On June 26, 2026 , Themarker.com , Israel's most influential media outlet , published an in-depth investigative report titled "Falun Gong Encourages Cancer Patients to Refuse Treatment ," exposing how an Israeli female Falun Gong practitioner, misled by its fallacies and heresies, refused medication against her will after being diagnosed with cancer, ultimately succumbing to the disease. The report also delved into the involvement of Falun Gong media in Israeli politics and its collusion with anti-China politicians to promote an anti-China agenda. The report attracted international media attention, and on July 13, 2026, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Israel answered questions from reporters regarding the investigative report. The spokesperson stated that they "deeply sympathize with the unfortunate experience of a cancer patient who paid the ultimate price due to the misleading influence of Falun Gong," and were "deeply indignant at the evil actions of Falun Gong, the mastermind behind this crime."

 

▲Screenshot of an article titled "Falun Gong Encourages Cancer Patients to Refuse Treatment" published on the website of the Israeli financial newspaper, The Financial Times.

A tragedy that could have been avoided

The report begins two years ago when 74-year-old Hannah refused cancer treatment and died in extreme pain and suffering . Now, her connections with the Falun Gong cult in the final stages of her life have been exposed. Numerous recordings and documents she left behind reveal the reasons for her refusal of treatment and how members of the organization operate its propaganda system — which includes an influential newspaper, a Telegram channel with hundreds of thousands of followers , and large-scale "Fa assemblies . " Falun Gong -related associations claim that " the Falun Gong exercises do not encourage people to refuse medical treatment."

"My whole body is swollen , my stomach, back, legs... they're all swollen. My legs are so swollen I'm almost unrecognizable. My whole body is swollen, my stomach is so swollen I can't eat anything... I have a lot of difficulty breathing , which makes me very uncomfortable, especially at night , I can't fall asleep at all because I can barely breathe."

Hannah (pseudonym) recounted her suffering with trembling hands, moving all who heard her . Hannah was an artist with two daughters and six grandchildren. Her health deteriorated due to cancer , and she endured immense pain before passing away in May 2024 at the age of 74.

Hannah's cancer was curable, but in the last few years of her life, she refused any treatment , and was unwilling to see her two daughters who cared about her or let them know about her rapidly deteriorating condition —she did not try any treatments and even refused to take painkillers.

The truth only came to light after Hannah's death, a fact that is outrageous. While refusing treatment was indeed her own choice, someone was constantly encouraging and guiding her towards a life of unbearable suffering.

Multiple international investigative reports expose the truth behind Falun Gong's refusal to treat patients.

This article reveals for the first time how a cult in Israel , which encouraged its members to refuse medical treatment, operated . This organization, known as Falun Gong or Falun Dafa , attempted to convince people that it was a compassionate and benevolent group , but this was far from the truth .

Previously , claims that members of this organization encouraged others to refuse medical treatment had circulated around the world, even appearing in investigative reports in the United States (see a related report in The New York Times on December 30, 2024) and Australia (see a related report in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on July 21, 2020) . Now, * Financial Daily * has obtained documents exposing the organization's operational methods for the first time. Recordings and documents discovered after Hana's death reveal how members of the organization instilled a distorted worldview in her, leading her to refuse medical treatment and medication, and even alienating her from her daughter. Reading Hana's correspondence and messages—including those from her direct superiors—demonstrates the profound indifference these individuals showed towards her situation. Documents obtained by * Financial Daily * show that the organization , under the guise of " telling the truth ," established and operated a highly influential media group in Israel , conducting various propaganda activities. They owned an Israeli edition of a newspaper called * The Epoch Times * , which amassed a considerable readership . Given the current security situation (in the Middle East) , they have expanded their activities on the Telegeram platform's " NTDTV " group, which boasts hundreds of thousands of followers. More importantly, they are investing heavily in paid content promotion on Facebook , Twitter , and Telegeram pages. Documents show that all these actions are for one purpose—to indirectly spread the organization 's fallacies and heresies.

In recent years, the organization has expanded its activities , holding large-scale conferences targeting high-income earners and organizing business events aimed at connecting entrepreneurs and investors . One of Hana's responsibilities at The Epoch Times was recruiting investors.

