Daily Briefing Oct. 11: Day 5 of Israel at war – Biden’s emotional words of support

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s podcast.

Magid discusses the content and tone of US President Joe Biden’s speech, in which Biden clearly described some of the more horrifying aspects of the Hamas onslaught, as well as his message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to uphold democracy, particularly with regard to the rules of warfare in Israel’s counteroffensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Magid talks about reactions to Biden’s words and US steps, including the approval of a massive aid package to Israel, and moving the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier into the eastern Mediterranean closer to Israel.

Surkes speaks about her reporting on a shortage of army equipment for reservists, answered with massive local and international fundraising and purchases, and then with a response from the IDF about the logistics of equipping a massive 300,000 call-up in 48 hours.

She also describes her visit to a Tel Aviv hotel currently housing several hundred evacuees from Gaza border communities, and how they are slowly figuring out next steps after their terrifying experiences, knowing they’ll never be the same again.

Steinberg mentions the Magen David Adom blood drive in Jerusalem, where Israelis have spent up to 10 hours lining up patiently in order to bolster the blood supply for the more than 3,000 injured people in hospitals.

Discussed articles include:

Horrified Biden details Hamas’s ‘sheer evil,’ vows to ensure Israel can defend itself

White House spokesperson: We share Israel’s deep fear and anger after Hamas attack

‘Like Babyn Yar’: Hamas atrocities worst since Holocaust, Netanyahu tells Biden

Army launches hotline for reservists seeking equipment, food

A traumatized community from the Gaza border finds refuge at a Tel Aviv hotel

At Magen David Adom blood drive, a show of force by Israelis of every type

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Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode: