Hamas, Egypt warn on Rafah * ’Moment of truth’ hostage protests * Moody’s lowers credit rating * Biden sets new aid terms; WH: ’Over the top’ critique was aimed at Israel

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Saturday, February 10, 2024 Live updates [LIVE: Hamas warns of ‘tens of thousands’ of casualties if IDF enters Rafah, holds US responsible]( By ToI Staff IDF pushes ahead with Khan Younis offensive, carries out airstrikes across Gaza * AP says 31 killed in Rafah * Hezbollah’s Nasrallah meets Iranian FM [PM says IDF must operate in Rafah, but will let civilians evacuate first]( By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies Amid US alarm, Netanyahu says it’s ‘impossible to achieve war goal and leave 4 Hamas battalions’ in southern Gaza city; Sinwar ‘out of contact’ for 10 days; numerous gunmen killed [Report: Egypt warns Israel Rafah offensive may lead to suspension of peace treaty]( By ToI Staff [Netanyahu said to believe Israel has 1 month to finish Rafah operation amid global ire]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [‘The moment of truth’: Nationwide protests set to demand hostage deal, new government]( By ToI Staff Rallies Saturday night in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and other cities; protester with megaphone reading names of hostages arrested outside Netanyahu’s Caesarea residence [After rejecting Hamas’s demands, Israel said open to talks based on ‘Paris’ proposal]( By ToI Staff [IDF: Hostage Yossi Sharabi was likely killed as a result of IDF strike]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [White House clarifies Biden spoke of Israel when he said Gaza response ‘over the top’]( By Jacob Magid, ToI Staff and Agencies After lack of clarity on president’s comments, press secretary says ‘US wants to see Hamas defeated,’ but Israel must do so while protecting civilians [Biden sets new conditions for US military aid amid calls to limit support for Israel]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff [Israel said worried US could slap sanctions on MKs, soldiers, settlers in West Bank]( By ToI Staff [Top Biden aide tells US-Arab leaders he has no confidence in Israeli government]( By ToI Staff In recorded meeting in Dearborn, deputy NSA Jon Finer also says administration finds some Israeli leaders ‘somewhat abhorrent’; constituency is key to Biden’s reelection hopes Analysis Lazar Berman [Key to toppling Hamas, Rafah now a far bigger challenge for Israel than it needed to be]( Lack of operational plans to take over Gaza Strip meant the ground invasion was delayed, while civilians moved into the strategic border area and international opposition grew [Moody’s lowers Israeli credit rating, downgrades outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’]( By AFP and ToI Staff Ratings agency warns ‘public finances are deteriorating,’ predicts ‘materially higher’ debt burden amid war in Gaza; says lowered outlook due to ‘risk of escalation’ with Hezbollah Top Ops Samantha Kahn [To Taylor Swift on supporting Israel]( As a Swiftie, I know you have the ability to go visit, to learn, to see for yourself. Please don’t close your eyes to the truth Ellen Ginsberg Simon [A university president with a principled stand on BDS]( Brown University President Christina Paxson could have hid behind policy when she rejected students’ divestment demands [Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at northern towns, 2nd such barrage in as many days]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff No casualties reported as Iron Dome intercepts many of the projectiles; IDF strikes in Lebanon in response to attack [Syrian military claims Israeli airstrikes hit near Damascus; war monitor: 3 dead]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [UK university rabbi goes into hiding after death threats over wartime IDF service]( By ToI Staff ‘Hundreds’ of menacing messages, phone calls targeting Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch for reserve duty drive him and family out of their home, as campus antisemitism flares post-October 7 [Australian Jews alarmed after list of ‘Zionists’ publicized, fueling harassment]( By JTA and ToI Staff [Report: Iran recruiting British Muslims on Middle East pilgrimages to spy on UK Jews]( By ToI Staff [4 miles from war: In biggest homecoming yet, hundreds of evacuees return to Shokeda]( By Canaan Lidor As 80% of southern moshav’s 132 families come home, mayor says it’s ‘immensely joyous’ to return but ‘we know this fateful war isn’t over’ [Chess tournament makes mates of Arabs, Jews and Druze amid Gaza war]( By Diana Bletter In late January, the Israeli Open Championship in Acre brought all of Israel’s diverse sectors together to battle it out on the board, fostering community through love of the game [In Riyadh, Arab ministers agree to advance joint plan for post-war Gaza — diplomats]( By Jacob Magid and AFP Foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Qatar reiterate call for an immediate ceasefire, seek ‘irreversible’ steps towards recognition of Palestinian state Israel Travels [These Taglit-Birthright alumni rushed to Israel to volunteer after Oct. 7 atrocities]( By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am With most flights canceled and an active war still raging, Diaspora Jews from around the world showed their love by working fields – and sometimes just lending an attentive ear [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( Film history [‘Blazing Saddles’ marks a half-century of hilarity — and controversy]( By Stephen Silver Released 50 years ago this week, the film juggles bawdiness, genre satire and political critique, and is still revered even as most admit today’s Hollywood would never let it fly [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( More Headlines [Meta reviewing when ‘Zionist’ should be deemed hate speech, amid Israel-Hamas war]( By AFP [NY congressional candidates Suozzi, Pilip face off, with Jewish vote up for grabs]( By Luke Tress [Israeli targeting of terrorists in Jenin hospital may be war crime, UN experts say]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Knesset speaker cancels meeting with UN chief Guterres, calls him ‘lost cause’]( By ToI Staff [IDF reservist accused of stealing Hamas weapons, stashing them at school where he works]( By ToI Staff [Iran asks FIFA to ‘completely suspend’ Israel from all soccer events over Gaza war]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [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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