Day 495 – With ceasefire stalling, Israel scrambles to respond

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.


Magid discusses how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
flip-flopped Tuesday night with a series of statements regarding
the current ceasefire and the number of hostages to be released
on Saturday. Magid suggests it could be part of an ongoing effort
to back US President Donald Trump's demands and to also keep
Hamas guessing.


As the IDF prepares to move enlisted soldiers down south to the
Gaza border and called on reservists to ready themselves, Magid
says there may be more legitimacy from the US toward Israel to
battle Hamas again in order to achieve the broader goals of the
region.


Magid reviews Trump's meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah and
Abdullah's offer to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children,
although it appears that Jordan is not interested in taking in
mass amounts of Gazan refugees, and sees it as exporting the
conflict.


He also talks about the Palestinian Authority agreement to review
legislation regarding welfare payments for Palestinian prisoners
and families of slain attackers who killed Israelis in terrorist
attacks.


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:


Netanyahu: ‘Intense fighting’ to resume in Gaza if
hostages not released by Saturday


Trump urges ending Gaza ceasefire if all hostages not
released by noon Saturday


Abdullah says Jordan will take in 2,000 sick Gazan kids
as Trump pushes relocation plan


Architect of US law against PA ‘pay-to-slay’ skeptical of
Ramallah effort to end it


IMAGE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a plenum
session at the Knesset on February 10, 2025 (Photo by Yonatan
Sindel/Flash90)


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