Day 525 - With Hamas immovable, extended ceasefire prospects dim

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 Daily Briefing.


Children across the Diaspora came to school wearing Batman
costumes in honor of the slain Bibas boys, Kfir and Ariel. And
last night, thousands came to Tel Aviv's Hostages Square for the
Purim eve reading of the Book of Esther. The gathering, which
includes Israelis from different communities, sectors and
denominations, included a call for the return of the 59 remaining
hostages in one release. But that doesn’t appear to be the
proposal on the table, currently.


We discuss reports out of Doha, which indicate a revision to a
previously suggested proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff of 10
living hostages for 60 days of ceasefire. What is the new outline
to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and how are Israel --
and Hamas -- responding to it?


Mahmoud Abbas may be the last Palestinian leader who believes in
a two-state solution and opposes violence as a means for bringing
it about, a potential successor to the PA president, Jibril
Rajoub, told Magid in a recent interview. So what’s the
alternative?


Please see today's ongoing liveblog for
more updates.


For further reading:


Jewish kids in Israel and beyond dress up as Batman for
Purim to honor the Bibas boys


Witkoff reportedly presents new proposal for Gaza truce
extension to Israel, Hamas


Boehler to continue supporting Witkoff’s efforts in
Mideast amid reports of sidelining


Abbas may be the last PA leader who believes in two
states, warns potential successor


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 man reads a scroll in front of a clock counting the time
Israeli hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since the October
2023 attacks by Hamas terrorists have spent in captivity, during
the reading of the Scrolls of Esther at the start of the feast of
Purim at Hostages' Square in Tel Aviv on March 13, 2025. (Jack
GUEZ / AFP)


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.