Daily Briefing Aug. 18 – US holds direct talks with Hamas. Why it’s the new normal
US bureau chief Jacob Magid on the Board of Peace's floated potential new way forward out of the Gaza quagmire, 60 days from the 'end' of the war with Iran, and an update from hotspot Qusra
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 Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.
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US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner met with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in the Egyptian coastal city of El-Alamein on Sunday before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem yesterday. We discuss the normalization of the US conducting direct talks with Hamas terror group and a potential new way forward being floated by the Board of Peace.
With the 60-day memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran having run out, in a wide-ranging phone interview with Fox News US President Donald Trump said he had “no time schedule” for the conflict. Magid also delves into the mixed messaging between the president and Vice President JD Vance over the war’s goals.
And finally, we turn to the ongoing saga taking place at the Palestinian village of Qusra, near Nablus. International media attention has been spotlighting the location for over a week after settlers began surrounding several new houses built on its outskirts, trapping residents inside in an apparent effort to force them out. The IDF’s actions — and inactions — have generated condemnation around the world.
Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Kushner meets Hamas chief in Egypt in push for Gaza disarmament; IDF continues strikes
Meeting with Kushner, PM doubles down on IDF remaining in Gaza until Hamas disarmed
Amid Israeli pushback, source reveals Board of Peace weighing new disarmament framework
Trump threatens to bomb Oman over its deal with Iran on Hormuz, as 60-day MOU expires
Palestinian-American raises US flag upon return to Qusra home besieged by settlers
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.