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 bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

As potentially fateful talks for a hostage and ceasefire deal are underway in Qatar, 10 hardliners from the ruling Likud party issued a public letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, detailing four “red lines as members of the Likud movement and as members of the coalition.” Magid fills us in on what are we hearing after the first day of talks, including communications from Qatar to Iran.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told a special session of the Turkish parliament on Thursday that he would travel to the Gaza Strip as a statement of solidarity with his people under war. Magid weighs in on some potential obstacles to the visit.

Dozens of masked settlers participated in the riot through the northern West Bank village of Jit, with the Palestinian Authority health ministry reporting that a 23-year-old local was killed by “settlers’ bullets.” Israeli security sources said it was unclear who shot him. Magid explores the forces in the coalition that have ties to these extremist elements.

Former US president Donald Trump said yesterday that he counseled Netanyahu when they met last month to swiftly “get your victory” because the “killing has to stop” in Gaza. Magid unpacks Trump's statements on this and about a potential future Democrat State Department.

Magid recounts how Biden’s big hostage-release deal speech from the White House State Dining Room on May 31 was initially supposed to be a different speech altogether.

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

Discussed articles include:

Gaza truce talks in Doha get off to ‘promising start,’ set to continue Friday

In Turkey, Abbas declares he’ll go to Gaza ‘even if it costs my life,’ mourns Haniyeh

Palestinian killed as settlers torch homes and cars in West Bank village

Trump: I told Netanyahu ‘get your victory quickly’ because ‘the killing has to stop’

A Biden speech urging national Israeli reckoning was shelved at the last minute. Here’s why

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ben Wallick. 

IMAGE: A car torched by masked settlers in the Palestinian town of Jit in the West Bank, August 15, 2024. (Screenshot: X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)