Day 509 - Bibas family buried as Hamas to release 4 hostages' remains

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,
political reporter Tal Schneider and
reporter Sue Surkes join
host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily
Briefing.


Hamas and Israel reportedly reached an agreement for the release
of four Israeli hostages’ bodies and 602 Palestinian security
prisoners, the terror group and an Israeli official said late
Tuesday, which would an end to an impasse that risked collapsing
the multiphase ceasefire agreement before its first stage was
even completed. Berman weighs in whether this means that talks
are now on track for phase two.


Speaking in Washington DC, yesterday Opposition Leader Yair Lapid
presented a “day after” plan for Gaza, envisioning an extended
Egyptian guardianship of the war-torn Strip. The plan would have
Egypt take responsibility for managing Gaza for eight years, with
the option to extend it to 15 years. Schneider describes some of
the potential obstacles.


The budget is meant to pass by the end of March, but this morning
we’re hearing threats from the head of United Torah Judaism that
he'll hold it up until haredi young men are fully exempt from
military conscription. But is this a real threat?


Family, friends and the president on Tuesday eulogized Oded
Lifshitz, the 83-year-old peace activist who was taken hostage on
October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz and slain in captivity, with
his wife lamenting that he was killed by those he sought to help.
Today, Israel accompanies Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir
on their way to burial. We describe the mood in the country.


In a heart-rending address during a rally of relocated Kibbutz
Nir Oz residents held in Kiryat Gat on Saturday, the mother of
Yoav Avital, a friend of murdered hostage Ariel Bibas, described
his loss from the perspective of her 5-year-old son. Surkes
describes his ineffable pain.


An interim report issued Monday by the State Comptroller on the
rehabilitation of Gaza border communities following the October
7, 2023, Hamas invasion found that communities badly hit on that
day but located more than 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Gaza
border — thus making them ineligible for special state support —
were suffering and in need of aid. Surkes reports how these
include the southern city of Ofakim, where 53 people were
murdered.


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


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


For further reading:


Hamas: Deal reached for ‘simultaneous’ release of 4 slain
hostages, Palestinian prisoners


Lapid presents Gaza ‘day after’ plan in DC, urges
extended Egyptian takeover


‘We fought for peace, were attacked by those we helped’:
Yocheved Lifshitz parts from Oded


Bibas family tells Netanyahu to ‘shut up,’ as he details
the murders of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir


‘He isn’t dead, he’s in his room’: Ariel Bibas’s
5-year-old friend struggles with his loss


State comptroller urges PM to finish review of southern
communities eligible for aid


IMAGE: A makeshift memorial in front of portraits of
murdered Israeli hostages Shiri (L), Ariel (CL), and Kfir (CR)
Bibas, as well as Oded Lifshitz (R) at Hostages Square in Tel
Aviv on February 25, 2025. (Jack Guez / AFP)


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