Day 490 - With US backing, Israel wants more hostages in first stage

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 correspondent Lazar Berman
joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's
episode.


As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent Thursday on Capitol
Hill, Berman reports from the Capitol, where much of the focus is
still on US President Donald Trump's proposal to offer Gazans to
relocate from the war-torn region.


Berman says the atmosphere toward Netanyahu is friendly and the
prime minister's entourage is "almost giddy" with the sense of
friendship and support from the Trump administration, following
the criticism and tension that existed with members of the Biden
administration.


While the date to restart negotiations over the second phase of
the ceasefire with Hamas has come and gone, Berman says that
Israel is now trying to extend the current stage of the deal as
much as possible and to get some more hostages out in this first
stage. He adds that Israel currently has the upper hand right
given Trump's support, and Hamas appears to be carefully
maneuvering itself, in its attempt not to be seen as the one
making the deal fail.


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:


Netanyahu gifted Trump a golden pager at White House
meeting, PM’s office confirms


Trump says Israel would hand Gaza to US when war ends, no
American troops needed there


PM calls Trump’s Gaza plan ‘remarkable’; Katz tells IDF
to prep for voluntary emigration


Meeting Netanyahu, US defense secretary says Trump
seeking ‘new ways to solve problems’


Trump’s Gaza plan won’t happen, but it could certainly
shake up the region


IMAGE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, is welcomed by,
from left, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Roger Wicker,
R-Miss., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as they meet at the
Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott
Applewhite)


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