Biden: Gaza response ‘over the top’; unclear if remarks aimed at Israel or Hamas * PM’s Rafah plan * Medication in a tunnel *Pregnant war widows carry life, process death

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Friday, February 9, 2024 Presented by [Prosperity Real Estate]( [Biden calls Gaza response ‘over the top’; unclear if remarks aimed at Israel or Hamas]( By ToI Staff and Agencies US president was apparently responding to question about hostage negotiations; also said ‘a lot of innocent people are dying, and it’s gotta stop’; White House does not clarify [US Senate advances $95 billion bill for aid to Israel and Ukraine]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [US intel says Israel degraded Hamas capabilities, but not close to eliminating group]( By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff Live updates [LIVE: Amid US alarm, PM suggests Rafah civilians will be able to evacuate before IDF op starts]( By ToI Staff Biden calls Gaza response ‘over the top’; unclear if remarks aimed at Israel or Hamas * IDF: Dozens of terror operatives killed in Khan Younis * Diplomats talk two-states in Riyadh Exclusive [Footage shows medication packages in Gaza tunnel where hostages were held]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Boxes of drugs include anti-fungal vaginal tablets, insulin syringes and hypothyroidism treatment, as Israel awaits proof of delivery of medicine weeks after deal from our sponsor [An end-to-end service for navigating the Israeli real estate market]( For many people abroad, buying real estate in Israel is challenging. Prosperity Real Estate’s mission is to simplify this process for those looking to invest or build their home in the Holy Land [Israel backing off hostage talks unless Hamas drops ‘delusional’ demands — official]( By Lazar Berman Israeli source says Jerusalem won’t offer counter-proposal, instead seeking to put pressure on Qatar via the US to soften terror group’s terms; targeted raids planned for Rafah [Protesters in Jerusalem urge continued military action in Gaza amid truce discussions]( By ToI Staff ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Clashing visions of victory]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan What does winning the Israel-Hamas war look like, not only for those fighting in Gaza, but also for the Palestinian Authority, the United States and Arab states in the region? Top Ops Daniel Kaufman [My masking tape with the number of days in Hamas captivity]( I thought Israelis would have made this a thing, but my shawarma server was stunned. ’Has it really been that many days?’ he asked Sarah Tuttle-Singer [Signs of spring, though it’s still October 7th]( I walk in the blue and gold sunshine of Jerusalem, with its almond blossoms, posters of hostages, and mourning tents where grief spills out Rachelli Prawer [The kindergarten’s ‘wishing tree’ made me cry]( Some, to be sure, wish for a dog or a bunny, but it’s telling that more are thinking about the soldiers and the hostages Daniel G. Saunders [Even in the UK, all kinds of things trigger thoughts of October 7th]( The challenge is finding the balance between immersing in the Jewish people’s pain and dealing with the rest of my life [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Hezbollah fires 30 rockets at Israel in retaliation for reported hit on top officer]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff No injuries reported in barrage on northern Israel amid day of heightened tensions on border, after drone strike in southern Lebanon said to target two terror operatives [Top Hezbollah commander hit in apparent Israeli strike as air force head threatens more]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [Head of US-backed forces in Syria seeks more air defense after deadly drone strike]( By Maya Gebeily Family Day [Pregnant war widows carry new life while processing death of their fallen husbands]( By Renee Ghert-Zand IDF Widows and Orphans organization launches multifaceted program supporting dozens of women who face giving birth without their partners [Biden hits back at special counsel report that questions his memory, handling of docs]( By Eric Tucker, LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Zeke Miller and Colleen Long In White House remarks, US president insists memory is ‘fine’ amid unflattering characterizations, questioning of mental acuity; he won’t face charges over classified files [After fumbling Hamas’s name, Biden mistakes dead leader for living one, again]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [After Eisenkot critique, official says PM guiding ‘deep, serious’ debates on Gaza]( By Lazar Berman War cabinet member continues to criticize management of war, saying Netanyahu won’t make crucial calls on who will replace Hamas in the Strip when it’s over [Israel ramps up strikes on Rafah as US warns major offensive would be ‘disaster’]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [Displaced by war and seeking shelter, Gazans resort to living in chicken sheds]( By Reuters and ToI Staff With around 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents displaced, some families feel they have reached rock bottom as they search for a place to call home in the war-torn enclave [Top UN humanitarian official says northern Gaza assessment mission in early stages]( By Jacob Magid [UN chief promises to act immediately against any ‘Hamas infiltration’ of UNRWA]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [UN rights chief says Israeli effort to create a Gaza ‘buffer zone’ is a ‘war crime’]( By AFP Interview [After the October 7 cataclysm, has the Haredi attitude to serving in the IDF changed?]( By Sue Surkes According to Dr. Eliezer Hayun, an expert in Haredi society who is himself ultra-Orthodox, change will happen, but it must come from the ground up – and the IDF must be prepared [Plan to extend soldiers’ stints sparks calls to end ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions]( By Sam Sokol and Emanuel Fabian [Daily Briefing Feb. 9: Day 126 – As IDF aims to extend draft time, will Haredim join?]( By ToI Staff [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [After he hailed Oct. 7 onslaught, Iran leader’s Facebook, Instagram accounts removed]( By AFP and ToI Staff Social media giant Meta says Ayatollah Khamenei repeatedly flouted ‘our dangerous organizations and individuals policy’; Twitter/X accounts still active [Irish basketball team refuses to shake hands with Israelis, proceeds to lose by 30]( By AP and ToI Staff Basketball Ireland backed national women’s team forgoing pleasantries after Israeli player called them antisemitic; Israel captain: It was a lot more than a win, it became personal [Day 126 – As IDF aims to extend draft time, will Haredim join?]( [listen to the podcast]( [Argentina’s Milei sees echoes of Holocaust on visit to shattered kibbutz]( By ToI Staff Accompanied by Herzog, president visits Nir Oz, which dozens of Argentinean immigrants called home prior to October 7, when a quarter of residents were killed or kidnapped by Hamas Interview [Meet the Christian entrepreneur becoming a voice for war-hit Israeli farmers]( By Sharon Wrobel [Nazi gorillas and Hitler as a clown: Holocaust survivor’s cartoons on show in Berlin]( By Deborah Cole Full collection of Curt Block’s satirical magazines goes on display eight decades after he created them with a fountain pen and newspaper cutouts while hiding in a Dutch attic More Headlines [Bedouin Israeli who joined Hamas in Gaza in 2016 arrested trying to return to Israel]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [US seeking answers after Chicago brothers, Louisiana mom detained in Gaza, West Bank]( By AP [Axe-wielding Iranian asylum seeker killed by police in Swiss train hostage situation]( By Agencies [Ukraine’s Zelensky replaces his top general to shake up deadlocked war with Russia]( By ILLIA NOVIKOV [State oil conglomerate fined NIS 1.5 million for massive leak in nature reserve]( By Sue Surkes [Israel-Hamas war ices hopes for post-pandemic tourism rebound]( By AFP [Nicaragua files application to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Putin hints at possible swap of jailed WSJ reporter, urges US to push Ukraine talks]( By AP [Jordanian king to meet Biden on efforts to end Israel-Hamas war]( By AFP and ToI Staff [Minneapolis approves resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire, overriding mayor’s veto]( By AP [US strikes Houthi cruise missiles ‘prepared to launch’ at ships in Red Sea]( By AFP [Taibe man given 27 months behind bars for illegally hunting porcupines]( By Sue Surkes [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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