Day 486 - Sadism, cages, starvation: Released hostages speak

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.


Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren joins host
Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Washington, DC,
yesterday and is set to meet with US President Donald Trump
tomorrow. In the meantime, he will meet and potentially start up
talks about the second phase of the hostage release deal with US
Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. Who is Witkoff and is he the key to
Trump's idea of depopulating the Gaza Strip?


We discuss what we're learning about the treatment meted out to
the three men freed on Saturday: Yarden Bibas, Ofer Calderon and
Keith Siegel.


In an interview that aired on Israel’s Uvda investigative program
on Tuesday evening, released hostage Amir Soussana said she owes
one of the recently released female surveillance soldiers, Liri
Albag her life. Goren recounts portions of Soussana's chilling
interview.


For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s
ongoing live blog.


Discussed articles include:


As Netanyahu arrives in Washington, Trump says talks on
Middle East ‘progressing’


Witkoff to freed IDF soldiers: We have a common goal to
bring everybody home


Hamas captors said to have tormented Yarden Bibas with
incessant talk of wife, kids


Cages, starvation and fasting on Yom Kippur: More
testimonies from freed hostages emerge


Keith Siegel forced to write thank-you letter to Hamas
captors ahead of release


Ex-hostage says Liri Albag saved her life as Hamas
captors tortured, threatened her


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


IMAGE: Israelis protest for the release of Israelis held hostage
by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, in Tel Aviv on February 1, 2025.
(Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)


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