Day 492 - 2 released hostages didn't know loved ones were killed

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.


Military correspondent Emanuel
Fabian joins host Jessica
Steinberg for today's episode.


As the three hostages, Or Levy, Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami
return to Israel, questions arise about what they knew of their
families' fates as they were released. Fabian discusses some of
the details about what each man learned upon coming home to
Israel, whether Eli Sharabi found out that his wife and daughters
had been killed from Hamas, the Red Cross or his family, and if
Or Levy knew his wife Eynav had been killed before he was taken
into captivity.


Palestinians are allowed to return to northern Gaza, along the
Netzarim Corridor, after the IDF cleared out its remaining
positions, says Fabian, adding that Gazans are already
approaching the area.


With nine more days left in the ceasefire with Lebanon, Fabian
discusses Israel's enforcement of the ceasefire agreement, and
the additional understandings that allow Israel to act against
any Hezbollah act, including its Saturday strikes against
Hezbollah members at a strategic missile site, which Israel said
were a blatant violation of the ceasefire.


Following the Saturday IDF strike on a Hamas arms depot near
Damascus, the first in more than a year, Fabian talks about the
site as one that was known to the IDF. It was suspected that the
arms could be used to attack IDF troops in the area.


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:


Almog, 3, to his dad, freed hostage Or Levy: ‘It took you
a long time to come back’


IDF strikes Hezbollah operatives in eastern Lebanon; 6
reported killed, 2 wounded


IDF says it carried out airstrike on Hamas arms depot
near Damascus


IMAGE: Hamas hands over hostage Or Levy to the Red Cross on
February 8, 2025. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)


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