PM: Israel ready for war with Hezbollah if needed; terror commander killed * Barak to serve at Hague genocide hearings * ’Sinwar’s location known but hostages with him’

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, January 8, 2024 Presented by [The Next Step]( [Senior Hezbollah commander killed in alleged Israeli strike as border tensions mount]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Terror group says Wissam al-Tawil, a deputy commander in an elite unit, has been killed in southern Lebanon in move said to deal ‘painful’ blow [IDF admits Mount Meron air traffic control base damaged in Hezbollah attack]( By Emanuel Fabian [Gallant warns: If Hezbollah isn’t deterred, Israel can ‘copy-paste’ Gaza war to Beirut]( By ToI Staff Live updates [LIVE: Netanyahu: Israel ready for Hezbollah war if needed; terror commander killed in hit]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff IDF strikes 30 Hamas targets amid fierce fighting in south Gaza * Blinken heading to Israel * Gallant: IDF transitioning to new phase in northern Gaza * Ground op toll at 176 [Israel tasks ex-Supreme Court chief Aharon Barak to serve at Hague genocide hearings]( By Lazar Berman, Michael Horovitz and Jeremy Sharon Appointment of internationally respected Barak, long a right-wing bogeyman, as Israeli representative on panel of judges reviewing Gaza war, welcomed by National Unity, Yesh Atid [Eyeing Gaza and Ukraine, pope laments ‘indiscriminate’ civilian casualties in war]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Lawmaker pushes to expel colleague who accused Israel of ‘genocide’]( By Sam Sokol from our sponsor [Congressman Brian Mast’s solidarity visit to Israel: Championing The Next Step’s mission for amputees and terror victims]( Congressman Mast’s visit not only showcased the critical work of The Next Step but also brought international attention to the needs of amputees and terror victims. [IDF says it struck 30 ‘significant’ Hamas targets amid fierce fighting in south Gaza]( By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies Military claims to find proof of children being trained with weapons in Khan Younis school; WHO abandons attempt to bring medical aid to northern part of Strip amid safety risks [IDF knows where Hamas leader is, but won’t strike at him because of hostages – reports]( By Lazar Berman [IDF says it found proof Hamas developed cruise missile capabilities, aided by Iran]( By Emanuel Fabian, Joshua Davidovich and ToI Staff [Day 93 – Three months into war with Hamas, all eyes on the north]( [listen to the podcast]( Analysis Jeremy Sharon [Will the High Court rulings against the judicial overhaul become a permanent revolution?]( Landmark decisions last week placed constraints on the Knesset’s authority over Israel’s constitutional identity, but it is not legal arguments alone that powered the shift [2 Palestinian doctors and a nurse arrested as suspects in deadly West Bank shooting]( By Emanuel Fabian Trio detained by security forces in Ramallah area, said to admit involvement in attack that killed East Jerusalem Palestinian [Car rams East Jerusalem checkpoint; Palestinian toddler mistakenly shot dead by cops]( By Emanuel Fabian [IDF: Al Jazeera journalists were killed in car with drone-operating terror operative]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies Hamza Wael Dahdouh, son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh, and Mustafa Thuria died in a strike in Rafah; Al Jazeera accuses Israel of deliberately targeting them [Blinken warns against Gazans’ displacement; says war may ‘metastasize’ to wider region]( By Agencies [Herzog reveals Hamas documents outlining directives for ‘terror summer camps’ in Gaza]( By ToI Staff Top Ops Boaz Ganor [Israel’s playing poker while Iran is playing chess]( Did Israel fall into Iran’s trap in going after its weaker proxy, Hamas, while the stronger strategic Hezbollah remains nearly unscathed? Neshama Carlebach [‘Invincible Spirit’ – The people of Israel live]( Our new musical project for these dark days weaves two classic Carlebach tunes into an anthem of consolation and hope Carole Nuriel [Disentangling solidarity with Palestinians from antisemitism]( In the guise of advocating equality, some of the rhetoric is in fact a call for the elimination of Jews and the Jewish state Barbara Aiello [What happens when the kippah comes off?]( Following an attack on a fellow rabbi, going bareheaded in public may make me safer, but it also diminishes me [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Railing against cabinet leaks, Netanyahu calls to subject ministers to polygraph tests]( By Sam Sokol ‘I am not prepared to continue like this,’ PM declares after detailed reports emerge from of dustup between cabinet members and the IDF chief of staff [Police disperse protesters blocking Knesset entrance in demand for ‘elections now’]( By Sam Sokol [Australia bans Nazi salute and public display of terror group symbols]( By Reuters and ToI Staff Offenders face up to 12 months in prison; Hamas and Islamic State among groups whose symbols are banned amid rise in antisemitic incidents [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Jan 8: Day 94 – As antisemitism surges, Israel has ‘zero budget’ to help]( By ToI Staff [After eye surgery, Likud MK tells hostage families she understands their pain]( By ToI Staff At Knesset committee meeting, Keti Shitrit describes recent medical procedure to illustrate empathy with families of October 7; later apologizes for clumsy comparison [Sderot mayor rejects government decision to bring residents back on February 4]( By Canaan Lidor [Cabinet approves NIS 9 billion in wartime grants to support IDF reservists]( By Sam Sokol [After meetings in Doha, families of hostages say Qataris ‘attentive, sympathetic’]( By Jessica Steinberg and ToI Staff Relatives argue a ceasefire will speed up talks, Qataris view hostage release as humanitarian goal; Qatar’s PM reportedly says killing of Hamas deputy chief complicates matter [Brother of hostage slain by IDF visits ‘hell on earth’ that was once his Kfar Aza home]( By ToI Staff Op-ed Tal Schneider [The IDF should have opened a probe into the events of October 7 a long time ago]( The war in Gaza won’t end any time soon. Instead of attacking the military for beginning an internal probe, the government should immediately establish a state commission of inquiry [Report: Top IDF general advised preemptive strike against Hamas, year before Oct. 7]( By ToI Staff [Record number of Americans think Israel isn’t getting enough US support — poll]( By ToI Staff At the same time, Netanyahu’s public image in the United States hits an all-time low, Gallup survey finds [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [After Israeli tech mobilized in wartime, how will startups fare in 2024?]( By Sharon Wrobel Former innovation policy chief urges government to support tech sector, revive confidence of investor community, to ensure it doesn’t lag behind as global industry recovers More Headlines [Beirut airport screens display anti-Hezbollah message after being hacked]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [War-linked hikes in prices of fruits and vegetables worsening food insecurity – report]( By Sue Surkes [White House was unaware for days that defense chief Lloyd Austin was hospitalized]( By Lolita C. Baldor [To welcome interfaith couples, US Conservative synagogue hires cantor who can wed them]( By Gavi Klein [Palestinians call to strip Druze poet of awards for attending soldier grandson’s funeral]( By Gianluca Pacchiani [Israeli comedian slammed for ‘disgraceful’ mock tour video amid Gaza ruins]( By ToI Staff [8 Haifa University students suspended for incitement have punishment repealed]( By Gavriel Fiske and Michael Horovitz [‘Oppenheimer’ dominates Golden Globes, ‘Poor Things’ upsets ‘Barbie’ in comedy]( By Jake Coyle [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? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2024 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved