Commandos in Khan Younis as IDF chief says war will last many months * Op-ed: 2nd half will be harder * The rabbi who declares death * Did McDonald’s really leave Russia?

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Wednesday, December 27, 2023 [IDF chief says Israel expanding ops in Gaza, warns war to last ‘many more months’]( By Emanuel Fabian Halevi says ‘no magic solutions’ to destroying Hamas, but military will reach its leaders; says troops receiving all necessary air support after political storm on the matter [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 27: Day 82 – Fear of disease spreading from Gaza after soldier dies]( By ToI Staff [UN taps Gaza humanitarian director after UNSC resolution calling for aid ‘at scale’]( By AFP and ToI Staff Live updates [LIVE: IDF commando troops operating ‘deep within Khan Younis,’ battling Hamas in north Gaza]( By ToI Staff Ground op toll reaches 164 * Hezbollah fires 18 rockets at Rosh Hanikra * 6 Palestinians said killed in drone strike during IDF raid near West Bank’s Tulkarem Op-ed: Day 82 of the war David Horovitz [The war against Hamas may be almost half-done. The second half will be harder]( There are ‘no magic solutions and no shortcuts’ to dismantling Hamas, the IDF chief of staff stressed. And as the army shifts focus to southern Gaza, the challenges are mounting [Three soldiers from same unit killed in Gaza, bringing ground op toll to 164]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff IDF announces deaths of Lt. Yaron Eliezer Chitiz, 23, Staff Sgt. Itay Buton, 20, and Staff Sgt. Efraim Jackman, 21, all of the Givati Brigade’s Shaked battalion [3 more troops killed as IDF hits Hamas in central Gaza, battles al-Bureij battalion]( By Emanuel Fabian Top Ops Justin Danilewitz [Hamas fails the Solomonic test]( Who cares more, when the terrorists willingly endanger the Dome of the Rock with rocket attacks, while Israel’s Iron Dome protects the Muslims’ holy site? Elizabeth Brenner Danziger [The ax in the tree: When a child’s parent dies]( Losing a parent is life-altering: 6 tips for supporting bereaved children Shlomo Levin [The world has the means to curb Hamas. Why hasn’t it?]( By pursuing only Israel’s alleged crimes, the International Criminal Court gives free rein to terrorists Betsalel Steinhart [‘Hutar le-pirsum’: A lesson in Israeli society]( Everyone knows this prelude to the gut-punch of knowing a soldier killed in the line of duty, no matter how distantly; it’s a small country [6 Palestinians said killed in IDF drone strike near West Bank’s Tulkarem]( By Agencies, Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Military says it targeted group throwing explosives at troops in Nur Shams refugee camp, where overnight raid sparked violent clashes [9 soldiers injured rescuing elderly man wounded in Hezbollah strike on church]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Terrorists fire missile at St. Mary’s church in the north; IDF slams terror group’s ‘cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians and holy sites’ [Evacuees ask Biden to back Israeli military op if Lebanon doesn’t rein in Hezbollah]( By Michael Horovitz Inside Story Ksenia Svetlova [Was Russia’s McDonald’s franchise sold to a straw man for supersized profits?]( With sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, burger giant McDonald’s ostensibly retreated. Recordings depicting the chain’s sale suggest it wasn’t all kosher Interview [The world’s foremost rabbinic authority on declaring death grapples with Oct. 7 horrors]( By Mati Wagner Drafted back into the army following the Hamas massacre, Rabbi Yaakov Ruzah says the terrorists’ atrocities have left even Judaism’s voluminous written tradition at a loss for words [Abbas says postwar period will be ‘test’ for US support of PA rule over Gaza Strip]( By Gianluca Pacchiani In televised interview, PA president doesn’t condemn Hamas for Oct. 7 onslaught, rebukes group for bolting Palestinian reconciliation talks, says West Bank could ‘explode’ anytime [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Biden speaks with Qatari emir to discuss hostage release, ceasefire efforts]( By ToI Staff White House says talks center on ‘urgent effort to secure the release of all remaining hostages,’ as terminally ill mother of captive begs US president for chance to see her again [Netanyahu said to deny security chiefs’ bids to discuss post-war plan for Gaza]( By ToI Staff [Iran: Oct. 7 attack was revenge for killing of Soleimani in 2020; Hamas: No it wasn’t]( By ToI Staff IRGC also says it is ‘very aware’ why Israel allegedly assassinated another top general in Damascus; Gaza’s terrorist rulers insist vicious massacres were ‘Palestinian resistance’ [Iran dismisses IAEA report it raised production rate of near-weapons-grade uranium]( By AFP [Biden orders strikes on Iran-backed group after US troops hurt in Iraq drone attack]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Shin Bet chief said to warn of far-right threats to top general in West Bank]( By ToI Staff Document sent to PM, president, and cabinet ministers warns that Central Command head Yehuda Fox’s life could be in danger from handful of extremist settlers [Ben Gvir says he won’t extend term of prisons chief, sparking coalition tensions]( By Jeremy Sharon [Likud MK: ‘Luckily for us’ October 7 attacks happened so Israel can fight Hamas]( By ToI Staff Nissim Vaturi reasons that a coordinated, multi-front attack would have been ‘even worse,’ claims fighting ‘won’t end in the coming year’ [War with Hamas to cost Israel at least NIS 50 billion in 2024, says Treasury]( By Sharon Wrobel [Day 82 – Fear of disease spreading from Gaza after soldier dies]( [listen to the podcast]( Manger things [Actor Brett Gelman joins ‘Eretz Nehederet’ to skewer US progressives]( By ToI Staff In Christmas-themed skit, star of ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Fleabag’ plays professor who misinforms woke students about Jewish ‘colonialist power,’ insists Jesus is Palestinian [US Rep. Ocasio-Cortez slammed over Christmas message comparing Jesus to Gazans]( By Luke Tress Inside story [‘Color Purple’ release brings Alice Walker’s history of antisemitism back into focus]( By Andrew Lapin Despite the author’s groundbreaking work, her difficult relationship with Israel and Judaism, and outright flirtations with antisemitism, put her at odds with the Jewish community More Headlines [Poll finds high support among Arab Israelis for volunteering during war]( By Gianluca Pacchiani [‘No stone unturned’: Comptroller vows wide probe into government’s October 7 failures]( By Jeremy Sharon [14-year-old suspected of knifing pregnant sister to death in front of her kids]( By ToI Staff [Gallant, Smotrich present NIS 9 billion wartime aid plan for IDF reservists]( By ToI Staff [Blast rattles Israeli embassy in India; ‘abusive’ letter to envoy said found nearby]( By ToI Staff [Turkish broadcaster fired for appearing with cup from purportedly pro-Israel Starbucks]( By 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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