ToI’s weekly deep dive: ToI in central Gaza * What do Palestinians know about Oct. 7? * Hostage families who oppose deals * Podcast: Haviv Rettig Gur on suffering in Gaza

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, January 21, 2024 Reporter's notebook [In central Gaza, where gunmen lurk underground, a commander sees a long slog ahead]( By Lazar Berman Col. Elad Shushan, head of the 646th Brigade, takes The Times of Israel into the heart of the battlefield, to a Hamas tunnel about to be destroyed by the IDF Op-ed: Day 103 of the war David Horovitz [Irresponsibility compounds catastrophe: Why the IDF’s war against Hamas has lost momentum]( Dismantling Hamas in southern Gaza was always going to be tougher than in the north. But the challenge is being exacerbated by insistent ambivalence from the political leadership [In critique of PM, Eisenkot says talk of ‘absolute defeat’ of Hamas is a tall tale]( By ToI Staff [Analysis / Is PM serious about expanding local arms production, reducing dependence on imports?]( By Tal Schneider Analysis [/ Those who see videos 10 times more likely to believe atrocities]( [For most Palestinians, October 7’s savagery is literally unbelievable. Blame the TV news?]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Al Jazeera and others largely ignored Hamas atrocities, bolstering distrust of Israeli accounts; one poll found 97% in West Bank deny the monstrous acts committed against civilians Politics [PM said to reject US plan for Saudi normalization in return for path to Palestinian statehood]( By Jacob Magid NBC report says administration looking past Netanyahu to try to achieve its regional goals, but American officials tell ToI that Biden is still seeking to work with the premier [Wartime budget slashes education funds, but not for the ultra-Orthodox, complain MKs]( By Sam Sokol [Analysis / Revised 2024 budget passes 1st hurdle, but critics say it is harmful]( By Sharon Wrobel Inside story [An ideological minority of parents of hostages held by Hamas oppose negotiations]( By Mati Wagner Tikva Forum is a right-wing alternative to the main hostage advocacy group. Its members, primarily pro-government religious Zionists, say they are putting country before loved ones The youngest hostage Jessica Steinberg [‘The saddest birthday in the world’: Hostage Kfir Bibas turns 1 in Hamas captivity]( Extended family of the baby, who was abducted to Gaza along with 4-year-old brother Ariel and parents Yarden and Shiri Bibas, mark his first birthday with pleas for speedy release Protests [Women’s plight takes center stage at weekly demonstration for hostages’ return]( By Canaan Lidor Citing accounts of sexual abuse by Hamas, leading Israeli feminists demand action from the prime minister, his wife and international rights groups [Multiple rallies demand deal to return all hostages, urge government to step down]( By Canaan Lidor and Charlie Summers [At Haifa anti-war rally, charges of genocide and chants of ‘From the river to the sea’]( By Canaan Lidor Interview [Outgoing Labor head Michaeli: ‘I don’t have political answer’ on how to rebuild party]( By Sam Sokol Diaspora [North American Jewish schools see dramatic enrollment upturn after Oct. 7 — study]( By Jordana Horn Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools says concerns about antisemitism and desire for Jewish environment have boosted interest in schools of all denominations [Federal complaint filed against American U. for allowing ‘persistent’ antisemitism]( By Jordana Horn [‘100 black days’: NY’s Central Park hosts rally in support of hostages held by Hamas]( By Jordana Horn Top Ops Moshe Shoshan [Their sons are not getting killed]( I feel alienated from my Haredi co-religionists, whose young men are not on the front lines with my son and his peers Elchanan Poupko [The Amalek blood libelÂ]( The biblical story of the slaughter of innocents always has always stood as a mandate to remember and not a call for revenge Arthur Green [Saving Israel from its enemies and from itself]( The same brain power that created the startup nation can start building a ‘survivor nation’ Nick Merkin [A terrorist injured my son and the US said nothing]( The US ignored last week’s terror attack that injured my son – so much for all the ’advantages and blessings’ accruing to American citizens Religion [High Court rules women can fill ‘rabbi’ slots in Chief Rabbinate’s top bodies]( By Canaan Lidor Decision stops short of imposing female representation, but angers critics who accuse the justices of ‘aggressive’ overreach [Rabbinate delays divorce of a woman it helped wed but now says may not be Jewish]( By Canaan Lidor [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Stories of civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel]( [Read Here]( ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: What Israelis think about the suffering in Gaza]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan ToI’s senior analyst joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan in the Jerusalem office for a difficult conversation about Israelis’ awareness of the humanitarian crisis spawned by Hamas’s war [As northern evacuees settle in for long haul, hotel dwellers dream of home]( By Sue Surkes Residents of Kibbutz Dan, Western Galilee town of Shlomi, try to make a life in Haifa hotels, but Hezbollah threat on Lebanese border means limbo-like existence won’t be over soon [Amid swarm of stakeholders, planners begin brainstorming how to rebuild south]( By Sue Surkes [Ignored by the state, Eritreans from Sderot find temporary shelter in northern kibbutz]( By Omer Sharvit Reporter's notebook [Commemorating Supernova victims, electronic music scene attempts a low-key comeback]( By Canaan Lidor [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( Health [Innovative treatment helps family severely burned when Hamas set their home on fire]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Ariel and Ellay Golan and baby Yael were in life-threatening danger after surviving in their safe room on Oct 7. Pioneering enzyme-based treatments put them on path to recovery [How cutting-edge Israeli med tech is boosting survival rates of war wounded]( By Renee Ghert-Zand [Portable virtual reality system helps brain-injured patients with recovery]( By Renee Ghert-Zand [War trauma compounds challenges faced by autistic children and their families]( By Renee Ghert-Zand She-ro [Under fire in Gaza, hero paramedic saved life of tank crew member]( By ToI Staff When tank in front of her was hit by a rocket, Yuval Hizkiya gave first aid and fired at terrorists, keeping wounded soldier conscious long enough to get him to a hospital [Artist Zeev Engelmayer’s Daily Postcards bring solace with colorful realism]( By Jessica Steinberg From The Blogs [Visiting the massacre sites: Tragedy tourism?]( By Adele Raemer I survived October 7th and still went back to be present in the places neighboring my home; seeing with your own eyes is important [Weekly Deep Dive]( [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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