Starvation, Sexual Abuse and Children Beaten: Report Exposes Conditions of Hamas Captivity: Hostages who returned from Hamas captivity in Gaza suffered from a myriad of medical and psychological conditions as a result of their imprisonment, with many enduring starvation, sexual abuse, beatings, and more, a Health Ministry report revealed on Saturday, December 28.
The Health Ministry also detailed several successful rehabilitation stories based on information collected from professionals who have been providing ongoing care to the returned hostages, who are referred to by pseudonyms in the report.
According to the report, women, men, and children who returned from captivity were subjected to a variety of abuses, including beatings, isolation, deprivation of food and water, branding, hair-pulling, and sexual assault.
Many hostages were subjected to torture by withholding medical attention, and at least one hostage is believed to have died from untreated medical complications. Several older returned hostages developed Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) due to lack of mobility, which, if not treated properly, can be fatal.
Further, in addition to starvation, returned hostages reported that the food and water they had access to were of poor quality, leading to multiple cases of malnutrition and illness. Doctors who treated the hostages expressed concern that the released children may suffer long-term effects on their development and growth.
Returned hostages reportedly lost an average of 10-17% of their body weight. In extreme cases, children lost up to 18% of their body weight and required intensive care upon return. (JPost / VFI News)
“Our Heavenly Father, we pray in Yeshua’s name for all the hostages who were held and those who are still in Hamas’ captivity. We pray that You comfort them and give them hope that their current circumstances will not be permanent. Help them enjoy health, love, and peace soon. Please, heal their physical and mental wounds, and protect them from the viciousness of the terrorists, and the memories they already have of the tortures. Do not let Your hand leave them and please ensure the release of all the hostages who are still in captivity.”
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Despite Over a Year of War, Hamas Still Holds Large Parts of Gaza – Analysis:
The IDF detained 240 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists during a recent operation in and around the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza.
The large number of terrorists found near this key medical facility once again illustrates how Hamas has used hospitals as part of its plan to continue to control Gaza. Hamas also used the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and other medical facilities.
The IDF raid on Kamal Adwan is at least the third time the IDF has gone into this same hospital to root out Hamas. These raids have all taken place over the last year, showcasing how quickly Hamas returns to these sites.
Hamas is not defeated, and it is not deterred. The IDF operated next to the hospital, and “terrorists fired anti-tank missiles and RPGs at the troops and attempted to carry out additional attacks against the troops. The troops swiftly eliminated the terrorists. In addition, the IAF conducted strikes that eliminated terrorists attempting to flee the area.”
Meanwhile, IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi said at a recent ceremony for wounded soldiers at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv that the war Israel has been waging for nearly 15 months is far from over, but both Hamas and Hezbollah are no longer militarily viable.
“This is a long war, and I cannot say we see it ending. But after the heavy prices we have paid, we are also seeing results. The military arm of Hamas has been defeated. Hezbollah has been completely routed.” (JPost / VFI News)
“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.” – Proverbs 3:33
83-Year-Old Woman Murdered Outside Nursing Home in Israel Terror Stabbing: A Palestinian terrorist stabbed an 83-year-old woman to death outside her nursing home in Israel on Friday, December 27, police said. The attack took place in the town of Herzliya, in Herzliya’s De Shalit Square, on the Mediterranean coast outside Tel Aviv.
Israeli media reported that the assailant was a 28-year-old who had been a Shin Bet informant and was transferred to Israel after his cover was blown, the security agency said. The victim, Ludmila Lipovsky, had just left her assisted living complex and was waiting for a ride to a doctor’s appointment at the time of the attack.
An unnamed staffer at the facility told the media: “[Lipovsky] went out and waited for her daughter to take her to the doctor and the terrorist started stabbing her, five or six times. She has been a resident of the nursing home here for many years. I heard screams, I went out and saw her lying on the floor.”
“We provided initial treatment, stopped the bleeding and treated her with medication, and evacuated her in critical condition,” medic Idan Shina from the national medical service, Magen David Adom, said in a statement before the hospital announced her death.
In a statement, police said the suspected attacker was a “resident of the Palestinian Authority” and was in custody. “The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.” (BB/VFI News)
“Dear Lord, we pray for the family and friends of Ludmila Lipovsky who are undoubtedly struck with grief by the unexpected violent loss of their loved one. We pray that You comfort them and remind them of Your promise of Salvation through Your Son. May You protect all Your people from such vicious terrorist attacks so we can live in safety. In Yeshua’s name we pray, amen.”
Truck with 40 Rocket Launchers Located in Lebanese Pharmacy: The IDF’s 226th Brigade, under the command of the 146th Division, continues activities in the area of southern Lebanon, while acting following the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
The troops operating in the Naqoura area, the westernmost village in southern Lebanon, located terrorist infrastructure used by Hezbollah for carrying out terror attacks against the State of Israel.
“The troops identified military equipment and weapons storage facilities embedded inside civilian buildings, including found explosives, RPG missiles, and AK-47 rifles inside a pharmacy,” the IDF confirmed.
“Additionally, the troops located ‘Burkan’ missiles, mortars, and other ready-to-use weapons.”
In another activity, the troops located launchers directed toward Israel, as well as a truck mounted with 40 rocket launcher barrels. All the equipment was confiscated and destroyed. (INN/VFI News)
“Dear God, we pray that You dismantle all terrorist organizations in the Middle East. We ask that You continue to strengthen the IDF, protect the soldiers, and expose the evil plots of the enemy. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You eliminate the wickedness of this world and let Your Light shine for everyone to see and worship You alone.”
Syrian Rebels Demand Compensation from Iran: The Syrian rebels who recently ousted President Bashar Al-Assad are demanding compensation of $300 billion from Iran for the Syrian people.
The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011, destabilized Assad’s regime, which received extensive Iranian support starting in 2013. This support allowed him to recapture territories and maintain his rule for over a decade.
As a result, the Syrian rebels have decided to sue Iran, claiming that their support for Assad’s regime has harmed the Syrian people.
About three weeks ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that the main reason for the fall of Assad’s regime was “pre-planning in the dark rooms of the Zionists and Americans.”
He later subtly blamed Turkey as well, saying, “The government of a neighboring country to Syria also played and is playing a role, but the main conspirator is Israel and the Zionist regime.” (INN/VFI News)
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:11-12
A Year of Aliyah: Tens of Thousands of Jews Immigrated to Israel Since October 7 Massacre: Around 35,000 Jews made aliyah since October 7, 2023, according to data published by the Jewish Agency on Sunday, December 29. They came from approximately 100 countries, and 31,000 made aliyah in 2024.
One-third of all the immigrants were between 18 and 35, many of whom have been absorbed into special absorption programs by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency. Some enlisted.
Further, the Masa organization, jointly established by the Jewish Agency and the government, continued to bring thousands of young Jews to Israel despite the war. The agency has also worked to mobilize Diaspora Jews to help Israel during its time of need.
According to the data, 11,000 families affected by terrorism in Israel received donations, rapid emergency grants, and rehabilitation grants from Diaspora Jews. This process was facilitated by the agency’s Fund for Victims of Terrorism. The donations amounted to NIS 80 million.
In addition, approximately 1,000 children and teenagers from the North and South went on the Campers project run by the Agency and the Mosaic United organization. The project took the kids to stay at summer and winter camps run by Jewish communities around the world. (JPost /VFI News)
“And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.” – Ezekiel 34:13
Foreign Investments in Israel Rebound After Decline Caused by Political Instability, War: Two years of internal political instability alongside almost 15 months of war have taken a heavy toll on the flow of foreign investments into Israel.
But preliminary data for the first six months of this year show some signs of a recovery in overseas trade deals driven by increased activity in the May to June quarter, the Finance Ministry said in its annual foreign investments report for 2023.
The value of foreign investment deals in Israel in the first half of the year stood at $11.8 billion, marking a decline of 28 percent versus the same period in 2023, but an increase of 15% compared to 2022.
However, 2023 also included a one-off $15 billion investment by US chip giant Intel for the expansion of a major factory project in Kiryat Gat, in the south of Israel. Not including the Intel investment, total deals in the first half of 2023 amounted to about $7.2 billion.
“Current data for 2024 shows a growing trend in foreign investment transactions in Israel, and we expect the improvement in the security and political environment to support the trend in the future,” said Finance Ministry chief economist Shmuel Abramzon. (TOI/ VFI News)
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:31-33
‘Miracle’ Hoard of Hasmonean Coins Discovered During Hanukkah in Jordan Valley Dig: In what they called an “archaeological Hanukkah miracle,” a University of Haifa team discovered on Friday, December 27, a rare hoard of some 160 coins, dating from the Hasmonean period, during a dig in the Jordan Valley, the university said Sunday.
The coins were discovered in what is thought to have been a roadside station, on what was then a main road along Nahal Tirzah that ascended to the Alexandrion Fortress, also known as Sarbata, north of Jericho in what is now Judea and Samaria.
The coins were dated by experts to the reign of “King Alexander Jannaeus, whose Hebrew name was Jonathan.” “He reigned from 104–76 BCE. He was the son of Johanan Hyrcanus, [and] the grandson of Simon the Hasmonean (brother of Judah Maccabee),” the statement said, noting that the Alexandrion Fortress, near where the coins were discovered, was built by Jannaeus.
Judah Maccabee was the famous leader of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire and Hellenistic influence on Jewish life, which broke out in 167 BC, and ultimately led to the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem and the later establishment of the Hanukkah holiday, currently being celebrated. (TOI / VFI News)
The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.
