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 223 of the war with Hamas. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan in our Jerusalem offices for today's episode.
Five Israeli soldiers were killed and another seven were wounded, including three seriously, in an incident of so-called friendly fire in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya on Wednesday evening, the military announced today. Prior to the official announcement of the soldiers' deaths, last night Defense Minister Yoav Gallant sounded the alarm to force the hand of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take steps and promote a reasonable option for governance of the strip -- in part to prevent more soldiers’ and civilians’ deaths. Horovitz puts the speech into perspective.
Yesterday, Netanyahu revived a 2022 proposal by cabinet minister Benny Gantz to lower yeshiva students’ age of exemption from military service from 26 to 21. Today, the Attorney General weighed in and stated the Gantz bill is based on outdated data and therefore opposes it because it doesn’t reflect today’s reality. The bill has since been approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation this morning. But are there really any winners if this bill moves forward?
The official date for the next elections are October 2026. Horovitz explains why Netanyahu must move the date forward and call for a new democratically validated mandate of his leadership -- or cede the throne.
For the latest updates, please see The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
5 soldiers killed, 7 hurt in ‘friendly fire’ incident in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya
Gallant to PM: Reject Israeli military, civil rule of Gaza after Hamas; I won’t allow it
Full text: Gallant demands PM rule out Israeli military, civil control of post-Hamas Gaza
Netanyahu says he’ll advance Haredi IDF enlistment bill that lowers exemption age
To save and heal Israel, Netanyahu must quit or at least face the electorate
ICJ’s urgent hearings over IDF’s Rafah operation spell more trouble for Israel
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
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.
IMAGE: This handout picture released by the Israeli army on May 7, 2024 shows Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant standing with soldiers by a self-propelled artillery howitzer during a visit to a position along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel near Rafah. (Israeli Army / AFP)
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Day 243 - Can Biden push Israel and Hamas to a hostage deal?
Day 242 - Will the deaths of four hostages push PM to a deal?
Day 241 - How many of Hamas's 4 Rafah battalions still stand?
Day 240 - Why did Biden urge Israel to take a deal it proposed?
Day 239 - ADL head Greenblatt on 900% rise in US antisemitism
Day 238 - Will Trump verdict give an antisemitic trope new life?
Day 237 - ToI reports back from inside Nablus and the Gaza Strip
Day 236 - MKs on right and left seek alliances, oppose PM
Day 235 - Will hostage talks resume as Rafah operation continues?
Day 234 - Hamas calls to 'rise up' after deadly airstrike in Rafah
Day 233 - After ICJ ruling, Rafah op continues unabated
Day 232 - ICJ order to 'halt' IDF depends on how it's parsed
Day 231 - Netanyahu to 'soon' address Congress. What's his goal?
Day 230 - Harrowing video spotlights female soldiers held by Hamas
Day 229 - Trio of countries to recognize Palestine. Why now?
Day 228 - Same-same? ICC prosecutor equates Israeli & Hamas leaders
Day 227 - The butcher Raisi is dead. What now for Iran?
Day 226 - Bold IDF op recovers bodies of 4 hostages from Gaza
Day 225 - US explores sanctions for extremists blocking Gaza aid
Day 224: PM crisis looms with post-Gaza plans, Haredi draft
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