Day 511 - As phase 1 ends, can Cairo talks get more hostages out?

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 Daily Briefing updates,
followed by the weekly Friday Focus, The Times
of Israel's newest podcast series. Each Friday, catch Berman and
Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that
spins the globe.


A Palestinian man steered his car into a crowd of people waiting
at a bus stop in northern Israel in what is considered a terror
spree that left 13 people injured, including a 17-year-old girl
who is fighting for her life. We learn what we know about the
perpetrator so far.


Last night, the Israel Defense Forces presented its top-level
investigations into the military’s failures during the lead-up to
the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught, and on the
day itself. Berman shares quick takeaways and whether the IDF has
begun a course correction already.


Yesterday, an Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo for “intensive”
talks on the next stages of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal,
joining mediators from the US and Qatar. Berman weighs in on the
disparate goals of all bodies involved.


In today’s in-depth Friday Focus conversation, we are reminded
that the most effective way to get out as many hostages as
possible has been through a pair of negotiated hostage
release-ceasefire deals. Among the questions asked and answered
are: Who are the major players behind these negotiations? What
have been the obstacles? Is paying ransom a Jewish value?
Finally, we hear which of Israel’s allies does not traditionally
negotiate with terrorists.


Please see today's ongoing live blog for
more updates.


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.


For further reading:


Teen in critical condition after terror suspect plows car
into bus stop, injuring 13


IDF’s Oct. 7 probes show it misread Hamas for years, left
southern Israel utterly vulnerable


Israel sends delegation to Cairo for Gaza talks as
ceasefire’s future put in doubt


IMAGE: Demonstrators raise placards and chant slogans during a
protest calling for the release of hostages held captive in Gaza
since the October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian terrorists, in
front of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on February 22,
2025. (Jack Guez / AFP)


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