VFI News The IDF Rescues Two Hostages, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Comes After Israel

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Israeli special forces rescued two hostages from Hamas early on Monday morning, February 12, in the heart of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The operation freeing the two hostages from Nir Yitzhak, Luis Har and Fernando Marman started with dozens of airstrikes against Hamas’s Shabura battalion, so Hamas would not understand the true goal of rescuing the two.

The freed hostages were taken to Sheba Medical Center, which stated that after an initial medical examination, the condition of the two was defined as good and stable. However, the two hostages later reported that they had not received medical care while in captivity and had been starved by the terrorists.

Their families said that they suffered from malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, and lack of medical care. The latter was particularly significant for Har, who requires medications to treat his blood pressure and diabetes.

“This was a complex rescue operation under fire in the heart of Rafah, based on highly sensitive and valuable intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate and the Israel Security Agency,” said IDF Spokesperson Rr.-Adm. Daniel Hagari. “From the moment of the breach and entry into the apartment, Yamam forces shielded Luis and Fernando with their bodies, initiating a daring battle and heavy exchanges of fire,” he added.

“By 01:50, aerial fire was activated by the Israeli Air Force and Southern Command, to enable the force’s disengagement and to strike Hamas terrorists in the area,” Hagari stated. Meanwhile, Hamas doesn’t acknowledge the rescue of the hostages.

In the statement published by Hamas on Monday, there is no mention of the rescue, only the losses on the Palestinian side: “The Nazi occupation army’s attack on the city of Rafah last night, and its horrific massacres against defenseless civilians and helpless children, women, and elderly who have so far lost their lives over a hundred times, is considered a continuation of the people’s genocide and forced displacement attempts... being carried out against our Palestinian people.” (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we thank You for guiding our soldiers into rescuing the two hostages who had been dearly missed by their families for over four months. We pray that Your mercies continue to fall upon us and that the war will come to an end as soon as possible. We continue to pray for the quick release of the remaining hostages.”

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.

Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Hezbollah made a speech Tuesday evening, February 13, and spoke about the talks on a proposal to calm the situation on the Lebanese border.

Nasrallah made a direct connection between the situation on the Lebanese border and the war in Gaza. “The front line in Lebanon is the result of our commitment to the residents of Gaza.”

He stated that he would not be part of any settlement with Israel: “A ‘strong’ Israel is a threat to the region, and a ‘deterred and frightened Israel’ will weaken the threat it poses. What is happening to the people in Gaza must shock the conscience of every single person in the world.”

The Hezbollah leader also sent a threat to Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. “The Israeli Defense Minister must understand that if he starts a war against us, he will have two million refugees in the north, not one hundred thousand.” (INN / VFI News)

“God, we pray that You protect all of our borders and that You help us ensure that no additional harm will come to our people during these trying times. We pray that the enemy’s plans be canceled in Yeshua’s name and we hope that our land will be a safe haven again, full of peace and prosperity.”

The IDF eliminated on Wednesday, February 14, one of the Hamas commanders responsible for the kidnapping of women from the Supernova music rave on October 7, Israeli media reported.

According to the report, as a result of intelligence gathered in recent weeks, including from the investigation and interrogation of terrorists from Hamas’ “Nukhba force,” the Hamas commander’s identity was discovered.

After receiving information that the same terrorist, the commander of a Nukhba squad, went for a drive in his vehicle in Gaza City, an aircraft killed him in an airstrike.

Security officials stated that even today, four months into the war, accounts will be settled with all terrorists and those who were involved in murders, massacres, rapes, and kidnappings of Israelis and soldiers on October 7. (INN / VFI News)

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked.” - Proverbs 3:25

A woman carrying an AR-15 that had “Palestine” written on it started shooting at the megachurch of celebrity pastor Joel Osteen in Houston on Sunday, February 11, injuring one man before she was shot and killed by two off-duty officers working as security, police said.

A young child with the woman was critically hurt in the shooting and another man nearby was also wounded. Donna Hansen, chief of the felony division at the district attorney’s office, said on Monday the child was not expected to survive.

The shooter, who was reported to be between 30 and 35 years old, entered the Lakewood Church — which is attended by 45,000 people weekly — at roughly 2 p.m. in a trench coat when she opened fire, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said.

The off-duty officers were a 28-year-old Houston Police Department officer and a 38-year-old agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. “I want to commend those officers. She had a long gun and it could have been a lot worse,” Finner declared. “But they stepped up and they did their job, and I want to thank them for that.”

The shooter, who had a backpack, threatened that she had a bomb, though law enforcement found no explosives either in her backpack or her vehicle. She also sprayed “some type of substance on the ground,” Finner said. (DW / VFI News)

“Lord, we pray that You heal the people who were injured during the terrorist attack and take especially good care of the young child who was critically wounded. We ask for an end to all organized and individual acts of terror and revenge, so that all innocent civilians, regardless of their ethnicity, race, country of residence, or religion, can be safe and enjoy the lives You have given them.”

