US bombs Iran-linked targets in Iraq, Syria * 120-day hostage rallies tonight * Pro-Hamas group leads Columbia protest * Cosmic rays probe Jerusalem’s ancient underworld

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Saturday, February 3, 2024 [US hits 85 sites in Iraq, Syria linked to Iran’s IRGC, militias after fatal drone attack]( By TARA COPP, Lolita C. Baldor and ABDULRAHMAN ZEYAD Opening strikes target command HQs, intelligence centers, weapons facilities connected to Iran and regional proxies, in response to assault that killed 3 US soldiers [Iran calls US strikes in Iraq, Syria a ‘strategic mistake’; UK backs ‘steadfast ally’]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Hand over heart, Biden joins grieving families of US troops killed in Jordan]( By Seung Min Kim Live updates [LIVE: IDF says troops destroyed anti-tank missile launchers in Gaza, found Hamas scuba gear]( By ToI Staff Military says soldiers killed multiple Hamas gunmen * Rocket fire at north, south * 39 said killed in Iraq, Syria as US responds to drone strike; Biden vows strikes will continue [Hamas leaders at odds over proposed hostage release deal — report]( By ToI Staff Gaza terror chief Yahya Sinwar said to back temporary truce offer while politburo head Ismail Haniyeh pushing for permanent ceasefire, plan for rebuilding enclave, WSJ reports [Hamas seems to rule out key points of truce offer, wants release of Marwan Barghouti]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Battles continue across Gaza, with conflict now Israel’s longest since 1948 war]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Army says troops killed dozens of Hamas gunmen in Khan Younis area over past day, as Israel sets its sights on southernmost city of Rafah [UN: Gaza’s Rafah is ‘pressure cooker of despair’; 17,000 kids separated from families]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Belgium summons Israeli envoy to protest bombing of development agency in Gaza]( By AFP [‘120 days underground with no air’: Gaza hostages’ families rallying Saturday evening]( By ToI Staff Main protest in Tel Aviv being held with warning that hostages are ‘in mortal danger’; other events scheduled nationwide; some protesters to call for elections Analysis Lazar Berman [A hostage deal would put goal of toppling Hamas at risk — but not out of reach]( A national consensus on importance of restarting combat after long ceasefire will be key to withstanding intense international pressure — including from Biden — to end the war From the blogs Julie Gray [At Auschwitz: Musk, Shapiro, and the invisible Holocaust survivor]( At 88, Gidon Lev agreed to step foot in Auschwitz for the first time in his life hoping to be more than just window dressing [Israel’s Arrow knocks down Houthi ballistic missile headed for Eilat]( By Emanuel Fabian Surface-to-surface missile intercepted over Red Sea, in latest attack by Iran-backed group in Yemen [Gallant warns Hezbollah that a potential pause in Gaza fighting won’t apply to north]( By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian Interview Gianluca Pacchiani [Egypt expert warns: Israel cannot afford to take Cairo’s cooperation for granted]( Researcher Mira Tzoreff says unlike Qatar, which thrives with Hamas in power, Israel and Egypt share a common goal – ridding Gaza of Hamas [Thousands protest outside Columbia against campus treatment of pro-Palestinian groups]( By Luke Tress Rally led by pro-Hamas group Within Our Lifetime, which endorsed and celebrated October 7; at least one person arrested [Harvard alumni backed by billionaires Ackman, Zuckerberg fail to make board ballot cut]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Donations to major pro-Palestinian groups go through this Jewish-chaired NY nonprofit]( By New York Jewish Week via JTA and ToI Staff [British FM Cameron: Netanyahu hasn’t ‘comprehensively’ ruled out two-state solution]( By Reuters and ToI Staff UK’s top diplomat says he told PM to ‘start talking about the things that a Palestinian state could be rather than the things it can’t be’ [Likud minister likens UK’s backing for Palestinian state post-war to Nazi appeasement]( By ToI Staff [Report: Saudis seek largely declarative steps on Palestinian state to forge Israel ties]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( Archaeology [Unable to dig, researchers look to cosmic rays to unlock Jerusalem’s ancient underworld]( By Diana Bletter A Tel Aviv University team is using muon detectors to track powerful particles, hoping to build a 3D map of undiscovered tunnels, chambers and fortifications under the holey city [Police say man shot dead by civil defense squad in south after pulling knife on member]( By ToI Staff 20-year-old and two others from nearby Bedouin communities caught by team after jumping fence of Kibbutz Retamim; police say break-in appears criminal, not terrorism [Yarka man shot and killed outside his own hummus restaurant]( By ToI Staff [Head of Arab crime organization shot dead in north]( By ToI Staff [TikTok’s pro-Israel investors face dilemma as platform blamed for fueling antisemitism]( By JTA and ToI Staff Jewish billionaires Arthur Dantchik and Jeffrey Yass support numerous Zionist causes, leading many to wonder why hate speech is proliferating on the service they have a stake in Inside Story Canaan Lidor [In France, a celebrity flame war about Israel highlights shifting attitudes]( Young Palestinian woman – a Hamas advocate – enjoys an outpouring of sympathy following a wealthy Jewish TV star’s rebuke of her remarks supporting the Oct. 7 massacre [Protesters blocking delivery of aid to Gaza plan march to Jerusalem]( By Ron Kampeas Relatives of Israeli hostages and activists set to march all week from Zikim crossing to Netanyahu’s office, end with rally in capital [Israeli peace group Standing Together says calls to boycott its work are ‘infuriating’]( By JTA and ToI Staff [Cabinet said to pan police chief for ‘selective enforcement’ of Gaza aid protests]( By Michael Horovitz [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( Pittfalls of aging [Tarantino reunites with Brad Pitt for director’s final film – report]( By ToI Staff Actor to star in movie about 1970’s ‘porno rag’ film critic, which the award-winning filmmaker, who lives part of the year in Tel Aviv, says will be his last [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