The Latest:

As fighting continues, more IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 173, (and to 505 since October 7). Yesterday, American-Israeli Sgt. Maj (Res) Amichai Oster was slain in battle. He was the son of Dr. Howard Oster, deputy director of the Internal Medicine Division at Sourasky Medical Center, and Marcy Oster, a well-known journalist. The family had made Aliyah from Cleveland, Ohio. See details of all the fallen soldiers here.

As fighting in Gaza continues, an Israeli delegation is currently in Egypt, discussing a potential new hostage deal.

THE LATEST:

As fighting continues, more IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 164, (and to 496 since October 7). See details of all the fallen soldiers here. One of those killed yesterday was Cpt. (Res.) Shaul Greenglick, 26, of Ra’anana. When Greenglick was home on a break from reserve duty three weeks ago, he appeared in uniform on an episode of the reality TV singing competition “The Next Star.” The judges praised him as having “a natural talent with an amazing voice.”

Reports continue that talks are taking place over a possible deal for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a two to three-week ceasefire. According to some news outlets, Hamas would return 40 hostages it is holding.

Israelis are beginning to discuss the failures that led to October 7. State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced that in the coming months his office will examine the “multi-system failures" that occurred. He promised that “no stone will be left unturned” in examining “personal responsibility” for the “failures on all levels – policy, military and civilian.”