Islamic Jihad Says It Is Worsening Treatment of Hostages: The al-Quds Brigades, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s militant wing, is escalating their psychological warfare concerning the Israeli hostages that they have been holding since October 7th.
The terror organization claimed in a statement that several Israeli hostages attempted to commit suicide due to their frustration with the neglect of their matter by the Israeli government and the change in attitude towards them by the operatives who guard them.
The organization noted that the conditions of the Israeli hostages had been made worse in response to the supposed killing of civilians in Nuseirat by the IDF (during the hostage rescue operation), the “torture” of security prisoners in Israel, and the worsening of their conditions.
According to the al-Quds Brigades, the treatment of the Israeli hostages is directly affected by the treatment of the security prisoners and it will continue to get worse as long as the Israeli government continues its current policies.
At the same time, the al-Quds Brigades published a message of condolences to Hezbollah on the death of Muhammad Neamah Naser, the commander of the organization’s Aziz unit. (INN /VFI News)
“Our Heavenly Father, we pray for all the hostages who remain in Hamas’s clasp, that You free them from their bonds and that You do not leave their side, but that You provide them with Your comfort and peace. In case the rumors are true, we pray fervently for the hostages who attempted suicide and we ask that they receive the medical support that they need.”
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.
IDF Posts Footage of Hamas Members Beating Gazans Who Entered Aid Warehouse: The Israel Defense Forces published a video it says shows Hamas members beating captured Gazan civilians who entered a warehouse where humanitarian aid was stored.
“While Israel is making great efforts to ensure the entry of aid is being facilitated to the people of Gaza, Hamas continues to steal and hide it from Gazan civilians,” the IDF posts on X.
“These civilians just wanted to eat, but Hamas had other plans.” Israel has long claimed that Hamas hoards food supplies, keeping the much-needed aid from the rest of the Gazan population. (TOI / VFI News)
“God, we pray for all the Gazan civilians who are experiencing extremely harsh conditions and are prevented from getting food for their families by the terrorists. We know that You are always close to the needy, the widows, and the orphans and we pray in Yeshua’s name that You protect these people and take care of their needs. May You also guide us into ending the war soon so that all civilians residing in Israel can find peace and live with dignity in the land.”
Netanyahu: ‘We’re Approaching End of Stage of Eliminating Hamas Army’: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday, July 1, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, met with Israel National Defense College cadets and briefed them on the combat in the Gaza Strip, Israeli policy and activity in all sectors, especially the northern sector, and the overall security challenges facing Israel, first and foremost Iran.
The Prime Minister described the significant achievements of the security forces, particularly the IDF, in all sectors, but especially in the Gaza Strip.
He encouraged the cadets to continue their determined efforts for the security of the State of Israel ahead of their integration into key positions in the security establishment. Prime Minister Netanyahu said to the cadets:
“I returned yesterday from a visit to the Gaza Division. I saw very considerable achievements in the fighting being carried in Rafah. We are advancing to the end of the stage of eliminating the Hamas terrorist army; we will continue striking its remnants.”
“I was very impressed by the achievements above ground and below ground, and by the commanders’ fighting spirit. With this spirit we will achieve our objectives: Returning our hostages, eliminating Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, ensuring that Gaza will not constitute a threat, and also returning our residents securely to their homes in both the south and the north,” he said. (INN / VFI News)
“Lord, we thank You for all Your provisions during this turbulent period and we pray for a quick end to the war. We pray that You keep all civilians safe and that You re-establish peace in the land You have entrusted us with. We also pray in Yeshua’s name for all the displaced populations so that they will soon be able to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.”
Senior Hezbollah Commander Killed in UAV Airstrike: Arabic media reported on Wednesday afternoon, July 3, that two people were killed in an airstrike on a vehicle in Tyre, Lebanon by an Israeli UAV.
An Arabic language news channel reported that Abu Ali Nasser, the commander of the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s Aziz unit, was killed in the airstrike.
The Aziz unit is one of three regional units Hezbollah operates in southern Lebanon and is responsible for the terrorist group’s activities along the eastern portion of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hezbollah later confirmed that Ali Nasser was assassinated. The IDF also confirmed the airstrike. “Earlier today (Wednesday), the IDF eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Neamah Naser, the commander of the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s Aziz Unit which is responsible for firing from southwestern Lebanon at Israeli territory,” the IDF stated.
Muhammad Neamah Naser entered his position in 2016 and led the firing of rockets and anti-tank missiles from southwestern Lebanon toward Israeli civilians, communities, and security forces. Furthermore, Naser directed a large number of terror attacks toward Israel both during and before the war, and he previously held several central roles within the Hezbollah terrorist organization. (INN / VFI News)
“The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion.” – Psalm 11:5
Gaza-Based CNN Freelance Journalist Worked with, Supported Hamas, Watchdog Report Finds: A report published by anti-Israel media bias watchdog HonestReporting alleges that a Gaza-based CNN freelance journalist was associated with a Hamas-run entity.
