Daily Briefing Feb. 7: Day 490 – With US backing, Israel wants more hostages in first stage

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.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent Thursday on Capitol Hill, Berman reports from the Capitol, where much of the focus is on US President Donald Trump’s proposal for Gazans to relocate from the war-torn region and the US to take it over after the war.

Berman says the atmosphere toward Netanyahu is friendly and the prime minister’s entourage is “almost giddy” with the sense of warmth and support from the Trump administration, following the criticism and tension that existed with members of the Biden administration.

While the date to restart negotiations over the second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas has come and gone, Berman says that Israel is now trying to extend the current first stage of the deal to get more hostages out during this stage. He adds that Israel currently has the upper hand given Trump’s support, and Hamas appears to be carefully maneuvering, in its attempt not to be seen as making the deal fail.

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:

Netanyahu gifted Trump a golden pager at White House meeting, PM’s office confirms

Trump says Israel would hand Gaza to US when war ends, no American troops needed there

PM calls Trump’s Gaza plan ‘remarkable’; Katz tells IDF to prep for voluntary emigration

Meeting Netanyahu, US defense secretary says Trump seeking ‘new ways to solve problems’

Trump’s Gaza plan won’t happen, but it could certainly shake up the region

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here: