Daily Briefing August 24 - Has Israel lost its deterrence against Hamas?

David Horovitz and Palestinian affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman examine rising tension on the Gaza border and Israel’s attempts to battle the raging spread of the Delta variant

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and Palestinian affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman, along with host Raoul Wootliff.

We open with a look at tensions between Israel and Hamas after the IDF carried out a series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip following the launch of incendiary balloons from Gaza into southern Israel and Gaza riots at the border in which a Border Police officer was shot and critically injured.

What does Hamas want? How is Israel avoiding escalation? And has Israel lost its deterrence?

Then, as COVID cases continue to rise both in Gaza and inside Israel, we look at Israel’s strategy for trying to contain the Delta outbreak and examine the steps taken so far.

And finally, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on his way to Washington, we analyze the issues that could divide him and US President Joe Biden, and how the Israeli premier may approach Iran.