US presses Israel to end ’high-intensity’ fighting soon * Rocket fire at J’lem * IDF recovers bodies of 3 hostages *Red Cross chief visits, says can’t get to see hostages

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Friday, December 15, 2023 Live updates [LIVE: IDF hits Hamas internal security sites; rocket barrage fired at Jerusalem from Gaza]( By Jacob Magid Israel to reopen Kerem Shalom for entry of aid * 3 soldiers killed in Gaza, bodies of 3 hostages recovered from Strip * Sullivan says he’s not giving Israel dictates, meets Abbas [White House ups pressure on Israel to end ‘high-intensity’ fighting in Gaza soon]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff Officials say visiting Sullivan urged Israeli leaders to scale down military operations Hamas in coming weeks; Biden tells Israel to ‘be more careful’ with Gaza civilians [Gallant warns US war against Hamas will take ‘more than several months’]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [Far-right minister calls for Israel to ‘fully occupy’ Gaza, reestablish settlements]( By ToI Staff [Hamas chief Sinwar’s ‘days are numbered,’ senior US official warns]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff Biden administration official says terror group’s Gaza leader has the blood of 38 Americans killed on October 7 ‘on his hands’ [Israel said to place $400,000 bounty on Hamas leader Sinwar]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [Bodies of 3 hostages recovered by IDF, as three more soldiers killed in Gaza]( By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies Remains of soldiers Nik Beizer and Ron Sherman and civilian Elia Toledano returned to Israel; Oz Shmuel Aradi, Shay Uriel Pizem and Tomer Shlomo Myara die in battle [IDF trial of flooding Hamas tunnels with seawater proves successful, ToI told]( By Emanuel Fabian [Freed from Gaza, mom kidnapped with daughters is ‘still sleeping with one eye open’]( By ToI Staff Accounts from former hostages paint a picture of injuries, food deprivation, skin branding for children and the joy and relief of returning home: ‘I didn’t know if I would survive’ Inside story Jacob Magid [Israel urging US not to talk publicly about two-state solution — officials]( Request not just being made by PM, but Herzog, Gantz and Lapid as well, who argue that framework has no support post Oct. 7; US official says Washington in no position to heed call [‘My nation is in trauma’: Herzog says now not the time to discuss 2-state solution]( By AP and ToI Staff Top Ops Allen Selis [Pulling tomatoes off the vine to the sound of artillery fire]( We 15 volunteers needed to fill 80 pallets of 6 two-liter tubs each, if we wanted to help keep the farm on its feet Sarah Bernstein [The shared pain of ordinary people caught in the crossfire]( Compassion is not a zero-sum game; rather, we should feel empathy for those suffering, regardless of our politics or allegiances Rachel Sharansky Danziger [Seeds and dreams]( When I experience the tiny joys of daily life, I remind myself to be like Joseph and store them for the hard times to come (Miketz) Steven Zvi Gleiberman [If I don’t know Hebrew, how can I be in the Israeli army?]( My commander asked this excellent question when I didn’t understand him at the shooting range. I’m glad I have a good answer [Sullivan says Palestinian Authority must be ‘revamped’ before it can govern Gaza]( By ToI Staff and Agencies US national security adviser says Hamas use of human shields places ‘incredible burden’ on IDF, adds Hezbollah in the north must be deterred so evacuated citizens can return home [Visiting ICRC head tells PM public pressure won’t sway Hamas to allow hostage visits]( By Renee Ghert-Zand and ToI Staff Netanyahu rejects Red Cross chief’s claim, urging her to try publicly pressuring Hamas anyway; she tweets call for visits and release of hostages without mentioning Hamas [Families of hostages meet with UN chief, accuse him of not doing enough to free them]( By ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 15: Day 70 – Red Cross visits, with no real response for hostages]( By ToI Staff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Gantz swipes at Netanyahu, criticizes those creating ‘manufactured disputes’ with US]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff Looking to Gaza’s future, National Unity Party leader stresses Israel’s willingness to work with US and moderate Arab nations to build Gaza anew after Hamas rule is toppled ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Prof. Amichai Cohen: Is the IDF acting legally in Gaza?]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan Questions answered include how Israel derives its legal legitimacy for self-defense and how, postwar, to try Hamas for international crimes against humanity [American Jewry raised $1 billion for Israel in first month of war, scholars say]( By Canaan Lidor The Jewish Federations of North America is responsible for $602 million and the rest came from various groups and friendship associations, the Ruderman Program researchers estimate [Menorahs across the US vandalized as Jews celebrate Hanukkah amid antisemitism spike]( By jacob gurvis The damage comes as Jewish communities are on high alert due to rise in hate crimes around the globe after the Hamas Oct. 7 atrocities sparked the ongoing war in Gaza [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Polish leaders mark Hanukkah in parliament after far-right MP targeted earlier effort]( By AP and ToI Staff Top politicians join Poland’s Jewish community for candle lighting after extremist lawmaker put out menorah candles with fire extinguisher earlier in the week [GOP picks Ethiopian-born Israeli-American to run for seat of expelled NY Rep. Santos]( By Ron Kampeas Nassau County legislator and former IDF paratrooper Mazi Pilip to face off against Democratic former congressman Tom Suozzi in February 13 special election [Day 70 – Red Cross visits, with no real response for hostages]( [listen to the podcast]( [Missile fired from Yemen strikes cargo ship in Red Sea hours after earlier attack]( By Jon Gambrell MSC Palatium III targeted by Iran-backed Houthis, in apparent attempt to hit the Al Jasrah, which was set on fire by a projectile earlier in the day More Headlines [IDF pulls out of Jenin after 60 hours, says dozens arrested, bomb labs destroyed]( By Emanuel Fabian [Danish police nab suspects over alleged Hamas plot against Jewish, Israeli targets]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [Ohio police arrest 13-year-old boy for plotting mass shooting at synagogue]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Turkish lawmaker dies after collapsing during speech blasting Israel]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Israeli 10th graders still struggling, but dodge global post-COVID drop-off — study]( By Gavriel Fiske [Parents of reservist who shot dead civilian in terror attack pen apology letter]( By ToI Staff [11 Iranian police killed in jihadist attack, state TV says]( By AFP [Fashion chain Castro to bring back 90% of staff furloughed due to Hamas war]( By Sharon Wrobel [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? 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