The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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Day 484 - 2 freed men were hugged by their kids; Yarden Bibas was not
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Three Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity today and returned to their families in Israel: Yarden Bibas, Ofer Calderon and Keith Siegel. Horovitz compares today's two release "ceremonies" with the bedlam experienced on Thursday. We also learn how Hamas symbolically reminded onlookers of the horrors of October 7, 2023. As we are increasingly hearing details of how those who are now released were treated in captivity, the mother of freed hostage Emily Damari revealed Friday that her daughter was held by Hamas at UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip, and that her captors refused to give her access to medical treatment. Horovitz weighs in on how seriously the world will listen to the freed hostages. Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, shortly after three Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 were released by the terror group in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian authorities, 18 of the prisoners were serving life sentences. Alongside the return of their brothers in arms, what else are Hamas's aims in the release of these terror masterminds? Twelve more living hostages are meant to be freed in the coming weeks of phase one. Later this week, negotiations are supposed to begin in earnest on phase two of the accord. How does Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington, DC, further Israel's goals? For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Hostages Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon freed after 484 days in Hamas captivity Tears, cheers and tight embraces as 3 released hostages reunited with relatives As Yarden Bibas is released, relief, dread, and evidence that Hamas is reviving Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical treatment Hostages’ stories: Gadi Mozes paced 7km a day in tiny cell, soldiers rationed grains of rice 183 Palestinian security prisoners released after Hamas sets free 3 civilian hostages Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Yarden Bibas is seen on an IDF helicopter on his way to a hospital in central Israel on February 1, 2025 (Israel Defense Force)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 483 - After chaotic hostage scene, Israel demands calmer handover
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Reporter Amy Spiro joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. With the release home of hostage and surveillance soldier Agam Berger, followed by the terrifying mayhem surrounding the release of hostages Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes and the five Thai hostages, Spiro discusses Israel's delay of the release of Palestinian prisoners, and its demand to Hamas to guarantee safe passage in the release of future hostages. Spiro reviews what is known about the release of the Thai hostages, Pongsak Thenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao, and Surasak Lamnau, and reactions from the Thai Embassy. US President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was in Israel yesterday, meeting with some of the released hostages and in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square and Spiro discusses his central role in the ongoing ceasefire and his meetings with some of the more right-wing partners of the coalition government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to the US next week to meet with Trump, amid the ceasefire talks, and Spiro talks about expectations for those negotiations. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: ‘We’ll never leave you again’: Families meet freed hostages after 15 months of agony Furious over ‘shocking scenes’ of hostage handover, Israel delays release of prisoners Surveillance soldiers all finally home: Agam Berger’s return closes one horrific Oct. 7 chapter In Thailand, families of hostages weep with joy upon news of their release from Gaza Working through the trauma, Thai farmhands who survived Oct. 7 return to the fields Zakaria Zubeidi among terrorists to get heroes’ welcome as Israel frees 110 prisoners Witkoff meets freed soldiers, ex-hostages, officials, stresses commitment to full deal Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Arbel Yehoud, center, with her parents and siblings on an IDF helicopter after being freed from captivity on January 30, 2025. (Courtesy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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20:28
Day 482 – Hamas theatrics and utter bedlam as 8 hostages freed
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. This morning, 8 hostages — 3 Israeli and 5 Thai — returned to Israel from Gaza where they were taken by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on October 7, 2023. Agam Berger, 20, the final surveillance officer among seven young women taken hostage on October 7 was released from the northern Gaza Strip in a staged ceremony this morning. Fabian debriefs us on what we know about her health and describes the situation in the northern part of the Strip as the IDF allows residents to return there. Just before 1 pm, two other Israeli civilians were released from within a seething mob in Khan Younis: 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and her fellow kibbutznik Gadi Moshe Mozes, who is 80. Fabian describes the utter chaos of their releases, along with five Thai nations who were freed in a separately mediated deal. We look ahead to Saturday's release of three further hostages and who may -- or may not -- be on the list, as well as future pullbacks by the IDF. And finally, we hear about what is happening along Israel's northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes, 5 Thais, freed amid mayhem in Khan Younis; Agam Berger released IDF reveals it killed Hamas terrorist seen dragging Naama Levy to captivity on Oct. 7 Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Gadi Moses, 80, center right, who has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023, is escorted by Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters as he is handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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21:49
Day 481 - Trump's new deal - moving Gazans out of Gaza?
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Magid takes a look at President Donald Trump's first week in office, including Trump's controversial comments regarding Gazans and where they could be moved, even temporarily during the reconstruction of parts of Gaza, and how Egypt and Jordan view the influx of Palestinians as a security threat. He also discusses Steve Witkoff's role in hostage negotiations and his seemingly personal connection to the families of released hostages, as Witkoff touches down in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Saudi Arabia. Magid shares insights from his interview with Barbara Leaf, a top Middle East diplomat from the Biden administration as they explored the ongoing challenges in Gaza post-war. Leaf expressed regret over the lack of a post-war plan for Gaza, and commented that recent developments in Syria and Lebanon could positively impact regional stability. Finally, Magid looks at the Trump administration's claims about foreign aid spending during the Biden years, including a humorous controversy regarding US foreign aid for supposed condom distribution in Gaza. This conversation can also be viewed here: For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Trump says ‘would be nice’ to solve Iranian nuclear crisis without Israeli strikes Trump doubles down on proposal to move Gazans; insists Egypt and Jordan will agree ‘We averted much worse’: Biden’s top Mideast diplomat looks back on tumultuous term Trump invites Netanyahu to visit White House; PM’s office says meeting set for Feb. 4 White House: Biden allotted $50m for Gaza condoms; ex-official denies ‘feverish dream’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: At the entrance to a Tel Aviv conference entitled 'Opportunities for Israel under Trump,' in Tel Aviv. January 28, 2025. (Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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21:51
Day 480 - Quagmire in judicial branch as justice minister flexes
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Legal reporter Jeremy Sharon joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Sharon was in court yesterday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed his testimony in his corruption trial. We hear whether the premier seems in good health following his prostate surgery even as his hearing was canceled today and tomorrow over a judge's illness. We learn that an angry Netanyahu alleged that key aspects of the case against him rested on testimony that had been illegitimately obtained from witnesses such as former aides Nir Hefetz, Ari Harrow, and Shlomo Filber and that aspects of the indictment against him are factually inaccurate. After an unprecedented 16 months without a permanent Supreme Court president and in the face of unrelenting opposition from Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Justice Isaac Amit was elected head of Israel’s top court on Sunday night in a court-forced vote by the Judicial Selection Committee. Sharon delves into the tricky situation in which Levin, together with the other coalition representatives in the committee, Settlements Minister Orit Strock and Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kroizer, boycotted the hearing in protest of the decision by the Supreme Court — sitting as the High Court of Justice — to order him to hold a vote in the committee. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Netanyahu aiming to meet Trump at White House next week in first visit by foreign leader Netanyahu accuses police of extorting ‘false testimony’ from state witnesses Isaac Amit finally elected Supreme Court president; Levin pledges to boycott him Israel finally gets a permanent Supreme Court president; what does he stand for? Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, December 4, 2024. )Chaim Goldbergl/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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