Friday Briefing: How Israel weakened civilian protections

December 27, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering a Times investigation into Israel’s weakening civilian protections in Gaza and a plane crash investigation.

Plus, video games can’t afford to look this good.

Building rubble, with other structures nearby and a group of people examining the wreckage.

One of the first buildings destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, on Oct. 7, 2023. Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times

How Israel weakened civilian protections to bomb Hamas

In past conflicts with Hamas, Israel approved many strikes only after officers concluded that no civilians would be hurt. That procedure changed after the Oct. 7 attack, allowing Israel to mount one of the deadliest air wars of the century.

A Times investigation found that Israel changed its rules of engagement so the military could endanger up to 20 people in each airstrike against Hamas fighters. This shift let it target even rank-and-file militants when they were at home with relatives and neighbors, instead of only when they were alone outside. On a few occasions, strikes on Hamas leaders were approved even though they would each put more than 100 noncombatants at risk — crossing an extraordinary threshold for a contemporary Western military.

Here are the key takeaways from our investigation.

Yemen: The Israeli military launched a significant air assault on parts of the country controlled by the Houthi militia. Some analysts say the conflict may turn into a long-distance war of attrition.

Syria: Its new government is hunting a senior official from the Assad dictatorship and military forces loyal to the ousted president.

The rear half of a blue airplane lying overturned on scrubland, with people and vehicles nearby.

An image provided by the government of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region showing the crash site yesterday. The Administration of Mangystau, via Associated Press

Plane crash investigators are focusing on Russia

Investigators and experts were focusing on the possibility that a Russian air defense system caused the deadly crash on Wednesday of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Kazakhstan.

A Russian agency claimed that the plane hit a flock of birds, but aviation experts who examined photos of the damage said that the holes in the plane’s fuselage appeared inconsistent with that theory. Two Azerbaijanis briefed on a government inquiry said that officials now believe that a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system was responsible.

The jet was flying to Grozny, in Russia’s Chechnya republic, when drone strikes were taking place around Grozny and Russian air defense systems were responding, according to residents and local news media.

Finland: The Finnish police seized an oil tanker that they suspected was part of a so-called Russian shadow fleet, which they believe has been damaging vital undersea cables.

Two women sit outdoors on rubble, each holding a hand to their head.

Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in 2005. Gurinder Osan/Associated Press

History’s deadliest tsunami, 20 years later

About 230,000 people were killed when a wave as high as 48 meters slammed into the coasts of more than a dozen Indian Ocean nations on Dec. 26, 2004. The brunt was felt in the Indonesian province of Aceh, and entire communities in Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were destroyed. It was the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.

More than a thousand miles apart, across the Indian Ocean, hundreds of coastal communities were united in their grief, and in facing years of rebuilding and regrouping. Today we look back at the 20 years since, the recovery effort and the human toll.

Preparations for the next big wave: Experts said they were “blind” to 2004 tsunami. Now, they say working toward a world without tsunami deaths is a challenge.

MORE TOP NEWS

A man stands while wearing a backward hat and a California sweatshirt.

Cartel operatives offer people as little as $30 to inject themselves with experimental fentanyl blends. Meridith Kohut for The New York Times

Mexico: Cartels are innovating how they make fentanyl and are testing the risky new formulas on rabbits and chickens — and people.
Japan: A cyberattack disrupted Japan Airlines’ operations, causing delays to domestic and international flights.
Taiwan: Prosecutors indicted Ko Wen-je, a former presidential candidate, on bribery charges related to a property development while he was mayor of Taipei.
Tech: Taiwan’s Foxconn, a major Apple supplier, has spent millions of dollars in the U.S., India and Mexico over the past two years to reduce its dependence on China.
Airlines: A body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines aircraft that landed in Hawaii after flying from Chicago on Tuesday, the authorities said.
A.I.: As the technology becomes more widely adopted, it could remake the economic geography of the U.S.

Science: Compared with your internet connection, the human mind processes information at an incredibly slow rate, a new study found.

Sports

Pep Guardiola standing on a soccer pitch. In the foreground two Manchester City players frame Guardiola and in the background a large crowd sit in the stands.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Soccer: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will “definitely have to add players” in the January transfer window.
Cross-country skiing: Jessie Diggins is eyeing a third Tour de Ski title in the sport’s most grueling test.
Tennis: Doping bans, Grand Slam titles, a bee invasion and other big stories of the year.

MORNING READ

A woman stands at a microphone, holding a script in her left hand

Noriko Hayashi for The New York Times

The titular character’s voice in Japan’s most beloved TV cartoon, “Sazae-san,” has been the same since the show premiered in 1969. Sazae-san is played by 85-year-old Midori Kato, the last original member of the cast. Although the show’s characters have remained largely static for more than half a century, Kato says she’s never bored of it.

Lives lived: Manmohan Singh, a former prime minister of India who helped transform the country’s economy, has died at 92.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

The world’s favorite smell: This is an ode to the scent of vanilla — instantly recognizable and also in danger of disappearing.
The electability debate: Will the U.S. ever be ready for a woman as president? The raging debate has frustrated two decades of female candidates.
Do you speak 2024? A varied assortment of words entered (or re-entered) the lexicon this year. How well do you know them?

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

ARTS AND IDEAS

Four pictures of characters from popular video games arranged in a grid.

Ubisoft, Xbox Game Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment

Video games can’t afford to look this good

Companies like Sony and Microsoft have spent decades betting that realistic graphics were the key to attracting bigger audiences. Studios poured billions of dollars into technology that elevated flat, pixelated worlds into movielike experiences.

But in recent years, players haven’t seemed to care as much about how games look. The industry was also hit with layoffs and studio closures this year, and its audiences have shrunk for the first time in decades. Developers are wondering if a longtime marketing tool is now just a financial liability. Read more here.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Brown holiday gingerbread cake with whipped cream on a ceramic plate.

Linda Xiao for The New York Times

Bake: Molasses and boiled water are an old but reliable base for moist, tender gingerbread.

Watch: “2073,” a documentary-fiction hybrid film starring Samantha Morton, visualizes a dystopian San Francisco.

Listen: In the latest episode of “Popcast,” our music critics debate the best albums of the year.

Well: Dry January can be a good way to start the year. Here’s how to prepare, what to expect and more.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you Monday. — Gaya

P.S. If you haven’t already, tell us about your most successful New Year’s resolution.

We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: