The Times of Israel | News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 61

A pictured taken in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 5, 2023, shows smoke billowing following Israeli airstrikes amid continuing battles between Israel and the Hamas terror group, December 5, 2023. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

IDF steps up fight against Hamas in south Gaza; UN says 80% of population displaced

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Military death toll from ground operation rises to 84; US said to expect heavy fighting to wrap up in January, move to less intense phase of war

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip set up a tent camp in Rafah on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Israeli TV: Gaza residents increasingly directing anger at Hamas over war

Col. Asaf Hamami, the commander of the Gaza Division's southern brigade who was killed on October 7, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

Report: Terrorists on Oct. 7 had photo of brigade chief, indicating they targeted him

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers remarks on December 5, 2023. (Screen capture: PMO)

Netanyahu: Gaza must be demilitarized after war, only the IDF can be trusted to do it

By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff

LiveUpdated 12min ago

IDF: We breached Hamas defenses in Gaza’s north, south, reached center of Khan Younis

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Gallant: We’ll push Hezbollah past Litani before residents of north return home * Security cabinet meets after US demand to double or triple fuel to Gaza * IDF ground op toll at 84

A pictured taken in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 5, 2023, shows smoke billowing following Israeli airstrikes amid continuing battles between Israel and the Hamas terror group, December 5, 2023. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

IDF steps up fight against Hamas in south Gaza; UN says 80% of population displaced

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Military death toll from ground operation rises to 84; US said to expect heavy fighting to wrap up in January, move to less intense phase of war

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip set up a tent camp in Rafah on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Israeli TV: Gaza residents increasingly directing anger at Hamas over war

Col. Asaf Hamami, the commander of the Gaza Division's southern brigade who was killed on October 7, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

Report: Terrorists on Oct. 7 had photo of brigade chief, indicating they targeted him

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers remarks on December 5, 2023. (Screen capture: PMO)

Netanyahu: Gaza must be demilitarized after war, only the IDF can be trusted to do it

By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets with mayors and local council heads of northern border towns in Nahariya on December 6, 2023. (Ariel Hermoni/ Defense Ministry)

Gallant: Residents of northern border towns won’t return before Hezbollah pushed away

Meeting mayors and council chiefs, defense minister says diplomatic end to Lebanon tensions possible, but if not, Israel will take action

Family and friends of IDF soldier Staff Sergeant Tuval Yaakov Tsanani mourn during his funeral, in Kiryat Gat, on December 5, 2023. He was killed during the IDF ground operation in the Gaza Strip. (Flash90)

Op-ed: Day 61 of the war

Why Israel, which wanted to think it was done with Gaza, sees this as a war of no choice

Israel left Gaza in 2005. Central to the catastrophic failure to preempt or prepare to tackle the terrorist-army that invaded on Oct. 7 was our leaders’ desire not to have to go back

Palestinian terrorists drive back to the Gaza Strip with the body of Shani Louk, a German-Israeli dual citizen who was murdered at the Supernova music festival on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Mahmud)

At least 10 freed hostages were sexually abused in Hamas captivity, doctor says

By AP and ToI Staff

Both men and women were assaulted, according to testimony, which seems to confirm comments made during heated meeting between Netanyahu and released captives and hostages’ families

Israelis put up posters of the those held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at 'Hostage Square' in Tel Aviv, December 6, 2023. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

Urging deal, hostages’ families tell war cabinet some are facing death

Protestors gather outside the UN headquarters in New York City on December 4, 2023, to protest the international community's silence on sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists against Israeli women during the October 7 massacre. (Carli Fogel)

Netanyahu, Biden slam global silence on Hamas sexual violence against Israeli women

Those we are missing

The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

Those we are missing
Taken captive: Guy Gilboa-Dalal, took a selfie with his brother for mom

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Idan Shtivi, reached rave just before Hamas attack

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Rom Braslavski, rave guard who saved others

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Sahar Baruch, went to get inhaler for brother

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Presumed captive: Lior Rudaeff, went to fight for Nir Yitzhak

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Tamir Nimrodi, walked by gunmen to base gate

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Carmel Gat, seen doing yoga with hostage children

By ToI Staff
Sapir Cohen, released from Gaza; boyfriend Sasha Trufanov still a hostage

By ToI Staff
RELEASED: Mia Schem, 21, underwent arm surgery in Gaza

By ToI Staff
Liam Or, 18, released from Gaza; uncle Dror Or still captive

By ToI Staff
Sharon Aloni Cunio, twins Yuli and Emma, 3, freed; father David still in Gaza

