The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
An Israel Defense Forces reservist officer was seriously wounded by gunfire from Palestinian operatives in the northern Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday. The IDF responded with a series of strikes on Gaza that Palestinian media said killed at least 20 people. Horovitz weighs in on the move to Phase 2 of the Trump-brokered ceasefire -- without the demilitarization of Hamas.
We also learn of the Palestinian Authority's current involvement in the Rafah Border Crossing and a kerfuffle over a logo that may indicate that ties between the PA and the council of Gazans set to rule the Strip may be tighter than anticipated.
A US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, in an incident that, Horovitz suggests, shows Iran's confidence level ahead of nuclear talks set for Friday. We hear about Israel's four conditions for a "good" deal with Iran as US President Donald Trump appears to prefer dimplomacy -- for now.
And finally, Israel's dairy farmers are protesting today in Jerusalem as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's "reforms" seek to disband the centralized coordination mechanism that has characterized the dairy industry since the state’s founding. Hear why more dairy imports may not be the right answer.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Reservist seriously wounded in north Gaza ambush; 20 said killed as IDF strikes back
12 people let into Gaza from Egypt, of 42 who tried, on day 1 of Rafah opening – report
3 women returning to Gaza through Rafah say IDF bound, interrogated, threatened them
Gaza technocratic committee replaces its logo with the PA’s; Israel fumes
US downs Iranian drone flying toward aircraft carrier; PM to Witkoff: Iran can’t be trusted
Shoppers face empty milk shelves as dairy farmers ramp up fight against proposed reform
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves.
IMAGE: The northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, February 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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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 Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
The Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip officially resumed operations on Monday for the first time in almost a year. We learn how many Palestinians were able to leave the Strip yesterday, versus the potential quota of pedestrians who should be able to cross.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff at 4:30 p.m. today ahead of US talks with Iran scheduled for Friday in Istanbul. Berman explains what could be on the agenda for the talks and delves into the likelihood of a US offensive operation in Iran at this point.
The Prime Minister's Office's point man for hostages, Gal Hirsch, sat with Berman on Friday, days after the last slain hostage from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks — police officer Ran Gvili — was finally laid to rest in Israel. Some of his remarks sparked controversy over the weekend. We hear why.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
‘A lifeline’: Gazans rejoice as Rafah Crossing opens for limited pedestrian passage
With US and Iran set for talks, Trump warns ‘bad things’ will happen if no deal is reached
Ahead of Friday nuclear talks with Iran, Witkoff heading to Israel to meet PM, Zamir
PM’s hostage czar Gal Hirsch says Biden pressure ‘screwed up’ deal talks, protests aided Hamas
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves and Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: People stand on US and Israel flags, outside the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, February 1, 2026, during a protest in support of the Iranian government. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
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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.
US reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
WATCH the full episode here:
Following reports of an anti-Zionist protest in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square, Tress discusses concerns that the rhetoric at such gatherings has become more violent.
After the final grassroots rally for hostages held at New York City's Central Park, Tress reports on the weekly gatherings, which continued until the body of the last hostage, fallen police officer Ran Gvili, was brought home for burial.
More details have emerged on the perpetrator of the car ramming last week at the Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, reports Tress, although the full story remains murky.
Finally, Tress reviews the formation of an antisemitism task force in the New York City Council, whose speaker, Julie Menin, offers a more centrist Democratic approach than that of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
‘All these people are so devoted’: Hostage advocates bid farewell at last NYC rally
Suspect in Chabad HQ ramming charged with hate crimes; had previously attended event there
NYC Council launches antisemitism task force; new bill would limit synagogue protests
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves.
IMAGE; The last rally for Israeli hostages, in Central Park, New York City, February 1, 2026. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
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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 correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
As Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warns of a regional conflict in the case of a US attack, Fabian reports that the IDF is on high alert and in contact with its US counterparts, with expectations of updates if US President Donald Trump decides to strike the regime.
Gaza's Rafah Crossing with Egypt is being prepared ahead of its official opening on Monday, reports Fabian, when approved Gazan residents will be able to return to Gaza and leave the Strip.
Fabian discusses the IDF report regarding the accuracy of the Hamas-led Health Ministry toll of around 70,000 Gazans during the war, noting that the overall number doesn't include a breakdown between civilians and terrorists.
As the IDF Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters goes dormant with the release of the final hostage body of fallen police officer Ran Gvili, Fabian discusses some of the work of the unit that opened after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, including intelligence gathering and rescue missions.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Zamir spoke with US officials over weekend amid tensions with Iran
Israel confirms Gaza’s Rafah Crossing will reopen Sunday to pedestrians in both directions
IDF believes 70,000 Gazans killed in war, as claimed by Hamas; civilian-combatant ratio unclear
‘We did not assess all would return’: IDF shutters its Hostages HQ 846 days after Oct. 7
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves.
IMAGE: Palestinian patients wait at Rafah Crossing to leave Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90)
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Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.
The body of the final hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, was recovered from the Gaza Strip this week and buried on Wednesday in his hometown of Meitar.
Rettig Gur delves into the deep Jewish roots and societal promise to bring every last person home that led to this moment of relief.
We then hear about the likelihood of realizing the vision that US envoy Jared Kushner laid out last week about a flourishing, reconstructed "New Gaza."
And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now.
What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: A man walks through tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid the ruins in Gaza City, January 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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