ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 496

Daily Briefing Jan. 20: Day 472 – Joy, fear as hostages freed, Palestinian prisoners released

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian and political reporter Tal Schneider describe the return of Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher and the pending government reshuffle

With:
  • Amanda Borschel-Dan
    Amanda Borschel-Dan

    Deputy Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan is the host of The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing and What Matters Now podcasts and heads up The Times of Israel’s Jewish World and Archaeology coverage.

  • Emanuel Fabian
    Emanuel Fabian

    Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel’s military correspondent

  • Tal Schneider
    Tal Schneider

    Tal Schneider is a Political Correspondent at The Times of Israel

Edit 20 January 2025, 2:10 pmUpdated at 7:14 pm

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 and political reporter Tal Schneider join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.

Yesterday evening, three Hamas hostages were returned to Israeli soil as part of the hostage release-ceasefire agreement that went into effect at 11:15 yesterday morning. We learn how Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were released, what we know currently of their conditions and how they were received in Israel.

Israel released 90 Palestinian security prisoners early Monday morning, hours after Hamas released the three civilian hostages on the first day of a ceasefire with the terror group in the Gaza Strip. These inmates included terror convicts but reportedly none convicted of murder. Where were they taken and how were they greeted?

We hear a quick update on the status of the truce that is still holding in southern Lebanon — and that is meant to expire on Sunday.

Former national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party quit the coalition on Sunday morning, following through on its threat to exit if the government agreed to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Schneider discusses the new alignment of power in the coalition and goes through several potential scenarios.

At the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, today, part of the festivities will be led by Yeshiva University head Rabbi Ari Berman, who will deliver a benediction. We hear what else Israeli or Jewish may be in store.

This episode can also be viewed here:

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher return to Israel after 471 days

Beaming, laughing, weeping, 3 freed hostages finally reunite with loved ones

Israel frees 90 Palestinian security prisoners, who are welcomed with Hamas flags

Otzma Yehudit exits coalition over Gaza deal, blasting it as ‘victory for terrorism’

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

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here:

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