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.
It is day 186 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.
Berman speaks about the latest in hostage negotiations, the role that Qatar is playing in the talks, the fact that the US is leaning into the talks out of a desire to see a post-Hamas future, and the flexibility Israel is showing on certain details.
He then looks at the statement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made about a firm date for entering Gaza’s Rafah, the last “unconquered city,” says Berman. He notes some of the preparations made for evacuating Gazans from that area, but adds that it will be a unit-on-unit fight that “can’t be a tiny operation.”
Berman finishes the podcast with a careful look at how Israel has handled letting humanitarian aid into Gaza throughout the last six months, the lack of initiative in the matter on Israel’s part at the start of the war, and, now that the aid effort is finally happening, the expected increase in latitude from Israel’s allies.
For the latest updates, please see The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Hamas says it won’t compromise on key demands as US leans into hostage talks
Israel has circled date in calendar for repeatedly-pledged Rafah invasion, PM says
Israel’s begrudging approach to humanitarian aid could cost it the war in Gaza
‘Proof is in the results’: US cautiously welcomes Israeli moves on Gaza aid
THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas’s onslaught on Israel
THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown
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