US SecDef here as IDF tackles Hamas strongholds * Hostage talks in Warsaw * Slain hostage’s dad slams IDF * Israel-linked group’s Iran cyberattack * Costly Houthi attacks

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, December 18, 2023 Presented by [The Shiloni Project]( Live updates [LIVE: IDF signals full control of Beit Hanoun in Gaza; rocket, drone attacks in north; US SecDef Austin visits]( By Ricky Ben-David and ToI Staff Israel-linked group claims Iran cyberattack * UNSC to vote on ceasefire call * 5 troops killed; ground op toll rises to 127 * Woman hurt in West Bank terror attack [Mossad chief meets Qatari PM, CIA director in Warsaw for hostage talks]( By ToI Staff Renewed Israeli interest in second hostage deal comes after three were mistakenly killed by IDF in Gaza; sources familiar with negotiations warn of ‘long, complicated’ process ahead [Israel may let Hamas choose next hostages to be freed in talks on new truce – report]( By ToI Staff [‘Financially solid’: Despite war with Israel, Hamas’s funding remains resilient]( By Agencies and ToI Staff ToI podcast [Daily Briefing Dec 18: Day 73 – Massive tunnel uncovered as others flushed with seawater]( By ToI Staff Military reporter Emanuel Fabian on lessons learned from the accidental killing of 3 hostages in Gaza, a new international alliance against Houthis, and escalations in the north Donation request [Support a grassroots Israeli aid group]( The Shiloni Project, started by moms, is a grassroots volunteer group that supports IDF units and individuals displaced from their homes and currently residing in hotels in the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas. Learn more > [Slain hostage’s dad says IDF murdered him, calls for recognizing him as fallen soldier]( By ToI Staff Father of Alon Shamriz, 26, says lawlessness led to soldiers mistakenly shooting him in Gaza, mourns what would have been a ‘day of celebration’ had troops saved him [Halevi to troops, after 3 hostages killed: IDF doesn’t shoot people waving white flag]( By Emanuel Fabian [Family mourns hostage Alon Shamriz killed by IDF in error, blames government for death]( By Amy Spiro [Israel-linked group claims cyberattack that shuts down 70% of Iran’s gas stations]( By ToI Staff and Agencies Tehran cites ‘software problem’ as cause for shutdown; group known as Gonjeshke Darande takes responsibility, says attack is response to Iranian aggression [Gaza war claims lives of five soldiers amid battles for Hamas strongholds]( By Emanuel Fabian, Joshua Davidovich, ToI Staff and Agencies Some $1.36 million in cash found in suitcases at home of Hamas official in northern Gaza; number of airstrikes falls; Pentagon chief visits to press for narrowing offensive [IDF refutes claim it targeted sole Catholic church in Gaza after 2 women said killed]( By ToI Staff and AFP Top Ops Shayna Goldberg [Finding strength in the strength of others]( On the home front, it feels like we are trudging along, absorbing painful and devastating news one day after another Joel Roskin [Displaced Gazans could be in a far safer area – why aren’t they?]( The Al-Mawasi Strip was deemed most suited as a humanitarian zone. Instead, encampments are set up near Hamas installations Orel Tamari [Anger is not a strategy]( Rallying broad support for the war risks blinding Israelis to Gazans’ humanity and dashing hopes for a post-war peace Neil Gronowetter [Tax the antisemitism out of US universities]( Closing private checkbooks alone isn’t motivation enough to do the right thing and protect Jewish students [Woman injured in West Bank shooting attack; IDF searching for terrorists]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Six-week-old baby in car unharmed, woman in stable condition; husband, reservist soldier on leave, fires back at attacker; separately, Palestinians say four killed by IDF in raid [IDF reservist stabbed, moderately wounded by Palestinian in West Bank gas station]( By Emanuel Fabian [EU condemns demolition of West Bank Palestinian school funded by European bloc]( By Jeremy Sharon [Freed hostage tells CBS: ‘You can’t object to anything. It could cost you your life’]( By ToI Staff Yarden Roman-Gat says fear of sexual assault hung over her constantly during her 54 days in captivity. Now she is fighting for the freedom of her sister-in-law Carmel Gat [Houthi attacks on Israel-linked ships in Red Sea to raise prices of Far East imports]( By Sharon Wrobel Due to threat, global freight giants have halted Red Sea routes, diverting ships on longer, costlier voyage; shift set to impact Israel’s trade with Asia, as well as global trade [Oil giant BP joins mass exodus from Red Sea shipping as chemical tanker targeted]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Gaza aid trucks stolen by gunmen and looted, as convoys start crossing from Israel]( By ToI Staff and Agencies Videos appear to show trucks carrying crucial supplies seized by Hamas, fallen goods taken by civilians; Red Cross official says 79 trucks entered Sunday via Kerem Shalom crossing [Human Rights Watch claims Israel starving Gaza civilians ‘as a method of warfare’]( By ToI Staff [New Israeli study investigates childhood trauma and its prospects for reversal]( By Renee Ghert-Zand As concern mounts for the psychological health of young victims of the war and terror, Weizmann Institute researchers look at why some people are prone to triggering later in life [IDF jets hit south Lebanon; video seems to show strike near Hezbollah funeral]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Rocket, drone warning sirens sound in northern towns, army responds to sources of fire; IAF says it’s identified and thwarted over 100 aerial threats since October 7 [Syria says two soldiers hurt, ‘material losses’ caused by alleged Israeli airstrike]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies [Gallant warns Hezbollah amid frequent attacks from Lebanon, IDF retaliatory strikes]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [Senior PA official: Hamas must ‘reconsider all its policies and methods’ after war]( By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid Hussein al-Sheikh, seen as potential successor to Mahmoud Abbas, says ‘after all this [killing],’ there must be a ‘serious, honest and responsible assessment’ of Palestinian cause [GOP senator: Israel must accept two-state solution to normalize ties with Saudis]( By Jacob Magid [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Volunteers help Arab Israeli farmers suffering from labor shortage amid war in Gaza]( By AFP and ToI Staff Jews and Arabs from Haifa head to Baqa al-Gharbiya to aid agriculture workers as Palestinian West Bank workers barred from entering Israel, Thai laborers have fled country [Hate, or just a crime? Either way, US Jewish restaurants find support after vandalism]( By Jackie Hajdenberg Antisemitism in the US and worldwide has skyrocketed since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 in Israel – and eateries supporting Israel or run by Jews have not been spared the brunt [Day 73 – Massive tunnel uncovered as others flushed with seawater]( [listen to the podcast]( More Headlines [Citing Gaza war, prominent German choir drops Handel’s 1739 ‘Israel in Egypt’ song]( By Canaan Lidor [Hundreds of US synagogues receive bomb threats as spree continues despite arrests]( By PHILISSA CRAMER [Central bank head urges lawmakers to avoid non-war spending with defense costs growing]( By Sharon Wrobel [Unsatisfied with ‘Swords of Iron’ as name of Gaza war, Netanyahu floats alternatives]( By ToI Staff [Yoga, surfing and fishing: Signs of normalcy on Tel Aviv beaches amid war with Hamas]( By AFP and ToI Staff [Jails running out of room due to war, prison service warns]( By Sam Sokol [Harvard early admission applications drop 17% compared to last year]( By ToI Staff [Algerian soccer player facing jail time in France after sharing antisemitic clip]( By AFP [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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