14 soldiers killed * 86 of 155 homes damaged at northern border kibbutz * IDF: Kid-sized explosive belts found in Gaza civilian shelter * What future for Tunisia’s Jews?

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Sunday, December 24, 2023 [IDF says 14 soldiers killed over weekend amid heavy fighting in south, central Gaza]( By Emanuel Fabian 153 troops killed since start of ground op; military says chief of supplies for Hamas armed wing killed in Rafah strike; 30,000 explosive weapons captured since start of war [Northern kibbutz says 86 of its 155 homes damaged since start of Hezbollah attacks]( By ToI Staff Manara’s community manager says it’s frequently in terror group’s sights; business chief says many residents have nowhere to return, laments rehabilitation funding challenges [Southern Lebanese village vows to keep Christmas spirit as border clashes rage]( By Agencies [IDF: Troops find kid-sized explosive belts in Gaza building used to shelter civilians]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Army says building located near school, mosque and clinic; troops also find dozens of mortars, hundreds of grenades and intelligence documents inside [Live updates / IDF says ‘fierce battles’ in Gaza, wide-scale airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon]( By ToI Staff and Michael Bachner [Biden presses Netanyahu on protecting Gaza civilians, discusses ‘phasing’ of war]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff US president says he did not request Netanyahu pursue a ceasefire; Israeli leader expresses appreciation for US stance at UN Security Council after work to soften resolution [Macron discusses ‘tragic situation’ at Gaza’s Catholic church with Latin patriarch]( By Agencies [‘I just want to see my mother again’: Americans battle to get relatives out of Gaza]( By Agencies and ToI Staff ToI podcast [Daily Briefing Dec. 24: Day 79 – Are Hamas and the Palestinian Authority the same?]( By ToI Staff Arab affairs reporter Gianluca Pacchiani explains how Middle East experts see the Israeli PM’s contention; legal affairs reporter Jeremy Sharon on suspending IDF Hilltop Youth unit [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 23: Day 78 – What is the UN Security Council actually calling for?]( By ToI Staff [Red Cross chief: Israel must work out with Hamas our lack of access to hostages]( By ToI Staff Amid criticism that her organization has done little to help abductees, Mirjana Spoljaric insists Jerusalem needs to sort out terror group’s demands before ICRC can do its work [Families of hostages and supporters urge government to make tough decisions ‘now’]( By Jessica Steinberg [Report: IAF was airborne for preemptive Hezbollah hit when Biden talked PM out of it]( By ToI Staff Israel told US it had intel on imminent Hezbollah attack, but Washington didn’t find it credible, WSJ says; PM agreed but waited for Gantz to join cabinet before calling off strike [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( Top Ops Joshua Berman [Is this war a divine punishment?]( Are we prepared to stand before God as Jews always did in times of trauma and affirm that our suffering stems from our deeds? Haim Watzman [The crater]( They crept warily up to the bomb shelter. Gidi motioned for Abadai to head for the door and for Shusterman to take the corner [London police nab man for theft of Banksy piece interpreted as call for a Gaza truce]( By Agencies Traffic stop sign covered in three military drones grabbed by two men hours after artist confirmed latest work; police request help finding lost piece [Targeted again after Oct. 7, Tunisia’s small Jewish community wonders what future it has]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Djerba’s Jews were slowly healing from a deadly terror attack in May, but an attack on a Tunis synagogue and escalated hostile rhetoric are prompting new thoughts of emigration [US says warship targeted with drones from Yemen; blames Iran for ship hit near India]( By Agencies and ToI Staff USS Laboon shoots down UAVs after Japanese-owned chemical tanker is struck near Indian coast, amid ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Houthis in the region [Oil tanker hit near Indian coast amid maritime hostilities against Israel by Houthis]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Iran’s navy adds ‘fully smart’ cruise missiles with 1,000-km range to its armory]( By Agencies [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( Inside Story [Drawing on memories from shattered lives, Gaza area evacuees endure long, uncertain wait]( By Canaan Lidor At hotels and housing complexes across Israel, tens of thousands struggle to sustain their uprooted communities, yearn for a speedy return [Running for his old seat, ex-NY Congressman visits Israel, calls for destroying Hamas]( By Sam Sokol and JTA To have another pro-Israel Republican doesn’t help much, argues Tom Suozzi, whose opponent is ex-IDF paratrooper and mother of 7. ‘You need strong, outspoken pro-Israel Democrats’ [An army of volunteer physical therapists treats aching IDF soldiers on the front lines]( By Deborah Fineblum Realizing that exhausted troops need more than food and supply deliveries, UK-born Tasha Cohen launched Chayal’s Angels, which has touched over 2,000 and counting [Hardline MKs demand review of alleged IDF report on settler violence]( By Sam Sokol Right-wing members of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee rail against ‘comprehensive and false’ campaign against settlers, say it causes ‘enormous political damage’ [Day 79 – Are Hamas and the Palestinian Authority the same?]( [listen to the podcast]( Interview [A leading Religious Zionist rabbi hopes a post-Oct. 7 Israeli faith resurgence endures]( By Ben Sales As Israel fights its enemies, Tzohar co-founder Rabbi David Stav sees Jewish Israelis turning to their religion and unifying around it — but he worries about a post-war slump More Headlines [US professor who denies Oct. 7 rape cases up for top role at campus diversity office]( By Michael Horovitz [Woman found dead in Kiryat Yam apartment, the fourth suspected murder in 12 hours]( By ToI Staff [The tenor of the moment / Freed hostage Yaffa Adar gets concert invite from Andrea Bocelli]( By Jessica Steinberg [Harvard’s Claudine Gay battles storm of plagiarism accusations]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [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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