Day 506 - Torture, isolation: What 6 freed hostages endured

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.


Editor David
Horovitz joins host Amanda
Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.


Six Israelis held hostage by Hamas were released yesterday --
four whom were taken on October 7, 2023, and two who were in the
Strip for about a decade. Horovitz relates what we're beginning
to learn about the horrific conditions of their captivities.


Hamas published a video Saturday showing Israeli hostages Evyatar
David and Guy Gilboa Dalal being forced to watch as other
captives were freed and begging to be saved as well. Also with
this in mind, Israel said early Sunday that it was delaying the
release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who had been slated
to go free Saturday until Jerusalem receives assurances regarding
the end of “humiliating ceremonies” staged by Hamas when hostages
are handed over. Hamas claims this is a pretext. Is it?


Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly met US Mideast
special envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington on Thursday to kick off
talks on phase two of the hostage release and ceasefire deal with
Hamas, as mixed messaging emerges on the likelihood of a next
stage. Horovitz delves into the uncertainty of the negotiations,
even as Israel has apparent US backing for whatever decision it
makes about a second phase or a return to war.


Tens of thousands gathered in Beirut for the funeral of
Hezbollah’s former leader Hassan Nasrallah, nearly five months
after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb
of the Lebanese capital. We discuss who may be in attendance and
what this funeral aims to accomplish.


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


Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple
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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


For further reading:


Hostages were chained, starved, kept in pitch black; some
return almost unresponsive


Hamas propaganda clip shows hostages forced to watch as
others are freed


Israel halts release of Palestinian prisoners over
‘humiliating’ hostage handovers


Dermer in US to meet Witkoff on ‘difficult’ phase two of
hostage-ceasefire deal


Trump: I really am fine with any decision Israel makes —
continue truce or resume war


Iran’s parliament speaker, foreign minister to attend
funeral of Hezbollah’s Nasrallah


IMAGE: Freed hostage Hisham al-Sayed arrives at Sourasky Medical
Center in Tel Aviv, after being released by Hamas following 10
years in Gaza captivity, February 22, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)


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