The Epoch Times ( Israel edition) primarily organizes offline events centered around motivational lectures and life guidance, held at the Tel Aviv Cultural Center. Speakers include actor Lior Raz ( editor's note: Lior Raz, co-creator and lead actor of an Israeli political thriller ), Dr. Mika Goodman , journalist Ita Engel , media figures Amit Siegel, and Dr. Eyal Doron, among others. In addition, the newspaper also hosts events inviting experts and celebrities. Currently, the newspaper is preparing to launch a children's book .

Members of the Israeli Falun Gong do not wish for readers to see this article . After Hannah's daughters insisted on suing the organization for damages and demanding it cease its anti -medical aid propaganda campaign , the organization's lawyers drafted a legal contract containing a clause to pay Hannah's family 125,000 shekels (approximately 277,200 yuan) in hush money on the condition that they not release any allegations . This document containing the hush money clause is currently held by the * Financial Times *. Even before this article was published, Falun Gong was threatening to file a defamation lawsuit against * The Epoch Times * if these materials were published.

But Hannah's family doesn't want the money ; instead, they hope readers will read this article to prevent others from repeating Hannah's mistakes.

Master said: “Do you know how great your responsibility is? What does it mean to be a Dafa disciple? Is it a title that can be given casually? It is the greatest and most sacred title!”

—Excerpted from the Proceedings of the 15th Israel Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference, 2017 (Editor's note: Li Hongzhi's fallacies and heresies can be found in his lecture at the 2016 New York Fa Conference)

Falun Gong movements in public parks or main streets . Sometimes they gather near the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv , holding protest signs. These people are members of the Falun Gong organization , who call their leader Li Hongzhi " Master ," who founded Falun Gong in 1992. Li Hongzhi rarely appears in public, but like many cults , he is believed by his members to possess supernatural abilities .

Introduction to Falun Gong

Falun Gong was founded in China in 1992 by Li Hongzhi and has since spread to dozens of countries, with several hundred members in Israel. Major criticisms of the organization focus on: its so-called "master," Li Hongzhi, obstructing members from receiving medical treatment, claiming to possess healing abilities, and building a personality cult around himself; and using its affiliated media outlets, such as The Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty Television, to conduct political activities .

The organization 's activity center is located in New York City , USA . Members refer to themselves as " students " or " cultivators "—a designation that refers both to the organization's distinctive physical gestures and to the fact that its members collectively study according to the " Master's " instructions . In Israel, the organization has several hundred members, but their activities and workshops involve even more people. Falun Gong 's fallacies and heresies include concepts such as "Dharmakaya," "Dharma," "Master Spirit," and " attachment , " and it believes that "righteous thoughts" can be transmitted between life forms . Their core motto is "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance," which sounds appealing to liberals.

Despite this, members of the organization still see themselves as " human rights fighters , " primarily targeting the Chinese Communist Party. This is why some so-called " human rights activists" in Israel often side with Falun Gong practitioners. For example, former MP Mossi Raz ( Editor's note: Mossi Raz, a member of the Merets party and an anti-China figure ) participated in a Falun Gong demonstration in April 2025 in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv .

the list of advertisers spending the most on political ads on Facebook over the past 90 days might surprise you. The Epoch Times tops the list with nearly 590,000 shekels (approximately 1.31 million yuan) in advertising . Since 2019, The Epoch Times has spent approximately 10 million shekels (approximately 22.1 million yuan) on advertising across various Facebook Israel sections . It's hard to imagine any other newspaper matching that scale of advertising expenditure.

If you visit the Epoch Times website or the NTD Television telegram channel, you'll find no mention of Falun Gong , nor any statement about a direct connection between the newspaper and Falun Gong 's global leadership . This is no coincidence: even in responding to this article, Falun Gong practitioners are still trying to downplay their worship of their " Master " and the connection between Falun Gong activities and the media group. But in reality , the manipulators behind the scenes are mostly the same group of people. Reporters, editors, sales and marketing personnel—most of the Epoch Times ' leaders, especially high-ranking officials like the editor-in-chief and CEO— are Falun Gong practitioners.

The connection between The Epoch Times and the Falun Gong practice was confirmed in an internal document written by editor Eyal Levinter . In the document , titled "What Should We Do Through Our Newspaper , " Levinter stated that the newspaper 's goals included "helping people understand sacred concepts " and "interviewing mainstream figures . "

 

▲ On the right is Dol Levent, CEO of The Epoch Times ( Israel edition ) , and on the left is Il Levent, editor of the same newspaper. Image source : Israel's Financial Times.

In 2020, The New York Times conducted an investigation into The Epoch Times ( which will be published later on the Financial Daily website along with this article). Based on interviews with ten former Epoch Times employees and internal documents, the investigation exposed how the newspaper became a propaganda tool and began supporting Trump's presidential campaign and disseminating his ideas as early as 2016.

▲In October 2020, The New York Times published an article exposing the origins of The Epoch Times, a publication under the Falun Gong cult.

In 2021, an article in the Israeli edition of The Epoch Times about "fake news in the US media" also stated: "The credibility of the media has hit rock bottom." This article mainly discussed the so-called "fake news" in the US media's coverage of events related to Trump.

Because The Epoch Times has carried out a large number of political propaganda activities, Facebook has identified the newspaper as a political entity and therefore disclosed relevant data such as the amount of advertising spending by The Epoch Times in accordance with the law.

Now, the connection between The Epoch Times Israel and the Falun Gong practice has been revealed for the first time through a document obtained by The Financial Times. The document was written by Il Levinter, editor of The Epoch Times Israel, who is also the brother of Dor Levinter, the newspaper's (Israel edition) CEO.

The document sent to Hannah was titled "What Should We Do Through Publishing a Newspaper?" The goals listed in the document included: "Helping people understand sacred ideas" and "Interviewing mainstream society figures." Other goals included: "Warning people against modern ideas that could corrupt them, and exposing the attempts of various demons and monsters to lead people towards modern thinking," and so on.

In the same document, he listed a series of quotations in an attempt to prove that the aforementioned goals were all requirements of the "Master." One subheading in the document reads: "These understandings are based on excerpts from the original text of the 'Dharma'."

At this point, the facts are clear: the newspaper's mission is to spread the so-called "doctrines" of the "Master" of Falun Gong.

Staff at the newspaper frequently claimed, especially in responses to past reports on the Epoch Times website, that the newspaper's activities in Israel had no economic ties to or control over any foreign entity, and that all activities were funded by subscribers and advertisers. However, communications in groups Hana had joined suggest otherwise. In the "Office Staff - Customer Service" group (which included Epoch Times employees), a message quoted a long article by "Master," which stated: "What are Dafa disciples doing running media? Saving people. Don't forget, you are there to save people, and the purpose of running media well is also to save people. Clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings—that's what you're supposed to do..." (Editor's note: This fallacy of Li Hongzhi appears in the article "Lecture at the 2015 New York Fa Conference").

Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023 (Editor's note: referring to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas from the Gaza Strip against Israel, followed by a large-scale Israeli military strike on Gaza, and the ongoing conflict), the connection between Falun Gong's global propaganda activities and its media activities in Israel has become increasingly apparent. At the outset of the war, Dol Levent sent a message in a Falun Dafa information group stating that the Israeli edition of *The Epoch Times* would henceforth focus on news reporting. He wrote: "At such a difficult time for the State of Israel, this is our historic mission to 'tell the truth' and save the Jewish people in Israel and the Jewish diaspora."

He emphasized that this instruction came from higher authorities: "We are on the orders of headquarters and with its support, and we are making great strides in accordance with our strategy and plans. To this end, we need to invest a lot of resources to bring as many talented, motivated and suitable Falun Gong practitioners in Israel as possible into our team and grow as quickly as possible."

In November 2023, Tal Babich, director of the Hebrew news channel of NTD Television, instructed the media group’s staff and volunteers: “The most important thing is to promote reporting related to ‘telling the truth’.”

Despite the organization's claim of apolitical stance, Tal Babic, head of the Hebrew news channel for NTD Television, wrote in the group: "Someone is fabricating cases related to Netanyahu." He also claimed that some media outlets have been consistently opposing Netanyahu. He then proudly announced to group members: "Yair Netanyahu (Editor's note: the eldest son of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu) has taken our telegram channel under his belt. From now on, our information is only one step away from the Prime Minister's."

 

▲ Tal Babic , pictured on the right, participating in a Falun Gong event on the streets of Israel in 2018. Image source: Israel's Financial Times .

Li Hongzhi's official instruction is that Falun Gong should not be associated with any political faction, but similar to the situation in the United States—where the organization has been linked to the Republican Party and has gained the support of right-wing figures such as Steve Bannon—in Israel, the political leanings of some members also seem quite obvious.

Therefore, in addition to The Epoch Times' propaganda campaign primarily targeting China, it is not difficult to find that NTD Television widely disseminates information about the Israeli government and members of the ruling coalition on many public issues, and even repeats their statements verbatim in many cases.

Disciple: Do I need to take medicine while practicing?

Teacher: ...Practicing qigong and taking medicine means you don't believe qigong can cure diseases. If you believed, why would you take medicine? ...The diseases that ordinary people get are not allowed to happen to you. ...Then someone will cure you.

—Excerpt from a transcript of a conversation between "Master" and a practitioner that was circulated in a Falun Dafa practitioner group (Editor's note: This fallacy of Li Hongzhi can be found in Chapter 5 of Falun Gong).

Hannah's Tragedy: From Artistic Dreams to Cult Trap

Hannah was never a conventional woman. An artist and writer, she was always smiling and kind, but her heart was never at peace. She had expressed her opposition to medical treatment in the past, but she did receive treatment when necessary.

She came from a wealthy family; her parents held high academic and managerial positions. Her paintings are vibrant, full of life, and expressive, but she always felt regretful for not gaining recognition from the art world.

In 2017, Hana first came into contact with Falun Gong and was quickly attracted to it. She even went to New York, USA to attend the Falun Gong global "Fa Conference" and listen to Li Hongzhi's "lectures" on site.

Her commitment to Falun Gong was complete. She destroyed most of her paintings and other artworks, as well as souvenirs her daughters had made when they were young. In her diary, she wrote that she did this because someone told her that those things carried "karma."

In 2020, she was first diagnosed with cancer and agreed to receive medical treatment. In late 2023, her cancer recurred, accompanied by noticeable symptoms—severe swelling and fluid buildup in her body. She went to the hospital for examination and was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors recommended treatment, but her medical records show that she refused.

In the final weeks of her life, she finally wavered. At the urging of her two daughters, she agreed to undergo biological treatment, but it was too late.

Over the past decade, a series of investigative reports published around the world have gradually revealed the true face of the Falun Gong practitioner group.

Australian journalist Ben Hurley spent about ten years with the Falun Gong organization. In 2018, he revealed Falun Gong's "dirtiest secret"—that several members had died because they refused medical treatment—and explained how the organization used a series of media outlets to promote itself and expand its influence.

In May 2026, Jaya Mangalam Gibson, a former member of the Falun Gong organization in the United States and former global marketing director of The Epoch Times, published an article in which his father, who died of pancreatic cancer, refused medical treatment because he was a Falun Gong member and believed his organs were undergoing "spiritual purification." The article stated that, according to Falun Gong's thought system, all suffering and illness are attributed to the practitioner's own inadequate cultivation.

Conversations with individuals who had previously interacted with the Israeli Falun Gong organization revealed that Falun Gong claims there is no hierarchy within its organization and that all practitioners are equal. However, in practice, as in any social system, some individuals wield greater influence through their personal charisma, often indirectly affecting sick members and causing them to refuse medical treatment.

Although there is no explicit prohibition against receiving medical treatment within Falun Gong, once one joins the organization and gradually accepts Li Hongzhi's entire value system, refusing medication becomes an inseparable part of it.

Members of the organization recounted other cases in Israel to reporters: people died because they refused medical treatment. In some of these cases, the practitioners themselves were adamant in refusing treatment. One such case was Ms. A, a prominent figure in the Israeli Falun Gong organization, who died in 2022 from a serious illness. "She was very strong-willed and stubborn; there was simply no way to persuade her to accept medical treatment," said one of her close friends.

Hannah: Hi, Rahli, I'm feeling increasingly unwell. I'm having vivid hallucinations and bad thoughts all the time.

