Diplomatic versus kinetic responses

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.

US President Donald Trump told protesters in Iran on Tuesday that “help is on its way” and urged them to keep protesting and take control of the country’s institutions. As the death toll rises -- with Iranian officials putting the figures at 2,000 and other sources stating over 5,000 -- we parse what Trump may be planning, from diplomacy to military force.

A Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. We hear about new efforts to create a board of Palestinian technocrats, as well as meetings held by former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who is expected to serve as a top official for the supervisory US‑backed Board of Peace in Gaza.

Israel has proposed using a portion of the several billions of dollars in clearance revenues it is withholding from the Palestinian Authority to pay for the clearing of rubble for construction projects in Gaza. Magid explains why Israel has these funds in its coffers and the blowback for using them to clear debris from the war.

And finally, US President Donald Trump addressed the rumors of rising antisemitism in his MAGA movement and the Republican party in a lengthy The New York Times interview. Magid fills us in on what Trump said.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Israel, Arab nations said to urge US to wait to strike Iran until regime further weakened

‘Help is on its way’: Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, seize institutions

Palestinian technocrats invited to join transitional Gaza governing committee — sources

Palestinian Authority VP meets diplomat expected to serve on Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace

Israel proposed using PA funds to cover cost of Gaza rubble clearance — official

‘We don’t need them. We don’t like them’: Trump says MAGA has no room for antisemites

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

IMAGE: Iranians who live in Greece take part in a protest in front of the US Embassy in Athens, Greece, January 13, 2026, supporting the protests in Iran. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

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