VFI News One Israeli Murdered, 11 Injured in Yesterday’s Terror Attack; Barbaric Sexual Atrocities Committed by Hamas

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An Israeli man was killed and 11 others were wounded in a terror shooting attack carried out by three Palestinian gunmen near a checkpoint between Jerusalem and the Judea and Samaria settlement city of Ma’ale Adumim on Thursday morning, February 22, police and medics said.

According to police, the trio opened fire with automatic weapons at Israelis waiting in traffic while heading toward Jerusalem on the Route 1 highway, a few hundred meters before the az-Za’ayyem checkpoint, close to the town of the same name.

A man in his 20s was killed in the shooting, medical officials said. He was later identified as Matan Elmaliah, 26, of Ma’aleh Adumim. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it treated a total of 12 people, including Matan.

A pregnant woman aged 23 was listed in serious condition, and four others were in moderate condition, including a woman in her 30s, a man aged 23, a man aged 51, and a woman aged 52, MDA said. The pregnant woman was undergoing “significant surgery,” according to Dr. Alon Schwartz, head of the trauma department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

Two of the gunmen were shot dead by security forces and armed civilians at the scene. The third gunman initially fled, before being “neutralized” a short while later following police searches in the area, law enforcement officials said. Images shared by police showed that the trio, residents of the Bethlehem area, were armed with assault rifles, makeshift submachine guns, and a grenade.

The Shin Bet security agency identified the terrorists as Muhammad Zawahra, 26, and his brother Kathem Zawahra, 31, both residents of the village of Ta’amra, and Ahmed Al-Wahsh, 31, a resident of Za’atara. Kathem Zawahra had been previously jailed for entering Israel illegally, the Shin Bet said. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you comfort Matan’s family and we send our heartfelt condolences to them. We pray for his family and we hope that You offer them your comfort and provisions during this devastating time. We humbly ask that You heal the wounded and take special care of the pregnant woman and the baby who are currently at risk. We also ask that You erase the hatred from the hearts of the terrorists who wish to harm our citizens and that You help us identify the ones who have already caused immeasurable pain.”

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.

A report analyzing numerous testimonies from the October 7 massacre specifically relating to Hamas’s sexual violence revealed that families and friends were forced by Hamas terrorists to watch their loved ones being raped and sexually assaulted at gunpoint.

The report, presented by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, analyzes confidential and public testimonies, eye-witness accounts, and interviews with victims, first responders and witnesses. It was sent to “decision-makers” in the United Nations to leave “no room for denial or disregard.”

“The terrorist organization Hamas chose to harm Israel strategically in two clear ways – kidnapping citizens and committing sadistic sexual crimes,” said ARCCI CEO Orit Sulitzeanu. “Silence will be remembered as a historical stain on those who chose to remain silent and deny the sexual crimes committed by Hamas.”

The report revealed that Hamas terrorists threatened victims, often injured women, with weapons in order to rape them violently, often collectively with collaboration between multiple terrorists. Partners, family, and friends were forced to watch to “increase the pain and humiliation for all present.”

Most of those sexually assaulted by Hamas terrorists were killed afterward, and some even during the act of rape. Others still were found dead later, their genitals mutilated beyond recognition or penetrated with weapons. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we pray for those who experienced sexual violence at the hands of Hamas terrorists. We pray for those who are still alive and live in remembrance of these horrifying assaults, and we ask that You comfort them and take their pain away. We also pray for the family members who were forced to watch and live with the horrific images in their minds of the atrocities committed. We pray that justice will be made.”

Ayelet Samerano, the mother of 21-year-old Yonatan Samerano who was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, gave a plea at a press conference on Wednesday, February 21, for the return of her son’s body, which remains held captive by Hamas to this day.

Video footage was also shown depicting the horrific kidnapping of Yonatan’s lifeless body by Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Be’eri, the location he had fled to from the NOVA music festival to seek safety. One of the terrorists was later confirmed to be a UNRWA employee by an investigation conducted by renowned American media.

“An UNRWA worker kidnapped my son’s body. How can a social worker for an organization that claims to promote good in this world do something so cruel and inhumane? How can the UN pay this man who dragged my son’s limp body on the ground, and then picked him as if he was a trophy back to Gaza?” she wondered.

“How many more lives have been ruined by this person hauling my son like he is not even a human being into a UNRWA vehicle? Does the UN hold my son? Do they know where he is? Bring him back to me. Are there any other hostages held by UN employees even as we speak?”

Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan harshly criticized the UN in response to the war in an interview, also on Wednesday. “Today I told the Security Council about the letters and meetings I had with Lazzarini and Guterres, how terror tunnels pass under schools, and how UNRWA teachers idolize Hitler,” he said.

“We have been presenting this information to UN officials for years – but they have become collaborators of Hamas, and now they are literally a part of the terrorist organization,” he added. (INN / VFI News)

“A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” - Psalm 37:10-11

While Palestinian media is trying to hush the growing popular resentment against Hamas and its leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip after four and a half months of fighting, more footage of desperate Gazans calling for the downfall of the terrorist organization continues to surface.

Videos circulated overnight Tuesday, February 20, depicted angry crowds chanting slogans against Hamas and Sinwar in both the northern Gaza Strip city of Jabaliya and the city of Rafah in the territory’s south.

In one clip from the protest in Jabaliya, protesters can be heard calling out against Hamas’ Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and Sinwar. “Sinwar, Haniyeh, the people are the victims. Down with Hamas! Down with Hamas!”

In Rafah, protesters also voiced opposition against Sinwar and Hamas heavyweight Osama Hamdan, who resides in Lebanon. “Listen, listen, Hamdan, go back to Lebanon!” they chanted, along with, “Listen, listen, Haniyeh, the people are the victims. Gaza will be redeemed through spirit and blood.”

