Day 544 - Ex-hostages speak their minds about IDF in 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.


Released hostage Amit Soussana is honored by the US State
Department as a Woman of Courage and is the only one of eight
women honored to speak at the event. Magid notes that she uses
the platform to speak about the remaining hostages and the need
to return to negotiations, something echoed by former hostage
Yarden Bibas and his focus on US President Donald Trump in his
CBS interview with "60 Minutes." Magid speaks about the freed
hostages who feel comfortable making their opinions clear, and
their concerns about the intensification of military pressure and
the current impasse in hostage negotiations.


The spontaneous, sporadic protests in Gaza against Hamas are the
first in years, according to Magid, as people take a huge risk
calling for an end to war in Gaza. A 22-year-old protester was
tortured and killed, says Magid, who follows several Palestinian
activists on social media who are planning more protests in the
coming days. Magid notes that it would be best if Israel did not
comment on them, leaving the movement as real, genuine protests
against Hamas that could help impact the terror group as it
approaches the ongoing hostage talks.


This conversation can also be viewed here:


Please see today's ongoing liveblog for
more updates.


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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


For further reading:


Ex-hostage Amit Soussana receives US’s International
Woman of Courage Award


Yarden Bibas to 60 Minutes: Only Trump can convince
Netanyahu, Hamas to renew ceasefire-hostage deal


Gazan man murdered by Hamas after joining protests
against terror group, family says


Gazan clan executes alleged Hamas operative who killed
one of their relatives


IMAGE: Former hostage Amit Soussana, left, holds her hands over
her heart while being applauded after speaking during the
International Women of Courage awards ceremony, next to Henriette
Da, of Burkina Faso, Georgiana Pascu, of Romania, Major Velena
Iga, of Papua New Guinea, and first lady Melania Trump, at the
award ceremony, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the State Department
in Washington. S (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)


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