VFI News Israel Rejects Deal for the Release of 5 Hostages, Continues on the Offensive

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Israel on Monday, May 26, rejected a proposal crafted by Hamas for a partial deal that would see the release of five hostages. "[The proposal is] very far away from the outline that we are willing to negotiate on," an Israeli official told Israeli media.  

The proposal was formulated by Hamas and passed on to the US through direct backchannel communications. The US then presented the proposal to Israel. Notably, the US didn't say whether it supported the proposal or not.    

The proposal included the release of five living hostages in return for the following points: IDF withdrawing to its positions in Gaza from two months ago, allowing humanitarian aid into all areas of Gaza, continued talks for the release of remaining living and dead hostages, what was described as "some kind of American recognition of Hamas."  

Also on Monday, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the southern half of the Gaza Strip, requesting all residents to move west "immediately" to al-Mawasi.  This is because the IDF is launching an "unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of terror organizations," Adraee added. 

The military confirmed the same day that the Israel Air Force attacked targets including terrorists, weapons depots, sniper posts, anti-tank posts, tunnel shafts, and other terror infrastructure. The IDF, as part of Operation "Gideon's Chariots," conducted strikes on over 200 targets over the last few days. (JPost/VFI News)  

“Dear God, we pray for all the hostages to be returned as soon as possible and for a permanent dismantlement of the Hamas. Please, bring the criminals who insistently choose evil to justice and prevent them from harming any more innocent civilians. We trust in Your plan and will for Israel and we will patiently wait for them to unfold and reveal Your mercies, glory and justice. We also pray for a permanent end to the war and for the Palestinian civilians to enjoy Your knowledge, peace, safety, providence and prosperity. In Yeshua's Name we pray, amen.”

The IDF thwarted an attempted stabbing attack in Hebron in Judea and Samaria on Saturday afternoon, May 24, the IDF said. The terrorist was killed, and there were no casualties reported among IDF troops. 

The attack occurred at the Tamar checkpoint, according to a Hebrew newspaper, and the soldiers involved in thwarting the attack were from the IDF's 5060 Reserve Battalion.

Large numbers of IDF troops from Judea and Samaria Division were called to the scene and were isolating the area and conducting searches to ensure there were no additional casualties. 

Further, the IDF said on Sunday morning that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen that triggered sirens in Jerusalem, its surrounding areas, and in southern Judea and Samaria.

Shrapnel from the missile fell in an open area in the south Hebron Hills, Israeli media reported. Footage circulated on social media showed what appeared to be the burnt shrapnel of a THAAD air defense missile that landed in the area.  

Meanwhile, three rockets were launched from the southern Gaza Strip towards the Gaza border communities on Monday morning, the IDF confirmed.  Two of the rockets fell short inside the Gaza Strip, and one was intercepted before crossing into Israel. (JPost/VFI News)  

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My Name.” - Psalm 91:14

IDF strikes reportedly killed at least 20 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, May 25, including a local journalist and a senior rescue service official, according to Hamas-run local health authorities.

The strikes were reportedly carried out in Khan Yunis in the south, Jabalya in the north, and Nuseirat in central Gaza, the Hamas-affiliated medics said. The IDF did not comment on the strikes.

In Jabalya, they said local journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda and several family members were killed by an airstrike that hit his house earlier on Sunday. Another airstrike in Nuseirat killed Ashraf Abu Nar, a senior official in the territory's civil emergency service, and his wife in their house, medics added.

Meanwhile, earlier, the IDF said it would probe claims that an Israeli drone strike killed nine children of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s in their home, in a statement given to Israeli media on Saturday.

British media stated that one of al-Najjar’s children and her husband were badly injured but survived, with her surviving 11-year-old son being operated on. Sources within the hospital testified that the couple had no connection to Hamas, and eyewitnesses said the mother collapsed when she saw the bodies of her children arrive at the hospital, Israeli media reported.

Dr. Muneer Alboursh, director of health in Gaza, said on X/Twitter that the al-Najjars' family house was hit by a missile just minutes after her husband returned home. (JPost/VFI News)

“Heavenly Father, we come to You with heavy hearts to ask You to protect all the innocent children amid this terrible war. We send our heartfelt condolences to Dr. al-Najjar and her family and we pray that you comfort them and lead them to You and your salvation. We pray in Yeshua's Name that the truth be revealed regarding these tragedies and that the true culprits face Your justice. We pray that You would help our forces target terrorists only and that civilians will be protected in this incredibly difficult situation. We also pray that if this wasn’t done by Israeli forces, the truth will come forth and justice served to those responsible.”

American authorities arrested a man at JFK International Airport after he attempted to bomb the US Embassy office in Tel Aviv, American media reported on Sunday, May 25. 

Joseph Neumayer, a dual American-German citizen, was arrested after spitting on a security guard in front of the embassy on May 19. He was initially detained by guards but managed to break free. He left behind a backpack with three Molotov cocktails and was arrested in his hotel room in Tel Aviv. 

Israeli authorities deported him and returned him to the United States on Sunday. The American news outlet reported that he posted earlier that day: “Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f--- the west.” Neumayer could face up to 20 years in prison. 

The DOJ release added that posts of Neumayer had also pointed to a plan to assassinate US President Donald Trump. US Attorney-General Pam Bondi said that her office would not “tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting US interests abroad.”  

“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,” said Bondi in the release. FBI Director Kash Patel added that Neumayer's “despicable and violent behavior” would not be tolerated “at home or abroad.” (JPost/VFI News) 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday, May 23, that Tehran’s discussions with the United States over its nuclear program were “complicated,” as the fifth round of talks concluded in Rome.

“The negotiations are too complicated to be resolved in two or three meetings,” said Araghchi, who leads the Iranian negotiating team in the talks mediated by Oman. Araghchi said there was potential for progress in nuclear negotiations after Oman made several proposals.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said “some but not conclusive progress” was made. “We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days to allow us to proceed toward the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honorable agreement.”

The sentiment was echoed by a senior Trump administration official who called the over-two-hour-long talks on Friday “constructive.”

“We made further progress, but there is still work to be done,” the official told reporters in a statement, adding that both sides agreed to meet again “in the near future.” (TOI/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray that You work in the hearts of the Iranian leaders and soften them. We also ask that You do not permit them to make nuclear weapons but that You cause them to fully agree to President Trump's terms. In Yeshua's Name we pray, amen.”

Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said that he believes that Syria and Lebanon could join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel before Saudi Arabia, in an interview published on a conservative media platform on Thursday, May 22.

“There’s no reason now why we wouldn’t be moving into accommodation with Syria and Lebanon,” he said. “We have dramatically changed the paradigm there. I’m very upbeat about the potential for an Abraham Accord with Syria and Lebanon, and that may actually precede Saudi Arabia.”

Speaking to the platform’s CEO, Marissa Streit, Leiter added that Saudi Arabia was considering joining the accords “because, in 2019, they weren’t very far away. If President Trump had remained in office in 2020, we probably would’ve reached that point – a complete normalization with Saudi Arabia.”

Regarding Lebanon’s possibility of normalizing relations, the ambassador said, “Lebanon has the opportunity to ‘emerge from its failed state status and reassert itself as a civil society.” 

Meanwhile, regarding Syria, the new Syrian transitional government has been harassing Palestinian factions in Syria, causing them to pack their bags and leave. Numerous Palestinian terrorist groups, as well as other groups, have operated from Damascus for decades. 

On May 3, reports said that officials in Damascus had detained Talal Naji, the head of the PFLP-GC. In late April, the new authorities also detained members of Islamic Jihad. These moves are seen as a way for Syria to crack down on pro-Iranian groups because the Palestinian terror groups are often pro-Iranian. (JPost/VFI News) 

“Dear Lord, we pray for peace with all our neighbors. We pray for the leaders of Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iran. We pray that You grant them wisdom, repentance and the knowledge of Your Love. We are grateful for who You are and everything You do for us and in favor of world peace. We pray in Yeshua's Name that You will see the Abraham accords come to fruition with Syria, Lebanon and every other Middle-Eastern country. We praise Your Holy Name and we thank you for everything from the depths of our hearts.”

On Thursday, May 22, Rev. Franklin Graham offered his condolences to the couple murdered by an alleged left-wing pro-Palestine suspect. Graham addressed through media the rise of antisemitism in America, which he tied to an expanded footprint for Islamic studies in U.S. universities. 

“[Y]ou know, the Gospel message, Greta — it’s simple,” he said. “It’s that God loves us, that He created us, and we have a problem, and that problem is sin. We saw that manifest itself there in Washington yesterday, as this couple was murdered.” 

“Sin has infected the hearts of every person in this world. And the only way sin can be dealt with was for God to send His son, Jesus Christ to take our sins. And He died and shed His blood on that cross, Greta. He was buried for our sins. And on the third day, God raised Him to life. And the only hope for this world is Christ changing the hearts of each individual, one at a time.” 

“And He can do that,” Graham continued. “He did it to my heart when I was 22. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life, and He changed me. So this part of the world needs our prayers.”

“We see antisemitism growing in this country, and a lot of this has to do with the many millions of dollars that have been given to our universities to have centers for Islamic study and these types of things, which are just fronts, really, for antisemitic messages to be taught to our young people.” (BB/VFI News) 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Hamashiach Yeshua, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness” - Romans 3:23-25a

British Airways on Friday, May 23, announced the suspension of all flights to Israel until at least August 1, citing security concerns amidst ongoing regional instability.

The decision, confirmed by a spokesperson for the UK's flag carrier, follows the missile strike by Iranian-backed Houthi forces earlier this month that impacted the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport, causing injuries and travel disruptions.

"We continually monitor operating conditions and have made the decision to suspend our flights to and from Tel Aviv, up to and including 31 July," the airline stated, as quoted by UK-based Jewish media. "The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority. We’ve apologized to our customers for the inconvenience."

British Airways is one of many international airlines that have halted or postponed services to Israel since the start of the war against Hamas on October 7, 2023. 

Notable carriers such as Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, and EasyJet have at times similarly suspended or delayed their flights to the Jewish state. (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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