Only 50 living hostages? * Nasrallah threatens Israel, Cyprus * 2 charged in antisemitic Paris rape * US poised to sanction Smotrich? *Ancient ship found off Israel coast

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Thursday, June 20, 2024 Presented by [Jewish People Policy Institute]( Live updates [LIVE: US officials said to estimate number of living hostages could be as low as 50]( By ToI Staff Wall Street Journal says estimation based on US, Israeli intelligence * Nukhba force squad commander who invaded Israel on October 7 killed in airstrike in northern Gaza [IDF spokesman says Hamas can’t be destroyed, drawing retort from PM: ‘That’s war’s goal’]( By ToI Staff Hagari calls Hamas ‘an idea rooted in the hearts of the people,’ also says it will stay in Gaza unless alternative found; PM reiterates war aims, amid divisions with defense brass [Amid chaos and crime in Gaza, UN said to warn Israel humanitarian ops may be halted]( By Lazar Berman [US hoping troubled Gaza aid pier can resume operations on Thursday]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Nasrallah says ‘no place’ in Israel would be safe in war, threatens to target Cyprus]( By Gianluca Pacchiani and Agencies In televised speech, terror leader claims Hezbollah does not want total war but is prepared for it, will not halt fighting until permanent ceasefire is reached in Gaza [Report: Appointment of northern rehabilitation czar delayed amid Likud machinations]( By Michael Horovitz Promoted Webinar [Live at 6 pm Israel Time: Jewish People’s Webinar]( As antisemitism continues to spread globally, we had an in-depth conversation this week with Fiamma Nirenstein, an Italian-Israeli journalist, author, and former politician, who was recently appointed as Israel’s special envoy to combat antisemitism. Inside story Jacob Magid [Is the US poised to sanction an Israeli minister for the first time?]( Some in administration suggest order Biden signed to target West Bank destabilizers should be used against Smotrich, whose withholding of funds has the PA on the verge of collapse [PM said to have ignored warnings by ministers, aides against openly criticizing US]( By ToI Staff Israeli TV says minister Dermer supported public confrontation with US but wanted Netanyahu to delay video statement until after officials’ scheduled Thursday White House meeting [Amid multiplying spats, Netanyahu urges coalition partners to ‘get a grip’]( By ToI Staff PM says government members must set aside ‘partisan interests’ and unite around war effort in Gaza, as he faces Haredi anger, public row with Ben Gvir, dissent from Barkat [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing June 20: Day 258 – Things fall apart? Mini-revolt among a few Likud MKs]( By ToI Staff [Two teens charged with ‘horrific’ antisemitic rape of 12-year-old girl near Paris]( By Daniel Hoffman Third suspect indicted for anti-Jewish threats as attack sends shockwaves through France; Macron decries ‘scourge,’ urges schools to discuss hatred of Jews [Italian PM’s party shrugs off video of youth wing members performing fascist salutes]( By AFP [Holocaust memorial stones in Germany vandalized with antisemitic messages]( By ToI Staff Top Ops Simcha Rosenberg [On not wearing my kippah post Oct. 7]( Being recognized as a Jew suddenly shifted from a point of pride to something that could cause trouble Yosef B. Kulek [Jewish & Black: Finding my identity with the Rebbe]( It was his unconditional love that got me through the shame and embarrassment of the racial mockery I endured as a child [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [‘Face to face’: Mother of Hamas hostage confronts UN rights officials in Geneva]( By AFP and ToI Staff Meirav Leshem Gonen, whose daughter Romi was kidnapped on Oct. 7, says report by rights council ‘trivializes the severity of sexual violence experienced by women in captivity’ [‘Their voice’: New forum of slain surveillance soldiers’ families demands Oct. 7 probe]( By ToI Staff [Rescued hostage Almog Meir Jan grapples with return to freedom]( By Jessica Steinberg Meir Jan’s uncle, Aviram Meir, discusses his nephew’s physical and emotional health, his need to see his fellow hostages and the embrace he receives from the Israeli public [Israel seeks to replace Red Cross with ‘external party’ for Palestinian prisoner visits]( By Jeremy Sharon [3,300-year-old ship discovered off Israeli coast, the oldest ever found in deep waters]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Researchers say location of wreck, carrying hundreds of intact storage vessels, proves Late Bronze Age mariners could journey far out to sea [CRM]( Inside story [Difficult senior year at war not deterring Israeli high school grads from IDF service]( By Gavriel Fiske Some 110,000 students finish 12th grade on Thursday; Education Ministry went to great lengths as post-October 7 conflict upended routine, but some students say efforts fell short [Poll: Over half of Arab Israelis feel sense of ‘shared destiny’ with Jews]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Survey of Arab citizens also finds that over two thirds are in favor of an Arab party joining a future government coalition, and 40% say it doesn’t have to be a center-left one [Brussels declines to host upcoming Belgium-Israel soccer match, citing security risk]( By Agencies and ToI Staff City official say game scheduled for September would provoke demonstrations endangering players, spectators, residents and police [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [UK government review concludes Nazi-invaded Isle of Alderney was no ‘Mini Auschwitz’]( By Robert Philpot New research raises death toll on island which housed the only concentration camp on British soil, and uncovers why perpetrators escaped justice [This year’s Fresh Paint art fair ‘takes the temperature’ of Israeli society]( By Jessica Steinberg Some 40,000 visitors expected at annual Tel Aviv art fair slated for early July, where emerging artists meet new collectors for affordable prices [Day 258 – Things fall apart? Mini-revolt among a few Likud MKs]( [listen to the podcast]( [New polls show UK’s Labour trouncing Conservatives in July 4 elections]( By Agencies Tories under PM Rishi Sunak heading for poorest result in 200 years; rival Keir Starmer forecast to lead Labour to best ever victory, with up to 516 of 650 seats in Westminster [ADL revises ‘report card’ grading US campuses’ handling of antisemitism]( By ToI Staff Watchdog reassesses 12 US universities’ grades upwards, 3 downwards, citing new information and ‘serious incidents’ since failing many leading schools [Officials say carelessness behind Jewish student group’s absence from US school yearbook]( By Michael Rubinkam [US rabbinical school says probe of seminary found no systemic sexism or homophobia]( By Asaf Elia-Shalev More Headlines [Four killed in car crash in south, including 3 family members]( By ToI Staff [Shipping industry urges Red Sea action as Yemen’s Houthis sink second merchant ship]( By Jonathan Saul [Death toll at hajj pilgrimage exceeds 1,000 following extreme heat]( By Agencies [Fighting off Houthis for months, US carrier in Red Sea may be running out of steam]( By Lolita C. Baldor and Jon Gambrell [Canada puts Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on terror blacklist]( By Reuters [Swedish court clears former Syrian general accused of war crimes]( By Johannes LEDEL [Eugene Vindman, who featured in Trump’s first impeachment, wins Virginia primary]( By Ron Kampeas [Funny mode / US comedian Modi books Tel Aviv show after selling out in Jerusalem]( By Jessica Steinberg [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2024 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved