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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 430

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The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing over Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip during an Israeli bombardment on December 20, 2023, amid the ongoing between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas. (Said Khatib/AFP)

Live updates (closed)

Dec. 20: UN says Israel has ordered further evacuations in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis

By Joshua Davidovich and ToI Staff

Army says it’s fighting in new areas of Strip * UN Security Council vote on ceasefire postponed again * In message to Houthis, Gallant in Eilat says Israel ‘won’t tolerate threats’

1:29 am

UN says Israel has ordered further evacuations in southern Gaza's Khan Younis
12:13 am

Ben Gvir voices support for guards being probed over suspected fatal beating of security prisoner
11:11 pm

Hezbollah claims responsibility for overnight rocket fire at Kiryat Shmona

This handout picture provided by the Iranian foreign ministry on December 20, 2023, shows Qatar-based Hamas politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh speaking to journalists as he welcomes the Iranian foreign minister (not in the picture), in Doha. (Photo by Iranian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

Israel said to mull freeing inmates jailed for serious crimes

Hamas’s Haniyeh arrives in Cairo as reports swirl of talks on new truce, hostage deal

By Michael Bachner and AFP

Amid ‘intensive’ negotiations, head of Palestinian terror group’s politburo said set to discuss options for agreement, including proposal to free 40 hostages for weeklong truce

Hostages Gadi Mozes (L) and Elad Katzir in a video published by Palestinian Islamic Jihad on December 19, 2023. (Screen capture/X)

Islamic Jihad issues clip of 2 hostages who call on Israel to secure their freedom

Idan Shtivi, 28, killed on October 7, 2023, and his body taken captive by Hamas terrorists from the Nova desert rave. (Courtesy, the family)

Brothers of hostages appeal via international media: ‘Bring our loved ones home’

Protesters hold photographs of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, as they rally to call for the government to find a means to bring the hostages home, outside the Kirya military HQ in Tel Aviv, December 19, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Netanyahu meets several hostage families amid murmurs of a possible new swap deal

Some outraged as PM meets handpicked group of relatives; Israel said seeking ‘humanitarian’ deal for 30-40 women, sick and elderly; official says any deal far off and would be costly

President Isaac Herzog meets with a group of foreign ambassadors at his Jerusalem residence on December 19, 2023. (GPO)

Israel ready for truce in exchange for more hostages, Herzog tells foreign diplomats

By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

Jerry Seinfeld (left) tours Kibbutz Be'eri on December 19, 2023. (Noam Lanir/Facebook)

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld visits Kibbutz Be’eri, meets survivors of Hamas massacre

IDF probe said to find troops who killed hostages weren’t briefed on Hebrew sign in area

An Israeli television report on Tuesday revealed new details about the IDF's probe into the mistaken killing of three hostages last weekend, including that troops were not informed of signs indicating the captives may have been in the area. The three hostages, Yotam Haim, Samar Talalka, and Alon Shamriz, were kidnapped by Hamas... Continue Reading

This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces on December 17, 2023, shows a sign reading "Help, 3 hostages," that was put up in Gaza by three Israeli hostages who were later mistakenly killed by troops. (Israel Defense Forces)

Director of Gaza's Kamal Adwan hospital Ahmed Kahlot is seen being interrogated by the Shin Bet in a video published on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. (Shin Bet)

Gaza hospital director admits Hamas used medical complex as operational hub

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Israeli soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says Hamas terrorists used to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, December 15, 2023 (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing Dec. 20: Day 75 – Can IDF dismantle Gaza’s high-tech tunnels?

New intel said to disprove belief top Hamas commander Muhammad Deif is near-paralyzed

Elusive Hamas military wing leader Muhammed Deif is in a much better physical shape than previously thought, a report said Wednesday morning, citing new IDF intelligence findings that indicate that the prevalent belief that he is an amputee and nearly paralyzed is mistaken. The report by the Maariv... Continue Reading

Hamas military wing commander Muhammad Deif as a young man (Courtesy)

Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, greets his supporters during a meeting with leaders of Palestinian factions at his office in Gaza City, April 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Hamas leader Sinwar said to narrowly evade capture by IDF two separate times

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Palestinian men said to have surrendered to the IDF in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza on December 7, 2023. (Social media: used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

Palestinians say IDF treated them ‘like cattle’ during mass arrests in northern Gaza

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Chief of staff to far-right minister: 'Don't threaten me'

Ben Gvir says ministers should have say on internal army issues; IDF chief: You’re wrong

Oztma Yehudit leader slams suspension of soldiers who sang over mosque loudspeakers; leaked discussion shows impatience on progress of war; Gallant raps ‘irresponsible’ colleagues

Op-ed: Day 75 of the war

In a war that’s far from over, renewed infighting is a luxury Israel cannot afford

This Editor’s Note was sent out earlier Wednesday in ToI’s weekly update email to members of the Times of Israel Community. To receive these Editor’s Notes as they’re released, join the ToI Community here. Always present, but relatively marginalized in the immediate aftermath of the horrors of October 7, Israel's deep internal divisions have been coming... Continue Reading

Israeli troops operate in the Gaza Strip in a photo released December 20, 2023 (Israel Defense Forces)

File: Israeli soldiers seen during a drill simulating a terrorist infiltration in the settlement of Beitar Illit, in the West Bank, October 24, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

IDF carries out drill simulating an Oct. 7-style attack in the West Bank

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Tor Wennesland (right on screen), special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, speaks from Jerusalem during a UN Security Council meeting on "the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question," at the UN headquarters in New York City on December 19, 2023. (Charly Triballeau/AFP)

Biden: Israel must differentiate between Hamas, civilians

UN Security Council vote on Gaza resolution further postponed until Wednesday

By Jacob Magid and Agencies

Ongoing effort to avoid US veto; current text would bypass Israeli inspection of aid into Gaza; White House: World must ‘understand what’s at stake, what Hamas did on October 7’

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a news conference at the COP28 UN Climate Summit, Monday, December 11, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

UN’s Guterres views Oct. 7 Hamas massacre film, said to call it ‘humanity at its worst’

By ToI Staff and Agencies

That war when one side surrendered to the other to save lives

Spoiler alert: It wasn’t Hamas — evidently, the world doesn’t want them to stand down

5 reasons why Jews must not bemoan Gaza in public

Won’t expressing our pain for Gazans make us more compassionate? Won’t failing to do so make us morally bereft? No and no

Evolution of a take-no-prisoners culture

The killing of 3 Israeli hostages by Israeli troops reflects a record of soldiers shooting first and asking questions later

I’m a pacifist, atheist Arab and I’m praying for IDF soldiers

Lies about Jewish history and about Israel are responsible for this war and for every death on both sides

The torched command center of the Nahal Oz IDF base, overrun by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, during a visit by relatives of slain lookout soldiers on December 19, 2023. (Courtesy/Eyal Eshel)

66 soldiers were killed in the assault on the Nahal Oz base

‘My daughter was burned here’: Bereaved families of lookout troops visit torched base

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Touring remains of command center in IDF’s Nahal Oz base, overrun by Hamas on Oct. 7, father says army ‘abandoned’ soldiers by lacking security protocols, safety measures

Three cousins of hostage Tsahi Idan stand in front of Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, a new location for families of hostages held in Gaza, on December 19, 2023 (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)

Hostages’ relatives take shifts at Defense Ministry, worry plight is now ‘white noise’

By Jessica Steinberg

Loved ones of those held hostage hold vigil outside military headquarters in Tel Aviv: ‘This country stopped on October 7, and it can’t go on unless they come home’

Noa Argamani, 26, who was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 during a massacre at the Supernova desert rave. (Courtesy)

Noa Argamani was abducted not by Hamas but by civilian mob, NBC report suggests

Bouquet of Hope project brings yellow flowers to different locations to keep issue of Hamas hostages in the public conversation. (Courtesy: Daniel Tenenbaum)

Flower powerBouquets of flowers spread hope for hostages from Tel Aviv to US

By Jessica Steinberg

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy films a TikTok clip, November 2023. (Avner Hofstein / Zman Yisrael)

Interview'Sometimes you really need to think outside the box'

Israel’s newest, British-born international spokesperson is raising some eyebrows

By Avner Hofstein

Between his mic drop moments and fiery rebuttals of skeptical interviewers, Eylon Levy is learning to master TikTok and confronting Hamas supporters on social media

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas looking on as he receives Palestinian athletes in Ramallah in the West Bank on August 4, 2023. (Wissam Khalifa/PPO/AFP)

Abbas says willing to reform PA to rule Gaza, but Israeli policies ‘the problem’

By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

Top aide to Palestinian Authority president lambastes Hamas for bringing destruction upon Gaza: ‘There will be a hard reckoning’

A photo of Palestinians bound and stripped after being apprehended by IDF soldiers and settlers in the central West Bank village of Wadi al-Seeq on October 12, 2023. (Used in accordance with clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

IDF freezes operations of ‘hilltop youth’ unit linked to anti-Palestinian violence

By Jeremy Sharon

Illustrative: Palestinian workers line up at the entrance to the Jewish settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim, February 23, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

Thousands of Palestinians to return to work in settlements for first time since Oct. 7

Syrian President Bashar Assad, during the Arab summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, May 19, 2023. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)

Syria’s Assad claims Holocaust was a lie fabricated to justify creation of Israel

By Shira Silkoff

Syrian dictator, who has himself been accused of genocide, says Jews weren’t specifically targeted during WWII, claims US funded Nazi Party’s rise to power

Illustrative: Officers stand by a police van after entering the grounds of the courthouse complex in the southwest coastal city of Paphos, Cyprus, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Cyprus foils alleged Iranian plot to kill Israelis, in joint operation with Mossad

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS

This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon shows smoke billowing following Israeli bombardment around the southern Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab on December 18, 2023 (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)

Israel strikes terror targets in Lebanon amid rocket, drone sirens in northern towns

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Issa Kassissieh dressed up as Santa Claus welcoming visitors inside 'Jerusalem's Santa House' in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, December 14, 2023. (Gianluca Pacchiani/Times of Israel)

'Many Jewish Israelis want to see the lights'

As war mars festivities, Christians in Israel and West Bank cling to Christmas spirit

By Gianluca Pacchiani

In Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, public celebrations have been called off, but some insist that the holiday’s message of hope must be allowed to shine

More Headlines

Former US president Donald Trump speaks during a commit to caucus rally, December 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In historic ruling, Colorado Supreme Court bars Trump from primary ballot over Jan. 6

By Nicholas Riccardi

For illustration: Workers in a startup (Vadim_Key; iStock by Getty Images)

Small startups hurt most by wartime challenges – report

By Sharon Wrobel

Illustration: High-tech development centers in Herzliya, October 30, 2020. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

About 50% of early-stage startups have cash horizon of less than six months – survey

By Sharon Wrobel

Inbal Mashash, the director of the Population and Immigration Authority’s Foreign Workers Administration, addresses the Knesset Committee on Foreign Workers on December 19, 2023. (Danny Shem-Tov/Knesset Spokesperson's Office)

Despite war, more than 12,000 foreign workers have arrived in Israel, lawmakers told

By Sam Sokol and AFP

Actor and producer Alec Baldwin faces off with a pro-Palestinian protester in Manhattan, December 19, 2023. (Screen capture/X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Alec Baldwin shouts down NYC protester who slammed him for not condemning Israel

Illustrative: The flags, from left to right, of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at a ceremony in Riga, Latvia, in 2012. (Pablo Andrés Rivero via JTA)

In shift, Latvia and Lithuania to pay Holocaust survivors, heirs for stolen property

By Shira Li Bartov

Oversight Board rules Facebook wrongfully removed 2 Israel-Hamas war posts

Illustrative: Police officers secure a synagogue in Frankfurt, Germany, November 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Berlin summons Iran envoy after court finds ties to 2022 synagogue arson plot

By AFP and ToI Staff

Volunteers sorts broken pieces of matzah as workers prepare meals at a nonprofit soup kitchen for the beginning of Passover celebrations in Brooklyn, New York on March 26, 2021. (Kena Betancur / AFP)

Brooklyn man sentenced to prison for robbing matzah factory weeks before Passover

Musician Micha Biton will perform in Jerusalem's Oud Festival, December 27-30, 2023 (Courtesy)

'Garden of Eden' to hellEvacuated musician Micha Bitton sings about life near Gaza

By Jessica Steinberg

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November	December 2023					January
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