Also on Tuesday, a newspaper with a photo of Sinwar in a tunnel was distributed in Rafah by the IDF. The paper carried the message: “Is the fate of Sinwar’s children more important than the fate of your children?” alongside a photo of Sinwar escaping with his children through a tunnel.

This week, Gaza residents also received notices calling on them to offer information to Israel’s security echelon regarding the whereabouts of the hostages. Gazans were promised, via text message, a financial award to anyone who offers information about the Israeli hostages. (YNet / VFI News)

“Lord, we are thankful that some people in Gaza are aware of who they should blame for the war. We hope that more innocent civilians will make a public stand against the terrorist organizations wreaking havoc in Israel and that they will offer valuable information regarding our hostages so that we can all live in peace after the war ends.”

Join Batya to discuss Parashat Tetzaveh. In this video, we talk about hunger and the need to learn more about the written scriptures. Parashat Tetzaveh talks about God’s requests of Moses and the Jewish people of Israel. Though it has not always been clear from the beginning, God always has a purpose and a plan for us. Just as he made purposeful, meaningful requests of Moses, he makes purposeful, meaningful requests of us through his written word. Every word in the scripture is essential and brings us closer to the Lord.

In a discussion that took place on Thursday evening, February 22, with the participation of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Strategic Affairs, it was decided to convene the Supreme Planning Council in the Civil Administration to approve thousands of housing units in Judea and Samaria in response to the shooting attack near Maaleh Adumim.

More specifically, about 2,350 units in Maaleh Adumim, 694 units in Efrat, and about 300 units in Kedar will be brought to the Supreme Planning Council for approval.

Gush Etzion Regional Council Mayor, and Yesha Council Chairman, Shlomo Ne’eman, responded to the decision. “We praise the decision to convene the Higher Planning Council in order to approve thousands of housing units in Ma’ale Adumim, Kedar, Gush Etzion, and Efrat, and thank the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Finance Minister, and Minister of Strategic Affairs, on a Zionist response to this morning’s terrible terrorist attack.”

“The development of Judea and Samaria is the appropriate response to anyone who tries to harm us or undermine our rights to the land. We hope that the rest of the housing units awaiting approval will be greenlighted as soon as possible. There is no need to wait for another deadly attack.”

“Our enemies should know that we do not cower from acts of terrorism. We must continue to develop and establish our hold on all parts of the Land of Israel,” added Ne’eman. (INN / VFI News)

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near Your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.” - Psalm 84:3

A French newspaper reported that according to its investigation, the tunnel network dug by the Hezbollah terrorist organization is even more extensive and sophisticated than the tunnel system created by Hamas under Gaza Strip.

The tunnel system built underneath Gaza has been used extensively by Hamas in the current war with Israel, including to hold Israeli hostages, establish command centers, and launch ambushes, among other uses.

The tunnels dug by Hezbollah over the last 30 years are hundreds of kilometers in total length and descend to a depth of up to 80 meters. The tunnels were dug through stone, with the aid of North Korean technology.

According to the report, Hezbollah’s tunnels extend underneath Lebanon’s borders with Syria and Israel and violate the sovereign territory of both countries. (INN / VFI News)

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.” - Psalm 17:8-9

Dozens of members of the Palestinian Authority security forces have reportedly been involved in recent attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, translations of Palestinian media show.

Meanwhile, the State Department has spent more than $170 million supporting the security forces since 2007, providing resources like weapons training and communications infrastructure, according to an American news outlet’s review of federal contract data.

Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), an Israeli watchdog group, translated social media posts and broadcasts produced by Fatah, the ruling party in Judea and Samaria, and found that it praised dozens of members of the Palestinian Authority security forces for having attacked Israelis.

“I think that the entire Palestinian people and the whole world has [recently] seen that more than 1,500 military operations against the Israeli occupation were led by the Fatah Movement members and the [PA] Security Forces members,” a party official said on a Palestinian government television program in March 2023, according to PMW.

“More than two-thirds of the martyrs … over the last year and a half belong to the Fatah movement and the PA … More than 355 of our Palestinian people’s prisoners inside [Israeli] prisons are from the Palestinian Security Forces—in other words, the PA’s soldiers,” a Fatah-run television show host said, according to PMW. (DC / VFI News)

“You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.” - Lamentations 3:60

The likelihood that the Degania Dam will be opened this year is increasing in light of the recent heavy rains. The Kinneret’s (Sea of Galilee) water level has risen 167 centimeters since the start of the 2023-2024 rainy season compared to 64 centimeters throughout all of last winter.

In the coming ten days, it is expected to rise another 30 centimeters. The Degania Dam is opened when the Kinneret reaches 208.8 meters below sea level; its current water level is 209.9 meters below sea level - a difference of just 110 centimeters.

Israel’s Water Authority, however, estimates that there is just a 50% chance that the dam will be opened, and its policy is to avoid opening the dam if there is a viable alternative. As such, the Authority has increased the amount of water drawn daily from the Kinneret, drawing 800,000 cubic meters daily, reducing the Kinneret’s water level by half a centimeter.

The last time the dam was opened was in February 1995, when the Degania Dam was opened for ten days. Israeli media noted that if the dam is opened, there will be a two-day warning given to areas around the southern Jordan River, to prevent damages. The dam will be opened gradually until its halfway point, which will reduce the water level by four centimeters daily. (INN / VFI News)

“Lord, we thank you for giving us rains of blessing and filling out water reservoirs. We continue to pray for rain and that the Kinneret will be full of water before the dry season starts. We also pray for protection from any floods in the area”.

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

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