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

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 65

LiveUpdated 16sec ago

IDF strikes Hamas tunnels, other sites overnight; 250 terror targets hit in past day

Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

More images from northern Gaza show Palestinian men surrendering to Israeli military * Drone infiltration, rocket alarms sound in north, after 18-hour lull in alerts nationwide

10:28 am

Rebuffing boycott calls, Eurovision organizers say Israel will participate next year
10:23 am

Qatar: Efforts continuing to renew Israel-Hamas truce, release more hostages
10:09 am

Drone infiltration, rocket alarms sound in north, in first alerts nationwide in 18 hours
9:25 am

Polls open in Egypt's symbolic presidential election

An apparent Hamas member with his hands up hands over an assault rifle after surrendering to troops in northern Gaza's Jabaliya, on December 9, 2023. (Social media: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

IDF chief: Hamas rule in Gaza faltering; leaked video shows apparent gunmen surrender

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Army spokesman confirms dozens of terror group’s members handed over their weapons to soldiers in northern Strip, says they complained ‘Hamas leadership is out of touch’

An apparent Hamas member with his hands up hands over an assault rifle after surrendering to troops in northern Gaza's Jabaliya, on December 9, 2023. (Social media: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Live updates (closed)Dec, 9: IDF chief says Hamas gunmen increasingly surrendering, group’s hold on Gaza failing

By Michael Bachner, ToI Staff and Ricky Ben-David

Troops of the Nahal Infantry Brigade's 931st Battalion battle Hamas operatives in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya, in a handout image published December 9, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

IDF attacked from UN school in Gaza; 5 soldiers, hostage Sahar Baruch killed

By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies

An Israeli soldier lights candles on the second night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah near the Israeli border with Syria, December 8, 2023. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing Dec 9: Day 64 – Failed hostage rescue as IDF pushes into Hamas strongholds

This handout photo from the Israel Defense Forces on December 8, 2023, shows Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. (Israel Defense Forces)

2 troops seriously hurt in failed Gaza hostage rescue; Gallant: signs Hamas is breaking

By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies

LiveUpdated 16sec ago

IDF strikes Hamas tunnels, other sites overnight; 250 terror targets hit in past day

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

More images from northern Gaza show Palestinian men surrendering to Israeli military * Drone infiltration, rocket alarms sound in north, after 18-hour lull in alerts nationwide

An apparent Hamas member with his hands up hands over an assault rifle after surrendering to troops in northern Gaza's Jabaliya, on December 9, 2023. (Social media: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

IDF chief: Hamas rule in Gaza faltering; leaked video shows apparent gunmen surrender

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Army spokesman confirms dozens of terror group’s members handed over their weapons to soldiers in northern Strip, says they complained ‘Hamas leadership is out of touch’

Live updates (closed)Dec, 9: IDF chief says Hamas gunmen increasingly surrendering, group’s hold on Gaza failing

By Michael Bachner, ToI Staff and Ricky Ben-David

IDF attacked from UN school in Gaza; 5 soldiers, hostage Sahar Baruch killed

By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies

ToI podcastDaily Briefing Dec 9: Day 64 – Failed hostage rescue as IDF pushes into Hamas strongholds

2 troops seriously hurt in failed Gaza hostage rescue; Gallant: signs Hamas is breaking

By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies

UPenn head quits after refusing to say a call for Jewish genocide violates school rules

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Board of trustees head says Liz Magill resigning before announcing he’s also quitting, seems to criticize school: Hope she’s given ‘a second chance, in a more supportive community’

University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill reads her opening statement during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

From left, Harvard President Claudine Gay, left, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) President Sally Kornbluth listen during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, December 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Over 70 US lawmakers seek to oust college heads who dithered on Jewish genocide calls

By ToI Staff and Agencies

Harvard President Claudine Gay speaks during a hearing of the US House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, December 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Amid rising backlash, Harvard president sorry for not condemning Jewish genocide calls

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Protesters gather with signs showing portraits of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since Hamas's October 7 massacre during a demonstration calling for their release at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, on December 9, 2023. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

‘Intense fear, zero sleep’: Freed hostages recall captivity, in videos shown at rally

By ToI Staff and AFP

Several thousand at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square urge return of those still in Gaza; former captive says terrorist took oxygen machine; others describe lack of food, poor conditions

Naama Levy, seen in a video shortly after she was taken hostage to Gaza on October 7, 2023. (Screen grab/X)

Mother of Naama Levy, from harrowing Gaza video: ‘Each minute is an eternity in hell’

Israeli soldiers at the forensic center in the Shura military base near Ramle, where hundreds of dead bodies arrived since the October 7 Hamas onslaught, October 24, 2023. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

ExplainerWhy 2 Holocaust scholars think comparisons with the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre are valid

By Avinoam Patt and Liat Steir-Livny

Sgt. Maor Cohen Eisenkot, 19, of the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, killed in battle in the southern Gaza Strip on December 8, 2023. (Courtesy)

Ex-IDF chief Eisenkot’s nephew dies in Gaza fighting, day after Eisenkot’s son killed

By Michael Horovitz and Emanuel Fabian

Sgt. Maor Cohen Eisenkot, 19, killed by explosive inside Khan Younis mosque Friday; war cabinet minister’s son, Gal Meir, was killed Thursday; both named for grandfather Meir

War cabinet minister and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, with family and friends, at the funeral of his son Gal, in Herzliya on December 8, 2023. Master Sgt. (res.) Gal Meir Eisenkot was killed fighting in the Gaza Strip on December 7. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

‘Your loss will not be in vain’: War minister, ex-IDF chief Eisenkot eulogizes slain son

By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

Left: Kibbutz Be'eri resident Dror Kaplun; Right: Eitan Levy, a taxi driver from Bat Yam (Courtesy)

Israel confirms deaths of 2 more civilians at hands of Hamas following Oct. 7

Master Sgt. (res.) Gal Meir Eisenkot (left) and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Jonathan David Deitch, who were killed in the Gaza Strip on December 7, 2023. (Courtesy)

Son of war cabinet minister and ex-IDF chief Eisenkot among 2 soldiers killed in Gaza

By Emanuel Fabian and Alexander Fulbright

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
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
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
Noam and Alma Or released after 50 days, as father and cousin still captive in Gaza

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Shlomo Mansour, as his wife of 60 years escaped

By ToI Staff

Those we have lost

Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

Those We Have Lost
Noi Maudi, 29: US-Israeli who taught in Minnesota school for years

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Hodaya and Tair David, 26, 23: Sisters who held hands in last moments

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Lt. Col. Sahar Machlof, 36: ‘As in life, also in death, was a hero’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Bar Tomer, 25: ‘Always-smiling’ Israeli-German student

By ToI Staff
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 Call Heroes

People saving others and making lives better

Tales of the Times

The quirky, improbable, infuriating and uplifting

To show what's not there
Kibbutz Nir Oz families document themselves before and after Oct. 7

By Jessica Steinberg
Light relief
Troops in Gaza light menorahs made by kids from evacuated towns

By ToI Staff
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

The Daily Briefing

The Daily Briefing

A 15-minute update on what’s happening in Israel and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday

Israel Policy Pod

A weekly podcast that goes beyond the headlines to bring you analysis from Israel Policy Forum experts and distinguished guests including policymakers, activists, and academics.

promoted

Identity/Crisis

Identity/Crisis

A weekly podcast from the Shalom Hartman Institute about news and ideas

promoted

Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine

Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine

Takes you behind the headlines with Hadassah Medical Organization
doctors and specialists, patients and nurses

promoted