Abdel Qader Sabbah appeared in photographs with senior Hamas leaders online and actively praised terrorists while also carrying out unnamed tasks for the terror organization, the report claims.
The report cites CNN’s platforming of Sabbah’s work. He has also worked for the Associated Press, and his platforming casts doubt on the journalistic integrity of the network and the Hamas terror group’s ties to it. The report also raises concerns about journalistic standards and vetting practices of reporters for the media network, in addition to the story content published by the outlet.
The media watchdog identified evidence of Abdel Qader Sabbah’s Hamas affiliation on his personal Facebook page, where he identified himself as a freelance journalist, director, and photographer.
Throughout his profile, Sabbah links himself to senior Hamas leaders, such as Mahmoud A-Zahar, in a 2018 post. A-Zahar called for “world domination with no Zionists,” the report said. His selfie with A-Zahar was accompanied by a caption referring to him as a teacher of literature.
In 2023, he flaunted a promotional project he completed for the Directorate’s academy, which MEMRI added, trains Hamas security systems. The video was later publicly shared on the official page of the Hamas-run interior ministry. (JPost / VFI News)
“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” – Proverbs 12:19
‘No Palestinian State West of the Jordan River,’ 63 Knesset Members Say: A majority of Knesset members declared their opposition to Palestinian statehood in advance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s anticipated trip to Washington later this month.
They asked Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana (Likud) to hold a plenum debate and vote on the issuance of a declaration rejecting Palestinian statehood. That declaration would state: “The Israeli Knesset categorically opposes founding a Palestinian state west of the Jordan (River).”
The letter to Ohana was signed by 63 parliamentarians and initiated by the leaders of the Knesset’s Land of Israel Caucus, MKs Yuli Edelstein (Likud), Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party), and Limor Son Harmelech (Otzma Yehudit).
“A moment before the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Congress, the members of the caucus wish to stand by him as an all-Israeli impenetrable wall, against dangerous attempts by those states who wish to give a backwind to terror, in the form of a Palestinian terror state in the heart of the Land of Israel,” the Knesset members wrote to Ohana.
Signatories included politicians from eight parties in both the government and the opposition: From the coalition, the Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionist Party, and Otzma Yehudit, and the opposition, United Right, National Unity, and Yisrael Beytenu. (JPost/ VFI News)
US Citizens Sue State Sponsors of Terrorism, Iran, Syria, and North Korea, for Aiding Hamas Mass Murder: A group of Americans filed a lawsuit on Monday, July 1, in federal court in the District of Columbia, alleging Iran, Syria, and North Korea provided material support to Hamas to commit atrocities during its mass murder of nearly 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
The lawsuit was launched on behalf of U.S. citizens who were injured or killed during Hamas’ invasion. The terrorist group murdered over 30 Americans during the terrorist attack.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the law firm Crowell & Moring LLP said in their joint lawsuit that Iran’s regime, Syria, and North Korea provided material support to Hamas to commit atrocities in Israel on Oct. 7.
“Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of antisemitism and terror – along with Syria and North Korea, they must be held responsible for their roles in the largest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust. We are doing everything possible to hold Hamas terrorists and those who support them accountable, including putting all of ADL’s weight behind this effort,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO and national director.
He added, “In a world in which Jewish pain and suffering is far too often erased, we hope this ground-breaking case will bring justice to some victims and create a record of Hamas’ heinous brutality perpetrated with the support of these state sponsors of terrorism.” (FN / VFI News)
“Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.” – Proverbs 29:26
Antisemitism Continues to Rise: Two synagogues were attacked in Toronto on Sunday, June 30, by vandals who threw rocks through the synagogues’ windows. The first incident occurred at the Pride of Israel Synagogue, where congregants were shocked to discover several windows shattered, holes in their stained glass, and stones scattered onto the bimah. In the second incident, a vandal threw a stone through the window of the Kehillat Shaarei Torah Synagogue.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the two incidents are being investigated by the Hate Crime Unit. The Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center organization stated, “These two incidents come amid a dramatic upsurge in antisemitism in Canada that includes many antisemitic shootings, firebombings, bomb threats and vandalism attacks on Jewish institutions and businesses in Canada since October 7.”
Meanwhile, the Presbyterian Church USA voted during its biennial meeting on Monday to reject all forms of “Christian Zionism.” The resolution, which expands on a 2004 resolution condemning Christian Zionism, calls on the Church to “reject Christian Zionism in all its forms” and to confront the spread of Christian Zionism.
The resolution also drew distinctions between the “Biblical Israel” and the modern state of Israel and rejected attempts to use Biblical promises to the people of Israel to justify the existence of the modern Jewish State, instead insisting on “a biblical theology based on the Ten Commandments” in which the commandment not to covet that which is one’s neighbor’s would justify the rejection of Zionism.
A second resolution passed on Monday calls for the church to divest from Israel bonds as part of a campaign of divestment from Israel over its alleged occupation of “Palestinian territories,” Turkey for its occupation of northern Cyprus, and Morocco for its occupation of Western Sahara. (INN /VFI News)
“And in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob.’” – Romans 11:26
The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.
