Daily Briefing June 3: Day 241 – How many of Hamas’s 4 Rafah battalions still stand?

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.

It is day 241 of the war with Hamas. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.

Dolev Yehud, 35, initially thought to have been taken hostage to the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists on October 7, was declared dead after his body was identified in Israel, the military said. Why now and what do we know about his death?

The IDF said on Sunday that troops had recently begun to operate in the Yabna camp in central Rafah, adjacent to the border with Egypt. We had reported earlier that there are four Hamas battalions in Rafah. Fabian explains what we know about the operations as well as Hamas’s capabilities right now.

The IDF said it intercepted a surface-to-surface missile heading toward Israel from the direction of the Red Sea. We hear how the ballistic missile, apparently launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, affected Israel’s southernmost city of Eilat.

The Nahariya municipality in the north near Lebanon announced that schools and educational institutions opened as usual, a day after a drone strike hit the city for the first time. Fabian dives into how these drones are more accurate than missiles and appear to be Hezbollah’s weapon of choice for the moment.

The war cabinet convened Sunday evening to discuss the latest hostage-truce proposal, given international and domestic pressure to accept the deal aimed at securing the release of the 120 hostages believed to still be held by Hamas in Gaza since their abduction on October 7. Would the IDF welcome a temporary ceasefire?

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

Discussed articles include:

Presumed hostage Dolev Yehud declared dead as remains identified in Israel

Apparent Houthi ballistic missile fired at Eilat downed by Arrow system — IDF

Gallant vows war won’t end until Hamas is destroyed; IDF advances further in Rafah

Determination and grit at a somber NYC Israel Day parade, led by families of hostages

Claudia Sheinbaum wins election to become Mexico’s 1st woman, 1st Jewish president

Quietly Jewish scientist poised to win Sunday’s Mexican presidential election

THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas’s onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

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Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode: