Hamas leader vows no surrender * Hostages’ families heckle PM in Knesset * Barkat bashed for saying tactics cost IDF lives * US-born Jewess mans Christian Arab bike shop

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, December 25, 2023 [In first public message since Oct. 7, Sinwar says Hamas won’t surrender]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Terror chief inflates group’s achievements, falsely claims it is ‘crushing’ the IDF, as top leadership in Qatar evaluates Egyptian proposal to end hostilities [Egypt submits proposal to free hostages, end war, form PA-Hamas government in Gaza]( By Gianluca Pacchiani [Israel said to mull sparing Hamas chiefs, exiling them, to free hostages and end war]( By ToI Staff [Two soldiers killed in northern Gaza Strip, bringing ground op death toll to 156]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies Military says Navy struck Hamas operatives hiding near the coast, Air Force carried out strike against commander in Khan Younis [IDF razes tunnel where 5 hostages found dead, says Hamas HQ under north Gaza crushed]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 25: Day 80 – IDF finds suicide vests for kids near a Gaza school]( By ToI Staff Live updates [LIVE: Hamas, Islamic Jihad said to reject Egypt proposal to give up power in Gaza, end war]( By ToI Staff PM tells Knesset Israel won’t stop war, as hostages’ families shout for immediate release; earlier, he visited troops in Gaza * Sinwar: Hamas faces ‘unprecedented battle’ but won’t give up [Key IDF officer reportedly voiced concern about Nova festival, but was told to OK it]( By ToI Staff Gaza Division operations officer saw party as ‘needless security risk’ due to proximity to Gaza, report says; opposition was based on threat of rocket fire, not incursion [Oct. 7 victim Shani Gabay was buried with stranger; family thought she was abducted]( By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff DNA test on piece of jewelry discovered weeks after Hamas massacre led to discovery that missing woman was mistakenly buried in same grave as another woman a week after the assault Op-ed: Day 80 of the war David Horovitz [Gradually dismantling Hamas, the IDF is also battling its own government’s impatience]( Army chiefs warned from the start the war would be long and hard. And so it is proving, amid ministerial critiques, public strain, global hostility, but also, crucial US backing [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Netanyahu, Gantz assail Barkat for saying IDF tactics endangering soldiers]( By ToI Staff PM tells economy minister that repeating claim over and over ‘doesn’t make it true’; president tells politicians to avoid divisive prewar discourse, warning it will help Hamas [Shas spokesman says voters want to replace Netanyahu, then walks back comments]( By Sam Sokol [Treasury recommends shutting 10 surplus ministries to cover budget deficits – report]( By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff Top Ops Betsalel Steinhart [The sound I dread more than any other]( As Israelis, as soldiers, and as parents of soldiers, we keep going, despite the fear of the news that a knock on the door might bring Talia Golan [Snippets of my experiences as an oncology doctor, post-October 7th]( I was adrift. How could I help those in need, when I’m not a surgeon, an orthopedist, an ER doc, or a pathologist to identify the unidentifiable? Anne Gordon [Watching Christmas movies in Jerusalem]( The feel-good predictability on screen provides an interlude of comfort that soothes the searing reality of current events Ariel Edery [Listen to the music]( Just as I take comfort in the tunes from my childhood, I’m glad my son in Gaza and his friends are listening too, and singing along to the radio [Day 80 – IDF finds suicide vests for kids near a Gaza school]( [listen to the podcast]( [Pope calls for end to wars in Gaza, Ukraine as world celebrates Christmas]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Somber mood in Vatican City as pontiff appeals for peace, decries global weapons trade; festivities in full swing as Florida holds annual ‘Surfing Santa’ event [Faithful pray for Holy Land peace as Gaza fighting dampens Christmas spirit]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [IDF carries out ‘wide-scale’ airstrikes on Hezbollah as rockets from Lebanon hit north]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Anti-tank missile hits house in Avivim, causing no casualties; alert sirens go off in multiple communities along border and in Galilee Panhandle [Iran denies responsibility for drone attack against tanker near India]( By ToI Staff and Agencies Interview [Amid Gaza war, a US-born Jewish woman mans a Christian Arab town’s bike shop]( By Diana Bletter The tiny 56-year-old grandmother, daughter of an Orthodox rabbi from Chicago, is learning on the job while the shop’s owners are serving in reserves [Palestinian villages abandoned due to settler violence declared closed military zones]( By Jeremy Sharon IDF says villages closed off to prevent friction between Palestinians and settlers, but lawyer for residents says only Israelis should have been barred [Cabinet allocates NIS 75 million for security needs of illegal settlements]( By Jeremy Sharon [Border Police said to reinstate 2 officers filmed beating Palestinian journalist]( By ToI Staff [2 evocative exhibits go up in Tel Aviv museum, as battle for hostages is waged outside]( By Jessica Steinberg Since October 7, the plaza in front of Tel Aviv Museum of Art has been known as ‘Hostages Square,’ serving as a ‘spontaneous art space’; now, 2 new exhibits open inside Israel Story [Wartime Diaries: Issa Kassissieh]( What do you do when the church cancels Christmas? [Double whammy: Judicial overhaul, Hamas war batter Israeli markets in 2023]( By Sharon Wrobel Local stocks underperformed global stocks this year, and remain cheap relative to those in other markets, but any rebound in 2024 will depend on security and political stability [Nvidia raises $15 million to help Israeli and Gazan civilians affected by Hamas war]( By Sharon Wrobel [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( More Headlines [TikTok refuses to run ads featuring Gaza hostages, claiming they’re ‘too political’]( By ToI Staff [Take that, Erdogan / Strauss replaces ‘Turkish coffee’ branding with patriotic slogans]( By ToI Staff [Hearings in Netanyahu corruption trial to be held four days a week from February]( By ToI Staff [Universities still set to start December 31, but reservists to have staggered return]( By Gavriel Fiske [Friedman 6:13 / Latest wrestler in Jewish Sports Hall of Fame glad to be seen as strong Jew]( By Elliot Olshansky [Fractured US Congress tries to push Ukraine, Israel, Gaza aid with pre-Christmas plea]( By AP and ToI Staff [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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