Day 447 - Israel, Hamas offer mutual recriminations, but no deal

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.


Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz joins host
Jessica Steinberg on today's episode.


Horovitz discusses ongoing spin regarding ongoing hostage
negotiations, more than a year after the release of 105 hostages
that took place during a brief pause in fighting last November
2023. It's not clear if it's a truce or ceasefire, says Horovitz,
but Israel says it needs to know how many people or who Hamas
would be releasing, and mutual recriminations continue without a
final deal.


He also discusses how it has become the "semi-norm" for half of
Israel to dash for shelter in the middle of the night to avoid
incoming rockets from the Houthis in Yemen, and how complicated
it is to retaliate to this Iranian-linked organization.


Horovitz reviews his latest op-ed about a new sense of awareness
and preparedness of the IDF on the many fronts where it's been
fighting, including the unfolding situation in Syria, where it is
being extremely wary and doing what it can militarily, to
minimize possible future consequences with the new regime.


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


Discussed articles include:


Israel and Hamas accuse each other of foiling
hostage-ceasefire deal


IDF probe: Intel on 6 hostages murdered by Hamas was
lacking; troops acted carefully


Houthis fire missile at central Israel for 4th night in
past week; IDF intercepts it


Houthi drone crashes in south as terror group said to
brace for major Israeli attack


Report: Mossad chief believes Israel should target Iran
to get at Houthis; PM disagrees


IDF’s prewar complacency replaced by wariness on every
front, proactivism where possible


Israel shifts focus to Houthis, but it needs partners to
defeat distant foe


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


IMAGE:  Mia Shalom, mother of IDF soldier Almog Shalom who
was killed in battle, lights the first Hanukkah candle on his
grave at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on December
25, 2024. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)


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