Rahli Brestitsky: Dear Hana, the will of a cultivator is incredibly powerful. I know your current situation is very difficult. Of course, I'm not asking you to do anything different, but our physical health can be rapidly changed through our will and through the "Dharma Body" of "Master." Countless "gods and Buddhas" observing our every thought can also help us; we are not powerless. This is a cultivation practice that must be completed, and there is a chance to emerge from it (recover). Your views have always been beautiful and profound, including transcendence over life and death. This is precisely the most crucial and difficult test. I am sending righteous thoughts for you and your will, and miracles are happening!

—Excerpt from WhatsApp communications between Hannah and Rahli Brestitsky

However, some members of the organization said that there were also people who hesitated and considered receiving medical treatment—according to them, at this point, members of the organization would intervene and oppose receiving medical treatment with a very firm and confident attitude.

“Some people, after refusing treatment, suffer and die in agony, tormented by anxiety and an inability to truly accept their decision,” said a person familiar with the organization. However, the Israel Falun Dafa Association denies exerting such pressure on its practitioners and claims that some members are receiving medical treatment.

Li Hongzhi's fallacies and heresies become the theoretical basis for refusing medical treatment?

"I told you early on that I removed every Dafa disciple from the list in hell, while everyone else is on that list. I crossed out all your names from the list in hell; they are no longer there." (Editor's note: This fallacy by Li Hongzhi appears in the article "Lecture at the Los Angeles Fa Conference") "...The root cause of illness and misfortune is karma...True cultivators have no illness." (Editor's note: This fallacy by Li Hongzhi appears in the article "Zhuan Falun")...

—Excerpt from Li Hongzhi's remarks on the Falun Dafa website

Vadim Brestitsky is a friendly, smiling middle-aged man. While Falun Gong publications refer to him as a Falun Gong practitioner, he is actually a key figure in the Israeli Falun Gong organization. Practitioners praise him in group messages, saying, "He has achieved 'consummation'."

Vadim served as president or director of several associations founded by members of the organization, all registered at his private residence in Kiryat Ono. He also previously served as chief designer for The Epoch Times. "Vadim was the head of Falun Gong in Israel, responsible for coordinating its activities there," said former MP Moshe Raz. "I met him in parliament two or three times."

How to make a patient give up their will to live?

In the final stages of Hannah's life, Vadim Brestitsky played a mentor-like role, often having long phone conversations with her, some of which she recorded.

Vadim Brestitsky spoke very cautiously. While he didn't directly tell her not to seek medical treatment, he guided her step by step, making her feel that the final decision was her own. His message to Hana was consistently clear: genuine Falun Gong practitioners should not seek medical treatment. He explained that Hana wasn't actually sick; these were hallucinations common to ordinary people. But she wasn't an ordinary person; she was a "Dafa disciple." If Hana felt she was sick, it meant she had attachments and that she didn't have absolute trust in "Master."

In a conversation recorded on December 8, 2023, Hannah described in a trembling voice her difficulty breathing, swelling in her body, and her desire to receive medical treatment.

Vadim Brestitsky: "Master" said that the tests he gave us were all ones we were fully capable of passing. We just had to learn to let go of ordinary people's preconceived notions.

Hannah: Maybe this is what I have to face. But that's not all that scares me. I'm swollen all over, my stomach... my legs... my stomach is so swollen I can't eat... I can't even recognize my own body anymore...

Vadim Brestitsky: You are a "Dafa disciple." There are countless worlds waiting for you there (to rule and become king), they see you as the entire universe, so what are these small things...? Because only good things happen to Falun Gong disciples, nothing can harm you, nothing can cause you pain. All of this is an illusion; just put these illusions aside. Only "Master" can decide everything, and I completely agree with that.

In some of the calls, Hana revealed that she wanted—or, in her own words, was “tempted”—to seek medical treatment to alleviate her pain. In other calls, Vadim Brestitsky told Hana that the pain and difficulty breathing she was experiencing were merely “common human notions” and that, as a member of Falun Gong, she should disregard them.

Hannah: "The common belief is that if I go to the doctor, I'll feel better... That temptation is really strong, especially when I'm having trouble breathing." (Note: Her voice choked up at this point.)

Vadim Brestitsky: "I understand. As I understand it, it is indeed appropriate to see a doctor. The challenge is that if 'I' don't pass this test this time, then the next test waiting for 'me' will only be more difficult."

