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 correspondent Emanuel Fabian and diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.

Israeli officials quoted anonymously in several Hebrew-language news sites appear to cast increasing doubt on the success of a strike in Qatar targeting the leaders of the Hamas terror group’s politburo yesterday. According to some reports, the leadership had gathered in Doha to discuss a new US-sponsored hostage-ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the war in Gaza. At recording time, reports differ as to whether the attack was successful. Fabian takes us through the strike and we learn about Qatar’s military prowess.

More from The Daily Briefing

Defense Minister Israel Katz appeared to reject criticism of the decision to go after Hamas figures in US-allied Qatar, reiterating Israel’s stance that the Jewish state will not allow the group to find safe haven anywhere. At the same time, the UN Security Council will meet this afternoon to discuss the attack, among a ripple effect of condemnations from across the globe. Freiberg fills us in on US President Donald Trump’s reaction, as well as the statements we’re hearing from Gulf states and the elsewhere.

Fabian updates us on what is happening on the ground in Gaza, as around 150,000 Palestinians are estimated by the military to have evacuated from Gaza City, including tens of thousands in the past day.

And finally, we speak about freed Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov, who is expected to be flown to Israel today and undergo the same process as hostages freed or rescued from Hamas captivity in Gaza, after she was released to the US embassy in Baghdad yesterday. Fabian reminds us of who Tsurkov is and the events of her capture in March 2023.

Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.

Israeli officials said to doubt success of strike on Hamas leaders in Doha

Israel strikes Hamas Qatar-based leadership, awaits result; Hamas claims attack failed

Trump pans Israel for striking in Doha but says ‘eliminating Hamas’ is a ‘worthy goal’

Israeli-Russian graduate student Elizabeth Tsurkov freed from captivity in Iraq

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