The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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. The ceasefire between Israel and the terror groups led by Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into effect at 11:15 am after Hamas finally submitted the names of the three hostages set to be released this evening, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher. Fabian discusses what preparations are being made to receive the women. The body of soldier Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, who was killed and captured by Hamas in 2014, was returned to Israel recently. We hear what we know about the military operation that finally closed one family’s saga, even as Israelis await dozens more hostages. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Hours before Gaza ceasefire set to start, PM stresses right to resume war after ‘pause’ With doctors and therapists: Army completes preparations to receive hostages High Court rejects bereaved families’ petition against release of terrorists Body of soldier Oron Shaul, killed and captured by Hamas in 2014, recovered from Gaza 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: Armed Hamas operatives parade in southern Gaza's Rafah after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect on January 19, 2025 (Screen grab/Al-Jazeera)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. The Prime Minister’s Office issued a brief statement after 1 a.m. Saturday morning confirming the government approved the hostage release-ceasefire deal after meeting for more than seven hours. Twenty-four ministers voted in favor of the deal and eight opposed. The deal should enter into force on Sunday at 8:30 am and the first three Israeli hostages are to be freed at 4 pm. In sum, 33 hostages are to be freed in the first, 42-day phase of the deal. Horovitz speaks about the political dramas and what we know about the implementation of the deal and who is on the first-phase list. Israel is set to release up to 1,904 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including several serving multiple life sentences for deadly terror attacks and murder. The Justice Ministry has, as of Saturday, published the names of 735 Palestinian prisoners to allow petitions against their release to be submitted to the High Court. We hear some of the complexities around the prisoner-release portion of the truce deal and who is not currently going to be freed. We speak about the mood of the country after the deal was finally ratified. How are families whose loved ones were killed in battle in Gaza feeling as Hamas and Hezbollah cry victory and vow to ramp up their "resistance" to Israel in the near future. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Israeli government approves hostage-ceasefire agreement with Hamas Israel to free up to 1,904 Palestinians in 1st stage of hostage deal, including killers These are the 33 hostages set to be returned in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire Guidelines for hospitals set to receive hostages include STD checks, pregnancy tests IDF intercepts missile from Yemen in 4th Houthi attack this week, no injuries 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: A woman pauses near posters of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, as Israel's security cabinet convened to decide whether to approve a deal that would release dozens of hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and pause the 15-month-war, January 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode, the weekly Friday Focus. As US President Joe Biden prepares to leave office, we take a look at the relationship between the president and the Jewish state, starting with his famous meeting with prime minister Golda Meir in which he understood the importance of being a Zionist. We hear how, after Biden's initial embrace of Netanyahu and the Israeli people following the murderous Hamas onslaught on southern Israel, the complex relationship between the president and his shifting Democratic party may have colored some of his later statements and led to micro-managing the war in Gaza. Magid postulates that the traditionally special relationship between the US and its ally has also led to sanctions on settler extremists in an attempt to course-correct the Jewish state. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: On a deadline: How Biden and Trump brokered hostage deal before ‘all hell’ broke loose Biden: US-backed pressure on Iranian axis helped secure hostage deal, end of Gaza war 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: US President Joe Biden, right, hugs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, October 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Last night, the prime minister of Qatar as well as both US President Joe Biden and US President-elect Donald Trump announced that a deal had been reached. Hamas leadership quickly declared victory over Israel, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to insist that the final deal has not been inked and some outstanding details remain. At recording time on Thursday noon, the deal was still not finalized. Horovitz describes what we understand are the main specifics of the agreement. According to a recent Israel Democracy Institute survey, more than two-thirds of the public support a deal for the release of all or some of the hostages. On the other hand, around a quarter support continuing the military pressure on Hamas, which they believe will lead to a more favorable deal for Israel in the future. Horovitz explains the stances of some of the right-wing protesters who demonstrated Wednesday night and are currently demonstrating at the Knesset against a deal. We hear about the drama also taking place inside the Knesset as government members wrestle with their consciences to decide which way to cast their votes -- and whether to dissolve the coalition. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Get them all home After 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire-hostage release deal Biden: US-backed pressure on Iranian axis helped secure hostage deal, end of Gaza war On a deadline: How Biden and Trump brokered hostage deal before ‘all hell’ broke loose Hamas leader touts ceasefire as a defeat for Israel while hailing Oct. 7 atrocities Right-wing groups, including bereaved families, protest pending hostage release deal Hostage families on ‘roller coaster’ as they celebrate deal, worry for loved ones’ fate 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 protesters carry mock coffins draped in the national flag of Israel during a protest against the ceasefire with Hamas outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on January 16, 2025. (John Wessels / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.