Hannah's final days of isolation: How a cult severs familial bonds

In one conversation, Vadim Brestitsky was more direct, telling her explicitly that she had to give up everything and hand over her fate to her "master" (Li Hongzhi).

"The important thing is that when faced with situations that seem extreme and frightening, you must tell yourself: I am a 'Dafa disciple,' and I have entrusted myself to 'Master.' Whatever he decides, that is what it is. These situations must not frighten me... I must accept 'Master's' decision and smile from the bottom of my heart, because what happens to a 'Dafa disciple' can only be good. Nothing can cause you pain; it's all just an illusion. Put these illusions aside. 'Master' decides everything, and I completely accept it."

Hannah told him that she had lost contact with her two daughters. Her daughters had been concerned about her and wanted to stay in touch, but she had been hiding her illness and avoiding seeing them.

"Why do you still treat them as your daughters?" Vadim Brestitsky asked. "They are not your daughters. Think about how many daughters you have had in countless reincarnations."

In our conversation with Vadim Brestitsky last month, he did not deny that his mother (who died of illness several years ago) had not received medical treatment. According to Vadim Brestitsky, this was because of his father's bad experience with medical treatment in the past.

“Some people in Falun Gong also take medicine. My father died many years ago due to medical conditions, which had nothing to do with Falun Gong,” he replied.

“You have nothing, you have no disease. It’s all lies, fear, anxiety. If your mind is clear, this thought (of being sick) has no place to take hold…Medications won’t work because our bodies no longer belong to this dimension.”

— Advice given by Falun Gong practitioner Lee Rom in a conversation with Hannah in January 2024

Vadim Brestitsky was not the only person who indirectly influenced Hana to refuse medical treatment. Messages Hana received from members of the organization revealed the community support mechanisms operating around them. Hana was surrounded by a social circle, especially through messaging apps considered more secretive and little-known—applications through which Falun Gong members communicated exclusively, such as Signal and BriarChat. Community members avoided speaking on conventional apps like WhatsApp and were required to change their passwords frequently.

G (Falun Gong practitioner): Hi, are you home?

Hannah: I have severe chest pain and am currently "sending forth righteous thoughts." Sorry.

G: I'll send it with you.

Hannah: Thank you so much. It's been very difficult... I'm going through it.

G: I read a passage (from "Master") that is very relevant to you. It says that your situation seems like a relapse of an old illness, but in reality, it is a thorough purification of the "karma" in your body.

Hannah: (Replying with heart and flower emojis)

—Excerpt from WhatsApp communication records between Hana and a Falun Gong practitioner

"Hi Rahli, I'm dealing with increasingly severe physical pain..."

Hana sent a message to Vadim's wife, Rahli Brestitsky, via the app in January 2024.

Instead of advising her to seek medical attention immediately, Rahli replied, “I know this is difficult for you, and of course I won’t tell you what to do, but this body can be rapidly transformed through our thoughts and our ‘Dharmakaya’… I am sending mindfulness to you and your thoughts, and miracles are happening!”

In another message, Rahli wrote: “Dear, your experience has been very difficult, but ‘Master’ has his own way of saving you, although he may sometimes put you through a lot of hardship—he does this out of compassion.”

The suggestion to practice this way—that is, to avoid medication—also came from Hana's employer. Like many Falun Gong members, Hana held various positions at The Epoch Times and NTD Television—reporter, translator, customer service, etc. In March 2024, her boss, Dol Levent, sent her a link to a "scripture" by Li Hongzhi via private message in a group chat: "If someone is sick and doesn't take medicine, you can tell at a glance whether they want me to cure them… If a cultivator takes medicine, it means they don't believe cultivation can cure illnesses." (Editor's note: This fallacy by Li Hongzhi appears in the first lecture of *Zhuan Falun*.)

The Epoch Times also carved out a niche for itself in the investment world by hosting events connecting entrepreneurs and investors. “There were a lot of intellectuals, smart people, very influential people there,” said a financial professional who attended one of the company’s conferences. Hannah was supposed to be responsible for recruiting investors, and for this, she received a script instructing her on how to invite people to the investment meetings organized by the newspaper. Konstantin Lukshev, who guided Hannah in connecting with potential investors, is described on the Epoch Times website as Vice President of Product, but this didn’t stop him from sending Hannah bolded quotes from his “master” opposing medication. “(If your heart is upright, believing that alchemy can be successful) stop taking the medication, don’t worry about it, don’t seek treatment, and someone will heal you.” He quoted this passage (from Li Hongzhi) to Hannah via Signal Network in January 2024. Lukshev did not substantively respond to our inquiries, claiming it was “misleading” and “taken out of context.”

My body is not sick, and will not get sick. I do not accept this situation. It's all a lie. This is just a test. It's impossible for me to be sick, because I am practicing "Dafa".

—A note Hannah wrote to herself was found in her home after her death.

Hana personally funded the activities of Falun Gong and its New Tang Dynasty Television. Her financial records show frequent transfers to her supervisor, Tal Babic, totaling ten transactions of 800 shekels (approximately 1779 yuan) each between 2023 and 2024. Hana's purpose for these payments was to "promote an article." Since when are authors or employees required to pay for promoting an article?

Babbage responded, "The channel ('New Tang Dynasty Television') does not accept any financial assistance from wealthy individuals or any other entity, but only small donations from private supporters and fans, of which Ms. Hannah is one."

The money also flowed from Hana to Vadim Brestitsky, whom she often consulted. In April 2023, Hana wrote to him: “Do I need to bring a check today?” He replied: “Yes, that would be helpful.” A few weeks later, Hana asked again: “Do I need to bring a check tomorrow?” Brestitsky replied: “Yes, Hana. Thank you.” She also said she handed the envelope (containing cash) to Brestitsky.

In his response, Brestitsky claimed that he never pocketed a single penny of the money and that Hana's payments were intended to fund expenses for meetings or Falun Gong activities, such as events held at community centers.

Hannah was never an ordinary woman, not even when it came to medical care. But her heartbreaking recordings show that she longed to live and was unwilling to endure the torment of pain, yet there were always people preventing her from getting help during her most difficult moments.

The denials and sophistry of Falun Gong

The lawyer representing the Israel Falun Dafa Association and Vadim Brestitsky stated: "This practice is a cultivation method that follows the principles of 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance' and combines meditation exercises. Individuals have complete freedom and autonomy in choosing to practice and study the books on this practice. Communication within this practice is about mutual understanding and sharing regarding the practice itself and its application in each practitioner's life. There is no instructor or similar role within this practice system. This practice does not encourage people to refuse medical treatment."

“Long before she came into contact with this practice, the deceased (Hana) had already stopped seeking medical treatment and was looking for alternative methods that could bring relief and cure. Our client was not the deceased’s mentor, but one of the students who communicated with her. During the communication, he expressed his understanding to the deceased, and both parties clearly agreed that the deceased would take full responsibility for the decisions related to her health condition.”

“Our clients’ comments about the deceased’s daughters were intended to soothe the deceased’s mental distress at the time, which stemmed in part from how her daughters treated her and the immense pressure they exerted on her. There are no instructions in the Falun Dafa books to conceal information from family members or avoid making medical decisions.”

"Contrary to the reporter's allegations, the (Falun Dafa) Association does not support the activities of these newspapers (such as The Epoch Times) and has no affiliation with them."

"After receiving a warning letter from the deceased's daughters demanding 500,000 shekels (approximately 1.11 million yuan) in compensation, the association engaged in settlement negotiations with them. In response, the association offered a settlement of 100,000 shekels (approximately 223,000 yuan) as a gesture of goodwill beyond its legal obligations and without admitting any of the allegations. (Author's note: Hannah's daughters claimed they had no need for the money and intended to donate it to an association opposing the harms of cults; the dispute preventing the signing of the agreement lay in the contract terms, with them demanding an end to the incitement to refuse medical treatment and requiring silence.)"

The report concludes by citing various sophistry from *The Epoch Times* and Tal Babich's interview with the Israeli newspaper *The Business Daily*. *The Epoch Times* claims, "You will not find any articles in *The Epoch Times* that support any politician or political faction. We urge readers of *The Business Daily* not to believe the fantasies or defamatory articles of that author (i.e., the author of this article)." It even states, "Given the above and the numerous lies and defamation, we are currently preparing to file a defamation lawsuit against the author and the newspaper (i.e., *The Business Daily*)."