In this video, we discuss why Parashat Terumah is so essential to our faith and our lives. Reading the Parashot each week allows us to reconnect with the covenant God made with us, and the promise we made to Him. They are a reminder that God gives us a choice between good and evil. We must work every day to choose good, and give gladly from our hearts in order to praise God. Parashat Terumah calls us to be generous with what we have, no matter how much we have. When we give from the heart as God calls us to do, we honor Him just as Moses honored God by building the Tabernacle. God has given us all things, we must give generously in return.

A Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera appears to also be a commander in Hamas’s military wing, according to images and documents recovered by the IDF in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing war against the Palestinian terror group.

“In the morning, he’s a journalist on the Al Jazeera channel, and in the evening, a terrorist in Hamas!” wrote Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, in a post to social media platform X on Sunday, February 11.

Adraee said that several weeks ago, troops found a laptop in a Hamas base in northern Gaza that belonged to a man by the name of Mohamed Washah. Washah, from central Gaza’s Bureij neighborhood, has been featured in Al Jazeera broadcasts in recent months, with the Qatari-owned station calling him one of their journalists.

Adraee said that documents recovered from the laptop revealed that Washah, 37, is a “prominent commander” in Hamas’s anti-tank missile unit, and in late 2022, he began to work in research and development for the terror group’s air unit.

The post included photographs apparently showing Washah training in the use of anti-tank weapons as well as working with other weapons and a drone. “Who knows how many details we will reveal about the presence of other terrorists in journalistic garb in the near future,” Adraee wrote. (TOI / VFI News)

“The Lord is known by His acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.” - Psalm 9:16

Knesset member, Danny Danon, spoke to Israeli media, while accompanying former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to the Gaza surrounding communities.

MK Danon said, “I think it's crucial to bring dignitaries to see what happened here. When you come here you realize the level of atrocities that took place here. It changes your life. I saw many leaders who came here, who became stronger advocates for Israel.”

Regarding the change in the US policy towards Israel, Danon said: “Now we have to talk about the eradication of Hamas. Period. We don’t want to hear anything else and when I hear the voices telling us, ‘Don’t go into Rafah,’ ‘Don’t do that,’ how can we win a war with our hands tied behind our back.”

“We have to go into Rafah. We have to chase the leadership of Hamas and we have to make sure that everyone in the region will realize that Israel defeated Hamas. Period.”

Meanwhile, after speaking with US President Joe Biden on Thursday, February 15, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to reports that the administration is planning to establish a Palestinian state by saying that Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. (INN / VFI News)

“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.” - Romans 1:29

UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told a representative from British media on Wednesday, February 14, that he did not consider Hamas to be a terrorist group.

Asked about the feasibility of Israel’s military goal to eliminate Hamas and disallow the terrorist group from having any governing say in Gaza, Griffiths responded, “Hamas is not a terrorist group for us, as you know, it is a political movement. But, I think it is very very difficult to dislodge these groups without a negotiated solution; which includes their aspirations.”

“I cannot think of an example offhand of a place where a victory through warfare has succeeded against a well-entrenched group, terrorist or otherwise,” he added.

Speaking of Hamas’s October 7 attack, Griffiths said he had “total understanding” of the “trauma” it had caused Israel but that Israel would need to build a relationship with its neighbors regardless.

Griffiths affirmed that the United Nations would not participate in the forced evacuation of Palestinian civilians into safe zones. Griffith did not mention the two hostages the IDF rescued from Rafah, proving that Hamas was carrying out their illegal activities within a heavily populated civilian area.

Meanwhile, another UN chief, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency UNRWA, said on Monday he had “no intention to resign” following allegations that some staff members participated in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. (JPost / VFI News)

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. ” - Isaiah 5:20

Architectural remains of the 1,800-year-old Roman VIth ‘Ferrata’ Iron Legion military base were uncovered in a recent excavation carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) at the foot of Tel Megiddo, near the ancient Kfar Othnay village (Capercotnai in Greek).

The excavation was directed by Dr. Yotam Tepper and Barak Tzin and was funded by the Netivei Israel National Infrastructure Company, said the IAA, which called it “a unique opportunity to uncover part of the full-scale Roman legionary base.

The VIth Legion Roman legionary base is the only Roman military base of these dimensions that has been located and exposed in the Land of Israel. Tepper said that “the Roman Legion camp at Legio was the permanent military base for over 5,000 Roman soldiers for more than 180 years, from 117-120 BCE to about 300 CE.”

“While Roman military camps are known in Israel, they are temporary siege camps or small camps belonging to auxiliary divisions. None compares with the entire complex of the legionary base, as has been uncovered in the archaeological excavations at Legio, next to the Megiddo Junction,” Tepper noted.

Coins, parts of weapons, pottery sherds, and glass fragments were uncovered, but the most predominant finds were the roof tiles, which were discovered in extremely large quantities. (JPost / 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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