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 220 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
As the IDF operation in Rafah appears poised for expansion, Egypt announced Sunday it would support South Africa’s ongoing lawsuit in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Is it a warning shot or something more serious?
In an Israeli Channel 12 interview last night, US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew insisted that “fundamentally, nothing has changed in the basic relationship” between Israel and the US — despite the decision last week by US President Joe Biden’s administration to delay a shipment of high-payload bombs to Israel, and Biden’s declaration that he would not supply offensive weapons to Israel for a major IDF offensive affecting population centers in southern Gaza’s Rafah. What is the significance of Lew's rare Israeli media appearance?
Speaking at the Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday night, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said he is responsible for providing answers to the families of slain troops. While his remarks were not new, Berman talks about their importance on this day.
Following October 7, The Times of Israel has been working nonstop to bring readers the personal stories of those who were killed through our Those We Have Lost project, a dedicated page to share the names, faces and stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Project coordinator Spiro describes the process behind these memorials and shares the story of Mark Mordechai Peretz, 51, from Rishon Lezion, who was murdered on October 7 while trying to save his daughter from the Supernova music festival.
Borschel-Dan speaks about Cpt. Amir Zur, 23, a paramedic in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit, fell in battle while attempting to “save and free” Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. Borschel-Dan describes Zur, her husband's cousin, and talks about the last time she and her family spent time with him.
For the latest updates, please see The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
Egypt joins ICJ case against Israel as one official warns Rafah op puts peace at risk
US envoy denies ties with Israel have changed: Only ‘1 set of munitions’ held back
‘A tear in the heart of Israel’: Nation marks a visceral post-October 7 Memorial Day
Mark Peretz, 51: Father slain while trying to rescue his daughter
Cpt. Amir Zur, 23: ‘You will always be our guardian angel’
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: Bereaved families, friends and Israeli soldiers visit the graves of fallen soldier during Memorial Day which commemorates the fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror, at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on May 13, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
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Day 244 - On Jerusalem Day, a celebratory march turns violent
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
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