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.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg on today's episode.

Horovitz discusses ongoing spin regarding ongoing hostage negotiations, more than a year after the release of 105 hostages that took place during a brief pause in fighting last November 2023. It's not clear if it's a truce or ceasefire, says Horovitz, but Israel says it needs to know how many people or who Hamas would be releasing, and mutual recriminations continue without a final deal.

He also discusses how it has become the "semi-norm" for half of Israel to dash for shelter in the middle of the night to avoid incoming rockets from the Houthis in Yemen, and how complicated it is to retaliate to this Iranian-linked organization.

Horovitz reviews his latest op-ed about a new sense of awareness and preparedness of the IDF on the many fronts where it's been fighting, including the unfolding situation in Syria, where it is being extremely wary and doing what it can militarily, to minimize possible future consequences with the new regime.

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

Discussed articles include:

Israel and Hamas accuse each other of foiling hostage-ceasefire deal

IDF probe: Intel on 6 hostages murdered by Hamas was lacking; troops acted carefully

Houthis fire missile at central Israel for 4th night in past week; IDF intercepts it

Houthi drone crashes in south as terror group said to brace for major Israeli attack

Report: Mossad chief believes Israel should target Iran to get at Houthis; PM disagrees

IDF’s prewar complacency replaced by wariness on every front, proactivism where possible

Israel shifts focus to Houthis, but it needs partners to defeat distant foe

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:  Mia Shalom, mother of IDF soldier Almog Shalom who was killed in battle, lights the first Hanukkah candle on his grave at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)