Daily Briefing Feb. 18: Day 501 – IDF withdraws to a possible ‘buffer zone’ on Lebanon border

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.

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.

This morning, as the extended deadline for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon under the US-brokered ceasefire expires, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “Starting today, the IDF will remain in a buffer zone in Lebanon in five strategic outposts and will continue to enforce forcefully and without compromise against any violation by Hezbollah.” Fabian explains why these five points — and whether there is now a “buffer zone” on the border.

Israel is expecting to receive the bodies of four hostages from Hamas on Thursday under the provisions of the first stage of the ongoing ceasefire deal with the Palestinian terror group. We hear how the IDF is preparing to receive the bodies and how the families will be informed of their identities.

Even as Egypt is working toward a proposal for rebuilding Gaza, Defense Minister Katz has called for a new directorate in the Defense Ministry tasked with enabling Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave the Gaza Strip, as per US President Donald Trump’s stated plans. Fabian weighs in.

The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a pair of drone strikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday — one targeting a group of gunmen who were approaching Israeli forces in one area and the other as a warning when a car drove near soldiers in another. We hear how all is not calm on the ground in Gaza.

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had completed its investigations into its failures during the lead-up to the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught, and would begin to present its findings next Tuesday. We learn what the investigations should — or should not — unveil.

This conversation can also be viewed here:

Please see today’s ongoing live blog for more updates.

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

For further reading:

Lebanese army says it’s deploying in southern border villages as IDF withdraws

IDF to remain in five strategic posts in south Lebanon after Tuesday withdrawal

Israel says it is preparing for Hamas to return bodies of four hostages on Thursday

Egypt developing plan to rebuild Gaza as counter to Trump’s call to depopulate area

Katz announces new panel tasked with advancing ‘voluntary’ emigration of Gazans

Hamas said to agree to cede Gaza governance to PA; Netanyahu: ‘Not going to happen’

IDF drone strike hits gunmen in southern Gaza; three Hamas cops reportedly killed

IDF completes all October 7 probes, will start presenting them next week

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here: