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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 651

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Christian Palestinian mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Saad Salameh and Foumia Ayyad, killed earlier in an Israeli strike that hit the Holy Family church in Gaza City, as Archbishop Alexios of the Saint Porphyrius Church leads the mass on July 17, 2025. (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)

Under pressure from Trump, Netanyahu says he ‘regrets’ mistaken shelling of Gaza church

By Lazar Berman, Jacob Magid and Emanuel Fabian

IDF says shrapnel from a tank shell fired in the area mistakenly hit the church, reiterates that IDF does not target religious buildings

A view of the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, following an Israeli strike on the church, in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City on July 17, 2025. (Omar aL-Qattaa/AFP)

Three killed in strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church; Israel conveys ‘deep sorrow’

By Lazar Berman, Emanuel Fabian, Nava Freiberg and Agencies

Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center operated by the US-backed organization in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Gaza aid group says 20 killed in crowd crush, blames armed Hamas agitators

By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies

LiveUpdated 3hr ago

Huckabee blasts Israel for not granting visas to US Christian groups, threatens reciprocal steps

Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Israeli minister accuses US envoy of ‘deviating from accepted working norms’ over visa demand * After quitting government, ultra-Orthodox political leaders launch scathing attacks on PM, religious zionism

Christian Palestinian mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Saad Salameh and Foumia Ayyad, killed earlier in an Israeli strike that hit the Holy Family church in Gaza City, as Archbishop Alexios of the Saint Porphyrius Church leads the mass on July 17, 2025. (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)

Under pressure from Trump, Netanyahu says he ‘regrets’ mistaken shelling of Gaza church

By Lazar Berman, Jacob Magid and Emanuel Fabian

IDF says shrapnel from a tank shell fired in the area mistakenly hit the church, reiterates that IDF does not target religious buildings

A view of the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, following an Israeli strike on the church, in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City on July 17, 2025. (Omar aL-Qattaa/AFP)

Three killed in strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church; Israel conveys ‘deep sorrow’

By Lazar Berman, Emanuel Fabian, Nava Freiberg and Agencies

Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center operated by the US-backed organization in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Gaza aid group says 20 killed in crowd crush, blames armed Hamas agitators

By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies

LiveUpdated 3hr ago

Huckabee blasts Israel for not granting visas to US Christian groups, threatens reciprocal steps

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Israeli minister accuses US envoy of ‘deviating from accepted working norms’ over visa demand * After quitting government, ultra-Orthodox political leaders launch scathing attacks on PM, religious zionism

Inside storyUS warns Hamas of severe consequences if it drags feet

Mediators bullish on chances for Gaza deal next week after main obstacles overcome

A hostage agreement can be reached next week after Israel came down from demands regarding the scope of its withdrawal from Gaza during the 60-day truce under discussion, an Arab diplomat and a second source involved in mediation efforts told The Times of Israel on Thursday. Israel submitted a new series of maps earlier this week representing the troop redeployment that it envisions during the truce. The maps showed that Israel has come down from... Continue Reading

This picture taken from a position on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke billowing during an Israeli strike on July 17, 2025. (Jack Guez/AFP)

IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip, in an image published on July 14, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

Official says Gaza deal ‘more likely than not,’ as Israel said to retract pullback demands

By Jacob Magid, Nava Freiberg, Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies

Bedouin residents leave in trucks loaded with their belongings, in the vicinity of the Druze al-Mazraa village in Syria's southern Sweida governorate on July 17, 2025, seeking safer areas amid ongoing clashes. (Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)

Netanyahu vows no Syrian forces south of Damascus, as Bedouins, Druze fight despite truce

By Lazar Berman, Nurit Yohanan, Emanuel Fabian, Charlie Summers and Agencies

Bedouin commander says ceasefire only applies to Damascus government, declares offensive with aim to free Bedouins held by Druze, after regime’s retreat during IDF strikes

Druze wait near the border fence in the Golan Heights village of Majdal Shams, as Syrian Druze who had crossed over the day before cross back to return to Syria, on July 17, 2025. (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)

IDF says dozens of Druze from Israel still remain in Syria after rushing border

By Emanuel Fabian, Nurit Yohanan and AFP

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa speaks in a recorded statement released early on July 17, 2025, following clashes and Israeli strikes in the Druze-majority province of Sweida. (Telegram screenshot)

After IDF strikes, Syria’s Sharaa accuses Israel of seeking ‘chaos and destruction’

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Red Crescent rescuers lay down bodies of victims of the recent clashes between local Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, inside a hospital in Syria's southern city of Sweida on July 17, 2025. (Shadi al-Dubaisi/AFP)

Syrian Druze grapple with death and destruction in Sweida after fighting ends

By Shadi al-Dubaisi and Layal Abou Rahal

Reporter's notebook

Hailing Israel as protector, Israel’s Druze reunite with relatives along the Syrian border

After violence broke out in Druze-majority Sweida, 1,000 Israeli Druze burst through the fence into Syria. Most have returned, bringing a sense of relief that the IDF joined the fray

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a ceremony at the US State Department in Washington, July 16, 2025. (Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP)

Rubio: ‘We think we’re on our way toward a real deescalation’ between Israel, Syria

By Agencies, ToI Staff and Jacob Magid

Members of Israel's Druze community attempt to enter Syria through the buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli Golan Heights near Majdal Shams on July 16, 2025, amid deadly sectarian violence in southern Syria. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

Syrian gov’t forces begin withdrawing from Sweida as Israel vows to protect Druze

By Jacob Magid, Emanuel Fabian, Lazar Berman, Nava Freiberg and Agencies

Israeli troops use tear gas to disperse the crowds as Druze attempt to cross the Syrian border on the Golan Heights near Majdal Shams on July 16, 2025 (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)

