Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleWelcome 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.
ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.
As protesters blocked major highways Tuesday and demonstrated in front of cabinet ministers’ homes in an effort to pressure the government to try to finalize a deal to bring home the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, Horovitz discusses the despair of the hostages’ families, the price of an agreement, and the complexities surrounding the government’s stated goals of bringing home all the hostages, destroying Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza.
More from The Daily Briefing
September 22, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 22: Did muting Macklemore make his message louder?
September 20, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 20 - IDF bolsters forces on all fronts ahead of Yom Kippur
September 17, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 17: Foreign Ministry tells diplomats to dial down attacks on ‘NAZA’ film
September 16, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 16 - From Mecca to Mokha: Houthis flex as Saudis flail
September 15, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 15: How upstart parties could determine the Israeli election
Horovitz points out that the US seems to be taking a back seat lately in hostage negotiations, but could and should play a vital role in arranging talks between Israel and neighboring countries that have normalized ties with it regarding a mechanism for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated goal of having non-Hamas and non-Palestinian Authority “Arab forces” governing a postwar Gaza.
Following the IDF attack Monday on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital that reportedly killed 20 people, including several journalists, Horovitz notes that the army is still investigating the incident. He highlights that numerous released hostages have detailed the hospital’s functioning as a facility under Hamas oversight.
Horovitz also talks about his recent visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community of barely 400 people, a quarter of whom were killed or taken hostage by hundreds of Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. He discusses the ongoing trauma within the community adjacent to the Gaza border and its debate on how to memorialize its tragedies, as well as how to move forward.
Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Thousands demonstrate, block roads at start of nationwide day of protests for hostages
Trump claims Gaza war to reach ‘conclusive ending’ in two to three weeks
IDF strike on south Gaza hospital said to kill 20, including rescuers and journalists
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Adina Karpuj.
Check out yesterday’s episode here:
The Times of Israel Community.