3 slain hostages had called for help via dog-mounted cam * Will US veto UNSC Gaza text? * IDF chief slaps down Ben Gvir * Parents see base where daughters burned to death

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Live updates [LIVE: Hostages tried to signal IDF for help via dog-mounted cam before mistaken killing – probe]( By Joshua Davidovich and ToI Staff Source close to Hamas confirms proposal to free 40 captives for weeklong pause * No deal imminent, Israeli officials say * 2 troops killed, raising toll in Gaza ground op to 134 [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 [Islamic Jihad issues clip of 2 hostages who call on Israel to secure their freedom]( By ToI Staff [Brothers of hostages appeal via international media: ‘Bring our loved ones home’]( By Sue Surkes [Netanyahu meets several hostage families amid murmurs of a possible new swap deal]( By ToI Staff 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 [Israel ready for truce in exchange for more hostages, Herzog tells foreign diplomats]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff [Comedian Jerry Seinfeld visits Kibbutz Be’eri, meets survivors of Hamas massacre]( By ToI Staff [IDF probe said to find troops who killed hostages not briefed on Hebrew sign in area]( By ToI Staff TV report says probe into tragic deaths of Alon Shamriz, Samar Talalka and Yotam Haim focusing on fatal shooting of the latter, who a soldier shot after commander said to hold fire [Gaza hospital director admits Hamas used medical complex as operational hub]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 20: Day 75 – Can IDF dismantle Gaza’s high-tech tunnels?]( By ToI Staff [New intel said to disprove belief top Hamas commander Muhammad Deif is near-paralyzed]( By ToI Staff Videos found by IDF in Gaza reportedly show elusive terror chief walking with limp, using both hands, refuting longstanding assessment that he lost legs and hand in hit attempts [Hamas leader Sinwar said to narrowly evade capture by IDF two separate times]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [Palestinians say IDF treated them ‘like cattle’ during mass arrests in northern Gaza]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Ben Gvir says ministers should have say on internal army issues; IDF chief: You’re wrong]( By ToI Staff 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 David Horovitz [In a war that’s far from over, renewed infighting is a luxury Israel cannot afford]( We are fighting an enemy that wants to kill us all. Surely, after October 7, that challenge is sufficiently tangible and dangerous as to at least temporarily banish our differences [IDF carries out drill simulating an Oct. 7-style attack in the West Bank]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [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’ [UN’s Guterres views Oct. 7 Hamas massacre film, said to call it ‘humanity at its worst’]( By ToI Staff and Agencies Top Ops Stephen Games [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 Jeffrey Cahn [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 Susie Becher [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 Fred Maroun [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 [‘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 [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 was abducted not by Hamas but by civilian mob, NBC report suggests]( By ToI Staff [Flower power / Bouquets of flowers spread hope for hostages from Tel Aviv to US]( By Jessica Steinberg [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( Interview [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 [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’ [IDF freezes operations of ‘hilltop youth’ unit linked to anti-Palestinian violence]( By Jeremy Sharon [Thousands of Palestinians to return to work in settlements for first time since Oct. 7]( By ToI Staff [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [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 [Cyprus foils alleged Iranian plot to kill Israelis, in joint operation with Mossad]( By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS [Israel strikes terror targets in Lebanon amid rocket, drone sirens in northern towns]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [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 [Day 75 – Can IDF dismantle Gaza’s high-tech tunnels?]( [listen to the podcast]( More Headlines [In historic ruling, Colorado Supreme Court bars Trump from primary ballot over Jan. 6]( By Nicholas Riccardi [Small startups hurt most by wartime challenges – report]( By Sharon Wrobel [About 50% of early-stage startups have cash horizon of less than six months – survey]( By Sharon Wrobel [Despite war, more than 12,000 foreign workers have arrived in Israel, lawmakers told]( By Sam Sokol and AFP [Alec {NAME} shouts down NYC protester who slammed him for not condemning Israel]( By ToI Staff [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]( By Agencies [Berlin summons Iran envoy after court finds ties to 2022 synagogue arson plot]( By AFP and ToI Staff [Brooklyn man sentenced to prison for robbing matzah factory weeks before Passover]( By Luke Tress ['Garden of Eden' to hell / Evacuated musician Micha Bitton sings about life near Gaza]( 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? 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