The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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Day 643 - IDF executes ground ops in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria
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. To begin the program we discuss the current status of IDF operations in the Gaza Strip and then turn to two deadly incidents this week. In the first discussed event, we learn that Master Sgt. (res.) Abraham Azulay, 25, was killed during an abduction attempt by terrorists who also attempted to snatch his body in the southern Gaza Strip. On Monday night, five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded by roadside bombs in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. The slain soldiers were named as: Staff Sgt. Meir Shimon Amar, 20, from Jerusalem; Sgt. Moshe Nissim Frech, 20, from Jerusalem; Staff Sgt. Noam Aharon Musgadian, 20, from Jerusalem; Staff Sgt. Moshe Shmuel Noll, 21, from Beit Shemesh; and Sgt. First Class (res.) Benyamin Asulin, 28, from Haifa. We learn about this deadly attack and discuss the significance of both attacks -- regarding Hamas's continued battle-readiness and the IDF's vigilance. Turning to the north, on Tuesday, the IDF said it killed a “key Hamas terrorist” in a strike in Lebanon's Tripoli, naming him as Mehran Mustafa Bajur, a prominent Hamas commander. We learn about this strike, as well as ground operations inside southern Lebanon where troops raided several sites, destroying Hezbollah weapon depots and other infrastructure. Twice earlier in the week, the IDF carried out overnight raids in southern Syria, where forces captured a cell of operatives operating on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Fabian weighs in on the power vacuum left in this part of Israel's border with the new Syrian regime. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israeli soldier killed during attempted Hamas abduction in southern Gaza, IDF says 5 IDF soldiers killed, 14 injured by roadside bombs in northern Gaza IDF says it killed key Hamas figure in Lebanon, confirms death of Oct. 7 terrorist in Gaza Troops destroy Hezbollah arms in rare southern Lebanon ground raids, IDF says For 2nd time in days, IDF says troops arrested terror cell in Syria working for Iran 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 July 4, 2025, handout photo of IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip. (IDF)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 642 - After PM's 2nd Trump meeting, what's next in Doha?
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. After the optimism from US officials on Monday and calls for a hostage deal by the week's end, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the second meeting on Tuesday without any announcement, just a quiet exit from the White House, notes Magid. Magid discusses how negotiations are proceeding in Doha after US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and other officials involved in negotiations talk about several sticking issues, including humanitarian aid in Gaza, the parameters of the IDF withdrawal, ceasefire assurances, and the hostage and prisoner swap. He reviews Netanyahu's schedule for the rest of the week as well as what will be discussed in Doha on Wednesday, including Witkoff's expected arrival in Qatar for the ongoing hostage talks. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu quietly leaves White House without announcement of breakthrough in Gaza talks Israeli officials claim 80-90% of Gaza deal settled, but core issue of ending war unresolved Netanyahu and Trump said to discuss future of Gaza ‘day after’ war with Hamas Netanyahu and Trump were joined by Vance in White House meeting — Israeli readout 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 Donald Trump, left, meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, July 8, 2025. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 641 - In DC, official says Israel may temporarily govern Strip
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. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and US bureau chief Jacob Magid join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, DC, but mediators in the ongoing negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal have been notified by the Trump administration that the president expects them to secure an agreement this week. US Special Envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff will travel to Doha today to advance the deal. We hear from Magid and Berman what the atmosphere is like in DC: Are officials still hopeful a deal could occur according to Trump's timeline? Ahead of a White House dinner, both US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu took American media's questions, including a query about the viability of the two-state solution. We learn what Netanyahu said at the dinner, as well as remarks following the meal from a senior Israeli official who intimated that Israel is ready to temporarily govern the Gaza Strip: “There has to be a system there that manages life,” the official said. “Maybe for a certain amount of time, it is us." Yesterday, the US announced that it was revoking its “foreign terrorist organization” designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group once linked to Al-Qaeda that took control of Syria in December 2024. This comes after last week, Trump formally dismantled US sanctions against Syria. We learn what was said during the Trump-Netanyahu dinner and the US's hopes to reintegrate Syria into the global economy. Part of the reason that Netanyahu is in DC is to celebrate the success of the 12-day Israel-Iran war. In a briefing with a senior Israeli official following the dinner, it was also noted that Israel anticipates the US will permit it to launch new strikes on Iran, in the event that the Islamic Republic attempts to restart its nuclear program. There was no ceasefire deal announcement, but there was drama of a different sort: Following Trump’s opening remarks to reporters before their White House dinner, Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the American leader on behalf of Israelis as well as Jews around the world and presented Trump with a letter he sent to the Nobel Prize committee nominating the US president for the peace prize. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: 5 IDF soldiers killed, 14 injured by roadside bomb in northern Gaza Witkoff to join hostage talks in Doha Tuesday as sides told Trump wants deal by week’s end Katz calls for confining all Gazans in ‘humanitarian city’ built over Rafah’s ruins US revokes terror label for Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which toppled Assad Proposal outlines massive camps for Gazans in bid to advance Trump’s ‘vision’ – report Israel said to expect US backing for future strikes on Iran if it revives nuclear program Netanyahu surprises Trump with Nobel recommendation, as leaders stress coordination 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 Palestinian tent city in the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, July 6, 2025. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 640 - PM lands in DC, issues to resolve before Trump meeting
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. Political correspondent Tal Schneider and reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lands in the US, Schneider discusses the day ahead for the Israeli leader, ahead of his Monday evening meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House, and the expectations for the announcement of a permanent ceasefire at that point. Schneider looks at the issues that still need to be resolved, including the hostages, aid distribution in Gaza and who will manage Gaza if Hamas is no longer in power. She also discusses the continuing clashes between Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, as Smotrich and his supporters accuse Zamir of being too weak in his handling of Gaza and he has lashed back, with their arguments leaked to the media. Surkes looks at what is happening at Haifa's oil refineries after two Iranian missiles hit the plant, killing three workers and creating additional environmental concerns due to pollution from the plant, with calls to shut it down. She also reports on residents from Gaza envelope communities being told by the government to return home in the next weeks and months, although there are still the sounds of war and explosions in their communities. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Heading to DC, Netanyahu seeks Gaza deal ‘on our terms,’ vows Hamas will be destroyed Smotrich reportedly clashes with Zamir over aid distribution in Gaza: ‘You have failed enormously’ Missile that hit Haifa oil refinery brings renewed urgency to plant’s closure plan Refinery hit by Iran missiles emitting ‘100 times higher than usual’ levels of benzene State approves immediate return home of 7 of 13 worst-hit Gaza border communities 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 Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he leaves the West Wing of the White House, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Mark Schiefelbein)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 639 - Hamas isn't budging. So why the optimism for a deal?
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. Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. We record today's episode hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to take off on Wing of Zion for a whirlwind few days of meetings in Washington, DC. Berman, who is joining the prime minister, updates us on what we know about the ceasefire/ hostage release negotiations right now: An Israeli negotiating team was set to travel to Qatar Sunday for indirect talks with the Hamas terror group, as mediators bear down on the sides amid intensifying efforts to clinch an agreement. There are still a lot of wrinkles to iron out. Berman weighs in. The premier’s spokesman Omer Dostri announced he is stepping down just ahead of the DC trip. “The decision to terminate his employment was made in coordination between the prime minister, his chief of staff, and Dostri,” says the PMO. Berman offers a competing narrative. Early Saturday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported that two American aid workers were wounded when assailants threw two hand grenades at a distribution site in southern Gaza, blaming the attack on “hostile action by Hamas.” Berman discusses other recent Hamas attacks on aid in the Strip and how international humanitarian organizations still prefer to ramp up their efforts rather than cooperate with the GHF. The head of a militia operating in an area of Gaza under Israeli military control, Yasser Abu Shabab, gave an interview to the Israeli public broadcaster’s Arabic-language radio station Makan, in which he confirmed for the first time that his forces are cooperating at some level with the IDF. Could this be a viable option elsewhere? Iranian ballistic missiles struck five Israeli military bases during the 12-day war with last month, The Telegraph reported on Saturday for the first time, citing satellite data shared by Oregon State University. We hear which bases The Telegraph pointed to and their significance. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel sends team to Qatar for hostage talks, but deems Hamas demands ‘unacceptable’ Netanyahu, US blame Hamas for grenade attack on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation workers PM fires spokesman on eve of US trip; reportedly amid spats with Sara Netanyahu Report: Iranian ballistic missiles struck five IDF bases during 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: Illustrative: Palestinian terrorist groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas arrive near the family home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before handing over Israeli and Thai hostage to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis on January 30, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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