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 reporter Emanuel Fabian and reporter Canaan Lidor join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

On Monday, the IDF called on Palestinians in eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis to evacuate the area and head toward the designated “humanitarian zone,” likely preceding a renewed ground offensive in the southern Gaza city. What moves has the IDF taken since?

Yesterday, work began on an Israeli-Palestinian cooperative project to boost electric power to a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip to allow it to produce more water for civilians in a designated “humanitarian zone” where the vast majority of the Gazan population is residing. Which Israeli official was pushing for this and why does he feel it is crucial?

The military carried out a drone strike late Tuesday against a cell of terror operatives in the West Bank’s Nur Shams, with the Palestinians reporting four killed in the attack. This use of underground explosives is a tactic we’ve recently seen against IDF troops. Fabian tells us more.

Over the weekend Lidor witnessed hundreds of residents of Avdon, a Western Galilee moshav, returning after a months-long absence from their homes, situated about 3.5 kilometers (two miles) from the border with Lebanon. Why didn't the government evacuate them along with their neighbors?

For the first time in over a century, Israel’s Jews officially have no chief rabbi after the terms of both ended on Monday. There are delays in the succession process, in part due to alleged nepotism and internal power struggles, but also due to the role of women in the state religious authorities. We hear what is -- and isn't -- going on.

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

Discussed articles include:

IDF tells Gazans to evacuate some Khan Younis neighborhoods in wake of rocket attack

Israel boosts power to Gaza desalination plant in bid to avert humanitarian crisis

IDF drone hits cell planting roadside bomb in West Bank, killing 4 terror operatives

Israelis from town 2 miles from Lebanon forced to return home after running out of funds

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: Boys walk with jerrycans to fill up from a water truck in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on June 25, 2024. (Eyad Baba / AFP)