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Nimrod Cohen, twin working to bring him home

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Presumed captive: Dror Kaplun, last heard from in his safe room

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Uriel Baruch, last seen in video, laying next to car

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Nir Oz founder Amiram Cooper; wife Nurit released

By ToI Staff
RELEASED: Margalit Moses, 78: Cancer survivor freed from Gaza

By ToI Staff
RELEASED: Gali Tarshansky, 13, abducted after her brother was murdered at Be’eri

By ToI Staff
RELEASED: Nili Margalit, 41, nursed other hostages in Gaza

By ToI Staff
Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav released from Gaza; husband Yagev still captive

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Naama Levy, spending first Shabbat on army base

By ToI Staff

Those we have lost

Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

Those We Have Lost
Sgt. Benji Needham, 19: UK-born champion kickboxer

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Noam Shai, 26: Student slain at music festival with his fiance

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Kiattisak Patee, 35: Thai worker whose TikTok showcased farm life

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Staff Sgt. Eitan Dov Rosenzweig, 21: Intellectual, religious artist

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Avner and Maya Goren, both 56: Dedicated kibbutznikim, parents of 4

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Staff Sgt. Teshager Taka, 21: ‘Would turn friends into family’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Shir Georgy, 22: Israeli-Canadian ‘wanted to be a lighthouse for others’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Aviv Baram, 33: Kfar Aza defender, roadie for rockers & Hapoel fanatic

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Eliad Ohayon, 23: Volunteered with kids fighting cancer

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Tehila Katabi, 31: Nature lover who moved to Israel’s south

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Alon Werber, 26: Partygoer who just ‘wanted to dance’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Col. Asaf Hamami, 41: Witty commander ‘did not hesitate for a moment’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Ofir Tzarfati, 27: A ‘pure soul’ who helped girlfriend escape rave

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Staff Sgt. Yehonatan Semo, 21: Legacy and organs live on

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Maayan Kalihman, 22: Art student who ‘radiated light and joy’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Ofek Arazi, 28: ‘Always the strongest, the most caring’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Oren Goldin, 33: Mechanic, kibbutznik, dad of 2-year-old twins

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Gideon Babani, 66: Yehud grandfather visiting friends on kibbutz

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Tamar Torpiashvili, 9: An ‘angel’ who dreamed of being famous

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Ashish Chaudhary, 25: Nepali student dreamed of supporting his family

By ToI Staff

Those We Call Heroes

People saving others and making lives better

Tales of the Times

The quirky, improbable, infuriating and uplifting

Critter capsule
Iran claims to send animals into space to prepare for human missions

By AP
Bursting with pride
Jerusalem pastry chef creates IDF-inspired Hanukkah doughnuts

By Jessica Steinberg
In first event for new National Library, southern artists talk life after Oct. 7

By Jessica Steinberg
Show must go on
Jerusalem’s Jewish Film Week going ahead, adjusted for war

By Jessica Steinberg
Learning on the front lines
Book publisher sends thousands of sacred texts to IDF soldiers

By Gavriel Fiske
In the cards
Signed Albert Einstein quote on sale for $65,000

By Gavriel Fiske
Military vets
IDF troops find injured hyena in West Bank, take it for treatment

By ToI Staff
About it all again
New miniseries to showcase Leonard Cohen’s romance with Marianne

By Andrew Lapin
Divine victory
Argentina’s president-elect visits Lubavitcher rebbe’s grave

By Juan Melamed
Legacy breaker
‘Your debacle has eclipsed mine’: Golda’s ghost haunts PM in satire skit

By Jessica Steinberg
New life
Baby names appear to see influence from October 7 attacks

By Stuart Winer
Political stage
US Sen. Chuck Schumer thrills audience with Broadway debut

By julia GERGELY
Freedom daubers
Street artists paint Tel Aviv wall murals about child hostages

By Jessica Steinberg
Warning: Explicit lyrics
Hip-hop war anthem reaches number one in Israel

By Gavriel Fiske
Basic services
He parks a traveling lavatory wherever hostages’ families gather to rally

By Jessica Steinberg
Displaced art
Jerusalem Biennale postponed, exhibits shown abroad to support Israel

By Jessica Steinberg
'So much to be proud of'
MLB star, others to be inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

By jacob gurvis
Un-common application
In prank, Harvard called by mother of enrolling Hamas terrorist

By ToI Staff
News you can cruise
Marine patrol group brings displaced families aboard for R&R

By Sue Surkes
Pitching for Israel
Team Israel baseball captain Ryan Lavarnway talks solidarity

By jacob gurvis

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