Optimism earlier in the week gave way to widespread violence and chaos on Wednesday but the United States still believes a cease-fire is imminent. The Israeli response, meanwhile, is being governed by Druze anger, government hubris, narrow interests and – of course – populism

'Silence in today's circumstances is complicity,' say over 600 rabbis and educators following the killing of a Palestinian and a Palestinian-American last Friday, warning that religious leaders' silence has emboldened settlers to commit violence under the guise of divine command

Israel and international mediators are currently awaiting Hamas' response to an updated proposal addressing the central sticking point: IDF troop deployment during the proposed 60-day cease-fire

Leaders of the nationalist ultra-Orthodox community see the wars in Gaza and with Iran as divine intervention that expedites the era of redemption. The security discourse has given way to talk of miracles, and prominent rabbis are anointing Netanyahu as a messenger of God

Hala Arafat died in unimaginable agony with her husband and four children. Fourteen members of their family, seven of them children, were killed in the bombing of their home. Anyone who tried to approach them was attacked by drones

The decision was made after the head of the Coordination Administration in Hebron warned the city's governor that if a solution was not found to cover the compound, the its powers would be transferred to the Supreme Planning Council