on a table flanked by American and Israeli flags. (FN / VFI News)

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.” - Genesis 6:11

About a decade ago, the UN decided to measure the happiness of citizens in various countries. This global happiness index is based on a survey asking respondents to rate their happiness on a scale from 1-10, the help they receive from the state in times of need, the degree of freedom in their country, and the level of corruption.

Unsurprisingly, Finland consistently ranks as the happiest country, primarily due to its minimal economic disparity. Meanwhile, Israel continues to climb the ranks, positioning itself among the top 10 happiest countries.

This raises a fascinating question: How does Israel maintain such a high happiness ranking despite its tumultuous reality, marked by conflicts, pressures, and tensions? Even more intriguing is how, following the traumatic events of October, Israel’s happiness index not only remained stable but actually improved.

Following the crisis on October 7, many anticipated a significant mental health downturn in Israel. Contrary to these predictions, the Health Ministry reported a decrease in suicides from October to December compared to previous years, including the pandemic period.

One of the key elements measured in the happiness survey is the residents’ willingness to help strangers. Israel excels in this regard, demonstrating a strong culture of mutual aid, especially in times of distress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this communal support significantly boosted Israel’s happiness index.

After October 7, Israel also witnessed a remarkable shift. The traumatic event spurred an unprecedented wave of solidarity and mutual support. The sense of “togetherness” and shared destiny became palpable. People discovered a mental fortitude and a sense of meaning that transcended individual struggles. (JPost / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for gifting us joy and strength during trials and tribulations. We thank You for everything You give or permit that allows us to produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, kindness, peace, joy, forbearance, goodness, self-control, and faithfulness. We trust and hope that everything happens according to Your perfect Will and we rejoice in knowing that You are in total control of our future. We invite You into our hearts to dwell in them and finish the amazing work You have started in us.”

Join Batya Segal for this week’s Parasha where she talks about the Zeal of the Lord and his dealings with the priest-hood. This week's Parasha is from the book of Numbers 25:10-30:1.

Israel will begin its quest at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this week as the blue-and-white delegation looks to emulate the wonderful results achieved at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, which took place in 2021 due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

At the previous Games in Japan, Israel took home four medals: two golds and two bronzes. Linoy Ashram in Rhythmic Individual All-Around Gymnastics and Artem Dolgopyat in the Men’s Floor Routine Gymnastics finished in first place in their respective disciplines. Avishag Semberg took third place in Taekwondo -49kg, and the Judo Mixed Team also grabbed a bronze for their efforts.

In this edition of the Games, there will be 88 Israeli athletes competing in 16 different sports, with 54 men and 34 women. However, 18 of the men are from the soccer team. In comparison, at the last Olympics, 90 blue-and-white athletes were participating in 16 sports, with 24 of the 55 men coming from the baseball team.

Artem Dolgopyat will once again compete for gold in the All-Around and remains Israel’s best chance for another first-place finish among all disciplines. At the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, he won the gold medal in the floor exercise.

Dolgopyat had woken up the morning of the event to the news that Israel had been attacked by Hamas from Gaza and decided not to withdraw from the final despite the mental anguish he was experiencing. “It was very difficult for me to disconnect. When I got to the arena, I told myself that I have to be in the competition and that’s it.” He put black ribbons on the Israeli flag and on his left arm to mourn the Israeli victims. (JPost / VFI News)

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:7

Germany’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday, July 24, that it has banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) association and its subsidiary organizations, saying it pursues radical Islamist goals.

The ministry said in a statement that 53 of the organization’s premises had been searched by authorities in eight German states early on Wednesday, acting on a court order.

In addition to the Hamburg-based IZH, which includes one of the oldest mosques in Germany known for its turquoise exterior, its subgroups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin were also banned. As a result, four Shiite mosques will be closed, said the ministry.

“Today, we banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity, women’s rights, an independent judiciary, and our democratic government.”

She said she wanted to make clear that “this ban absolutely does not apply to the peaceful practice of the Shiite religion.” The ministry said the IZH acted as a direct representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader and sought to bring about an Islamic revolution in Germany that would create theocratic rule. In addition, IZH promotes antisemitism and the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, which is also banned, it said. (JPost / VFI News)

“For all of them, midnight is their morning; they make friends with the terrors of darkness.” - Job 24:17

Businessman and investor Elon Musk announced on Tuesday, July 23, that his Starlink communications system is now active in a Gaza hospital.

“Starlink is now active in a Gaza hospital with the support of the UAE and Israel,” Musk wrote in a post on his social media site X. Starlink provides satellite internet coverage to 80 countries and also aims to provide global mobile broadband.

In October, three weeks after Hamas attacked Israel and the war in Gaza that followed, Musk promised to connect international humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza to Starlink’s satellite internet, following the collapse of all ISPs due to Israeli attacks on Hamas infrastructure.

Officials in Israel, including the head of the Israel Security Agency, spoke with Musk after his announcement and expressed serious concern that Musk’s decision would serve Hamas and its activities in the war.

Musk later decided to call Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and made clear that he supports Israel and claimed that the connection would be “only for humanitarian purposes.” (INN / VFI News)

While American cybersecurity company CrowdStrike’s workers were sweating last weekend not only to fix the unprecedented global computer shutdown it caused but also at attempts to draft letters to customers, employees, and investors, something entirely different was happening in Israeli cybersecurity companies.

On the surface, most Israeli high-tech companies, big and small, took care to post diplomatic LinkedIn messages supporting their customers and offering specific solutions for rebooting their computers amid the impressive worldwide crash.

Behind closed doors, however, quite a few champagne bottles were opened. CrowdStrike may not be a familiar name for many, but it’s a darling of the global cybersecurity market and the fiercest rival of almost every Israeli cybersecurity company.

Before the Israeli company Wiz emerged, CrowdStrike held most of the cybersecurity industry’s coveted titles. For the Israeli cybersecurity industry, the company’s troubles are an opportunity. CrowdStrike is Israeli company Palo Alto Networks’s main competitor and resembles it both in size and in its aim of building a comprehensive platform that provides all the cybersecurity needs for organizations. (YNet / VFI News)

“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.” - Acts 20:33

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

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