Border chaos as 1,000 Druze breach frontier into Syria; heavy IDF strikes hit Damascus

By Emanuel Fabian, Nurit Yohanan, Agencies and ToI Staff

What Matters Now

Identity/Crisis

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Wondering Jews

For Heaven's Sake

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Those we have lost

Stories of the civilians and soldiers who have fallen in the Israel-Hamas war

Those We Have Lost
Dor Reder, 22: Moved to Be’eri to care for special needs child

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Cpt. Ori Shani, 22: Golani commander with ‘courage, strength, spirit’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Samar Talalka, 24: Motorcycle lover who was slated to get married

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Master Sgt. Avihay Amsalem, 30: Elbit engineer counseled at-risk youth

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Evgeny Galsky, 34: Firefighter was training for a mountain bike race

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Insp. Andrey Poshivay, 39: Embodiment of a Hollywood-style hero

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Bruna Valeanu, 24: New immigrant from Brazil had just celebrated birthday

By Gabriel Toueg
Those We Have Lost
Sgt. First Class Amichai Oster, 24: US-Israeli ‘quiet hero’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Sgt. 1st Class Yaakov Ozeri, 28: Artist killed before child’s birth

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Chavik Segal, 78: Great-grandmother expressed love in ‘small gestures’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Staff Sgt. Tomer Ahimas, 20: ‘Hero’ soldier slain in battle at Nirim

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Gilad Kfir, 48: Photographer who never got to meet his baby girl

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Aviad Cohen, 41: Dad of 6 who ‘reflected the Israeli spirit’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Stav Barazani, 22: Slain partygoer ‘was a really happy girl’

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Liron Barda, 26: Rave bartender stayed behind to treat wounded

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Sgt. Maj. Yakir Blohman, 33: Police detective and ‘total family man’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Sakda Surakhai, 23: Thai farmhand with two young children

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Yulia Chaban, 24: Lover of animals was mother’s ‘bright star’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Lior Ben Yaakov, 44: Father of 3 slain while protecting his home

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Gal Danguri, 23: Partygoer was ‘6’4″ of happiness and joy’

By ToI Staff

Those we are missing

The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

Those we are missing
Taken captive: Eitan Mor, guard at rave who helped save others

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Avinatan Or, planning to move in with girlfriend

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Elkana Bohbot, young son asking, ‘Where’s Daddy?’

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: Alon Ohel, pianist’s family recorded song for him

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Matan Zangauker ‘is a survivor’

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Bipin Joshi, Nepalese student who deflected grenades

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Evyatar David, IDed in a Hamas photo on Telegram

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Omri Miran, driven in his own car to Gaza

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Informal educator Eitan Horn visiting from Kfar Saba

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Maxim Herkin, was attending his first trance rave

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Ariel Cunio told brother ‘We are in a horror film’

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Yosef-Haim Ohana, helped injured at Supernova rave

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Segev Kalfon, last seen running across Highway 232

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Matan Angrest, turned 21 while held hostage in Gaza

By ToI Staff
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: Bar Kuperstein, last seen tied up by Hamas

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: David Cunio, abducted from burning house

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

By ToI Staff

Tales of the Times

The quirky, improbable, infuriating and uplifting

Dinosaur beats meteor
Martian meteorite sells for record $5.3 million at New York auction

By Dave Collins
Musical reactions
Israel Festival opens Thursday with jazz piece written after Oct. 7

By Jessica Steinberg
Alternative art
Jerusalem art show to examine shift from routine to extreme

By Jessica Steinberg
Golden oldie
Tower of David exhibit tunes in to cultural icon Yehoram Gaon

By Jessica Steinberg
Brook no fascists
Alaska’s Nazi Creek given less offensive name after 2-year campaign

By Grace Gilson
Curbing 250 years
Larry David teams up with the Obamas on US history comedy series

By Grace Gilson
Beak traffic
Cop escorts mother duck, ducklings to safety on key highway

By ToI Staff
Wing and a prayer
Netanyahu gifts Trump mezuzah case in shape of B-2 bomber

By ToI Staff
Free love
Released hostages Troufanov, Cohen announce plans to marry

By ToI Staff
Scenes to be seen
Award-winning docs and dramas dot Jerusalem Film Festival

By Jessica Steinberg
Just passing through
Scientists find new interstellar object racing through Solar System

By AFP
The art of the matter
When artists make movies: Free screenings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

By Jessica Steinberg
Cinema of value
Jerusalem Film Festival to open with Cannes winner ‘Sentimental Value’

By Jessica Steinberg
Can't stop the music
Israel Festival schedules new dates following ceasefire with Iran

By Jessica Steinberg
Movie time
Gal Gadot to be special guest at this year’s Jerusalem Film Festival

By Jessica Steinberg
A beer for the boys
Brewery creates ‘My Brother’ pale ale for kidnapped soldiers

By Jessica Steinberg
Underground art
Iranian missiles force museums to move valuables to safe areas

By Jessica Steinberg
Signs of the times
Hapoel fans model new uniforms, with Hersh logo, in bomb shelters

By Jessica Steinberg
War drums
With halls shuttered, orchestras offer online concerts for distraction

By Jessica Steinberg
Travel buddies
Lior Raz and Rotem Sela star in ‘Off Road,’ new Netflix reality show

By Jessica Steinberg

The Daily Briefing

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The Jewish People Policy Institute provides balanced, in-depth and inside analysis. Join us every Wednesday at 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. EDT

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For Heaven's Sake

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Thoughtful debate elevates us all. In For Heaven’s Sake, Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain revive the Jewish art of constructive discussion on topics related to political and social trends in Israel, Israel-Diaspora relations, and the collective consciousness of being Jewish.

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