PM: 3/4 of Hamas battalions smashed * Likud minister to ToI: There is no hostage deal on table * Iranian artist’s Israel mural * Trump: Israel backed out of Soleimani hit

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Monday, February 5, 2024 Presented by [The Washington Institute for Near East Policy]( Live updates [LIVE: Meeting soldiers, Netanyahu says IDF has destroyed 75% of Hamas battalions; says war will last months, not years]( By ToI Staff In Jerusalem, French FM calls for ceasefire * IDF hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon strikes * White House denies report Biden called Netanyahu a ‘bad f*cking guy’ [Hamas said to insist on deal that will end war, withdraw IDF troops from Gaza]( By ToI Staff Terror group yet to respond to Paris proposal for longer truce, release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners; Likud ministers spar over terms [Senior Likud minister: We are only ‘at start of journey’ on hostage deal talks]( By Lazar Berman [Hamas wish list of prisoners includes terror masterminds of Second Intifada]( By ToI Staff [In Israel, US envoy said to report progress in talks to remove Hezbollah from border]( By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian Amos Hochstein meets with Gallant in Tel Aviv amid shuttle diplomacy efforts to deliver agreement, defuse roiling tensions on Israel’s northern border. [Gallant warns warplanes’ noses are ‘pointed north,’ as IAF hammers Hezbollah sites]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff from our sponsor [The Hamas-Israel War: Frequently Asked Questions]( The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has provided a wealth of analysis and policy recommendations for government officials, journalists, and the public since the Hamas attack on October 7. Top Ops Seth Mandell [The media’s assault on the nation’s morale]( Nonstop news of mourning, worry and political divisions harms the thing we need most to defeat our enemy: unity Haim Watzman [Victory: Holes, Part 2]( Ruth took a deep breath: ’Who decides which soldiers get killed and which ones get to go home?’ [Biden said to have called Netanyahu a ‘bad f*cking guy’; White House denies claim]( By ToI Staff Democrats reportedly increasingly concerned that support for Israel’s offensive against Hamas could cost 2024 election, with 50% of Biden voters saying Gaza war is a ‘genocide’ [Blinken heads to Mideast to press for Gaza truce, address humanitarian crisis]( By AFP, Jacob Magid and ToI Staff [After Ben Gvir pans Biden, Netanyahu lauds White House support during war]( By Lazar Berman [Mock Israeli towns, IDF bases: Troops raid Hamas compound used to train for Oct. 7]( By Emanuel Fabian Givati soldiers find rocket depot, tunnel leading to underground network in Khan Younis HQ; IDF identifies terror operatives hiding in civilian shelters in southern Gaza [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Feb. 5: Day 122 – Could the war in Gaza be basically over?]( By ToI Staff [Palestinian teen shot dead after trying to stab police in West Bank town]( By Emanuel Fabian [Trump: Israel was part of plans to kill Qassem Soleimani, backed out at last moment]( By ToI Staff Former US president asserts Netanyahu was ‘big part’ of operation before reneging; deadly attacks by Iranian militias wouldn’t have happened on his watch [Houthis publish drill showing raid on mockup of Israeli base, kidnapping of soldiers]( By ToI Staff [At least 6 Kurdish fighters killed in drone attack on Syrian base housing US troops]( By AP and ToI Staff [‘Rape is not resistance’: London rally calls for release of women held by Hamas]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Dozens of protesters gather near BBC offices to draw attention to sexual violence perpetrated by terrorists against hostages held in Gaza since October 7 [Analysis / Hostages’ relatives gain political clout as war reshapes electoral landscape]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [From our partner / London theater cancels Douglas Murray pro-Israel event; 1,000 attend at alternate venue]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [At Grammys, Montana Tucker highlights Hamas hostages with large yellow ribbon]( By PHILISSA CRAMER Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. commemorates the 360 people massacred at the Supernova music festival on October 7: ‘Music must be our safe space’ [Taylor Swift wins 4th Album of the Year at Grammys, setting new record]( By Maria Sherman [EU top diplomat says defunding UNRWA ‘collective punishment,’ will endanger lives]( By Reuters and ToI Staff Josep Borrell confident agency will take action against those who took part in Oct. 7 massacre while remaining ‘lifeline’ for Palestinians [Russia to summon Israeli envoy over criticism of its Hamas ties, Holocaust distortion]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Day 122 – Could the war in Gaza be basically over?]( [listen to the podcast]( [Biden condemns anti-Arab hate after WSJ opinion piece calls Dearborn ‘jihad capital’]( By Reuters and ToI Staff Without citing op-ed, US president says residents of Michigan city should not be blamed ‘for words of a small few’; mayor ramps up security following ‘bigoted’ column [Detroit suburb police put on alert after op-ed calls town ‘America’s Jihad capital’]( By Reuters and ToI Staff Interview [In Israel, Iranian artist unveils Oct. 7-themed mural honoring Persian-Jewish ties]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Hooman Khalili is halfway through his mission of painting 18 public spaces to raise awareness of Iranian women’s oppression; new work highlights slain IDF soldier Shirel Haim Pour Op-ed Ksenia Svetlova [Beyond Israel’s borders: Why did Abu Dhabi return its ambassador to Damascus now?]( Even as Israel’s far-right celebrates at a conference on resettlement of Gush Katif, Arab countries work to restore ties with Syria and an economic crisis deepens in Egypt [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( Interview [When ‘nice Jewish boys and girls’ in the US first took up the Palestinian cause]( By JTA and ToI Staff According to historian Geoffrey Levin’s book ‘Our Palestine Question,’ current divides over Israeli policy aren’t new – they existed before American Jews fully embraced Zionism More Headlines [Israel sees 14 straight days of rainfall for first time in over 30 years]( By Sue Surkes and ToI Staff [High Court rejects petition seeking Netanyahu ouster over war management, his health]( By ToI Staff [Japan’s Itochu to end cooperation with Israel’s Elbit amid Gaza war]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Israeli bank freezes account of settler Yinon Levi sanctioned by US]( By ToI Staff, Jacob Magid and Reuters [Jewish university student in Berlin badly beaten by classmate in fight over Hamas war]( By AP and ToI Staff [Senate unveils $118b package that pairs border policies with aid for Israel, Ukraine]( By STEPHEN GROVES, MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO [Man shot dead in Beersheba after trying to steal police officer’s weapon]( By ToI Staff [King David / ‘Curb’ season premiere raises question: Will Larry go to Israel?]( By Ben Sales [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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