Daily Briefing Feb. 8: Day 491 – Emaciated, 3 released hostages to now learn families’ fates

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.

Eli Sharabi, 52, Or Levy, 34, and Ohad Ben Ami, 56, are back home in Israel after 491 days of captivity. Sharabi was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas terrorists rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, 2023. His wife and daughters were murdered in their home’s safe room and he and his brother Yossi were taken captive. Brother Yossi has since been confirmed dead and Hamas is holding his body.

Or Levy was kidnapped from the Supernova rave near Kibbutz Re’im on October 7. His wife Eynav was killed, and their now three-year-old son Almog has been staying with his grandparents since.

Ohad Ben Ami was kidnapped from Be’eri. His wife Raz Ben Ami was also abducted and released as part of a week-long ceasefire in November 2023.

We learn about initial health assessments and hear about the ceremony this morning, in which Hamas forced the men to speak onstage in Deir al-Balah and thank the terror organization for their “good treatment.”

We discuss how the IDF is still operating in parts of the Gaza Strip and what is meant to happen in the next two weeks of phase 1 of the already mediated deal, even as phase 2 is still in process.

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on Friday to reprimand the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, after he reportedly warned during a military assessment meeting about potential security risks relating to US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its population. Fabian weighs in on this incident and what it may signify. We discusses what is happening on the ground in the West Bank as the IDF continues its almost three-week ongoing intensive counter-terrorism operation there.

The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Thursday night, targeting weapons storage sites in the Nabatieh area and the Beqaa Valley. Fabian updates us on the extended truce in Lebanon and expected next steps ahead of the February 18 deadline.

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:

Gaunt and frail, hostages Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami freed after 16 months

Poll: 70% of Israelis support second phase of hostage-ceasefire deal

Katz reprimands IDF intel chief for warning discourse on Trump’s Gaza plan could prompt violence

IDF fighter jets hit Hezbollah weapons depots that Israel says violated ceasefire

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here: