VFI News It’s Like They’re Family’: 20 Hostages Return Home

Great news : https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rwc2zRlDeUM

Shalom from Israel. Great news — twenty living hostages have been released and are now safely back on Israeli soil, reuniting with their families. As President Donald J. Trump delivers his message to the Knesset, declaring “the war is over,” hopes rise for lasting peace. The Jerusalem Post headlines, “God bless the peacemaker,” while Israelis continue to pray for the release of the remaining 28 deceased hostages and for comfort to the families of the 915 soldiers who gave their lives in the war against Hamas. Trump calls this “the dawn of a new day.” Join us as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for true healing in the aftermath of this conflict.

#Israel #Trump #Hostages #PeaceDeal #Jerusalem

As we celebrate Simchat Torah and Shmini Atzeret, we extend our wishes for a blessed and peaceful holiday to all of you. We rejoice in the return of our hostages and praise the Lord, while also praying for their strength and healing. Chag Same'ach!

Tears and pride filled Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as all 20 living Gaza hostages were released after more than two years in captivity. Crowds wept, embraced, and waved signs welcoming the returnees, expressing both profound relief and sober gratitude. The atmosphere mixed celebration with reverence for the ordeal endured, capturing a national moment of homecoming and hope. Praise for President Donald Trump’s role in the process rang out from parts of the crowd, while others voiced criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reflecting the charged emotions of the day. 

As families awaited reunions and first medical checks, onlookers spoke of the hostages as if they were their own kin—an expression of solidarity that has defined Israel’s public square throughout the crisis. For many present, the day marked a long-prayed-for answer, even as they acknowledged the lingering pain and the continuing national debate over how best to secure the release and safety of all Israelis amid ongoing threats. 

The joyous return was tempered by remembrance of those who did not come home and by renewed calls to safeguard the country while pursuing every righteous path to peace. In the midst of cheers, there was a quiet resolve: to comfort the afflicted, to honor the resilience of the survivors, and to seek unity in a time of profound testing.  (JPost/VFI News)

“God of shalom, we thank You for bringing the hostages back home after 2 years. We ask that You bring healing and restoration to each hostage as they return to normal life and that You still the storms of anger and hurt. Cover Israel’s families with Your peace, protect the vulnerable, and help the nation walk together through this fragile transition. Restore hope and heal wounds that words and politics have opened.”

The United States is deploying a contingent of personnel to Israel to operate a coordination center focused on Gaza. Officials emphasized that this team is not for ground combat; rather, it will support situational awareness, deconfliction, and air operations that provide real-time information-sharing as the ceasefire–hostage framework advances. The move reflects an effort to stabilize implementation phases and reduce risks of miscalculation around the enclave’s perimeter while signaling continued strategic backing for Israel.

The center is expected to help synchronize humanitarian flows, airspace management, and liaison work between Israeli forces, US assets, and regional partners. By formalizing a joint picture of threats and needs, the effort aims to sustain quiet during hostage releases and IDF redeployments, while preserving the ability to respond to violations. The announcement comes as multiple timelines—hostage exchanges, prisoner releases, and force pullbacks—interlock under tight deadlines.

Regional observers frame the step as a deterrence and safety measure rather than an escalation. With concern about potential spoilers, the added coordination capacity could help enforce red lines and quickly surface any breaches to political channels. The stated scope is limited to proximity support for Israel’s security while facilitating humanitarian and deconfliction mechanisms tied to the ceasefire architecture. (JPost/VFI News)

"He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear." – Psalm 46:9

Israel released the names of 250 Palestinian security prisoners approved for release under the Gaza hostage framework, with authorities notifying affected families. The list spans several factions and includes individuals convicted of serious offenses, while some high-profile figures demanded by Hamas are not included. Government materials outline sequencing conditions tying prisoner releases to the safe return of all remaining hostages within defined windows.

The plan includes differing destinations for released prisoners—some to East Jerusalem, others to Judea and Samaria, and certain convicts slated for deportation—reflecting security assessments and legal constraints. Israel also detailed steps regarding detainees held since the war and provisions for handling the remains of terrorists, all within a phased approach meant to preserve leverage and accountability.

Families expressed mixed reactions as implementation nears. Officials have prepared contingency responses if deadlines or terms are breached, underscoring the fragility of the arrangement and the stakes for both sides during the crucial early phases of the truce. (TOI/VFI News)

"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." – Psalm 103:6

Large groups of displaced civilians began moving back toward Gaza City along the reopened coastal artery as IDF units pulled back to designated lines. Early movement was cautious, then swelled as people assessed the safety of routes and conditions in damaged neighborhoods. Accounts from the road captured a blend of relief and trepidation, with families hoping to find homes intact and basic services restorable after months of fighting.

Military notices warned civilians to stay clear of active positions even as traffic was permitted, and movement also resumed along parts of the main north–south corridor. The scene revealed both the promise of a tenuous calm and the uncertainty of how governance and reconstruction will proceed during the ceasefire. The return flows are closely linked to the hostage-release timetable and other deal milestones.

For many heading north, immediate needs—shelter, water, and family reunification—take precedence while the truce’s durability is tested on the ground. Communities balancing loss and endurance now face the long work of rebuilding life amid fragile quiet. (TOI/VFI News)

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." – Psalm 29:11

Join us as we welcome the freed hostages back home with this song.

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD."

At Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, a massive crowd gathered on Saturday, October 11, with the hope that this weekly rally might be the last before all captives return. US envoy Steve Witkoff told families and supporters that the hostages are coming home, capturing a mood of cautious expectancy rather than celebration before the releases are completed. Flags, signs, and a sea of supporters filled the plaza, reflecting the emotional weight of the moment.

Speakers urged unity and patience until the exchange is finalized and every person is safely back. Organizers framed the gathering as a show of strength, solidarity, and faith—an insistence on national resilience amid grief and endurance. The event also illustrated the broader public’s focus on concrete deliverables in the coming days.

As timelines tighten, the rally’s central message was to keep pressure on for full implementation while avoiding triumphalism until families are reunited. The crowd’s energy distilled shared hopes for safe returns and a stable calm that can hold. (TOI/VFI News)

“Lord, comfort the families who are waiting hour by hour. Protect the hostages and all who work for their safe return. Grant wisdom to leaders and courage to responders, and let peace take root across Israel and her borders.”

Diplomatic organizers in Egypt plan to hold a signing ceremony tied to the current Gaza framework, but both Israel and Hamas are expected to stay away. Their absence underscores unresolved sensitivities and the primacy of on-the-ground execution over optics. The event, intended to highlight international sponsorship and momentum, will proceed with third-party participation while the core stakeholders focus on implementation at home.

The decision reflects a calculation to avoid political blowback and maintain attention on the complex sequencing of steps—IDF redeployments, hostage releases, and prisoner exchanges—already underway. By decoupling ceremony from substance, officials signal that verifiable progress matters more than symbolic appearances, even as mediators seek broader public support for the deal.

While the absence may mute headlines, diplomats argue that the measure of success will be calm along the lines, safe returns for captives, and sustained humanitarian access—benchmarks likely to resonate more with affected families than a photo opportunity. (JPost/VFI News)

Across Israel, the prevailing mood is sober relief more than jubilation as the war’s end becomes tangible. People express gratitude for quiet and for returning loved ones, yet the scars—physical and emotional—remain. Communities balance mourning and resilience, aware that security challenges and unresolved questions will not vanish with a signature or a deadline.

Public conversations turn to rebuilding lives, strengthening preparedness, and fostering social cohesion after a long period of strain. The sense of relief is tempered by concern for the future and by the recognition that national healing will take time. In this in-between moment, many choose reflection over celebration, determined to honor loss while seeking a safer tomorrow for their families and communities.

This atmosphere of tempered relief underscores the work ahead—support for survivors, investment in security, and renewed attention to unity in public life. The path forward is measured in daily acts of care and steadiness rather than fanfare. (JPost/VFI News)

“Father, bind up the brokenhearted throughout Israel. Bring rest to the weary, protection to the vulnerable, and unity to neighborhoods and cities. Guide leaders, soldiers, and citizens alike toward wisdom, compassion, and lasting peace.”

The Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) plans to honor US President Donald Trump with its Lifetime Achievement Award, citing policies and partnerships it says reshaped regional dynamics and strengthened ties grounded in shared Judeo-Christian values. The award announcement accompanies the IAF’s “Top 50 Christian Allies” list around Sukkot observances and highlights faith-based advocacy for Israel during a difficult period.

The network behind the award spans parliamentary caucuses and Christian leaders engaged in diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and public support for Israel. Organizers point to sustained collaboration through conflict and recovery, with an eye toward continued cooperation as the region navigates a delicate transition. By spotlighting allies and initiatives, the foundation aims to reinforce long-standing partnerships that undergird Israel’s security and global standing.

The recognition is framed as encouragement for continued cooperation even as political winds shift. Honoring leadership deemed consequential for peace and security, the group’s message emphasizes the enduring role of faith in fostering resilience and common cause. (i365/VFI News)

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure.'" – Psalm 122:6

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

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