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.

Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman, political reporter Tal Schneider and reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.

Hamas and Israel reportedly reached an agreement for the release of four Israeli hostages’ bodies and 602 Palestinian security prisoners, the terror group and an Israeli official said late Tuesday, which would an end to an impasse that risked collapsing the multiphase ceasefire agreement before its first stage was even completed. Berman weighs in whether this means that talks are now on track for phase two.

Speaking in Washington DC, yesterday Opposition Leader Yair Lapid presented a “day after” plan for Gaza, envisioning an extended Egyptian guardianship of the war-torn Strip. The plan would have Egypt take responsibility for managing Gaza for eight years, with the option to extend it to 15 years. Schneider describes some of the potential obstacles.

The budget is meant to pass by the end of March, but this morning we’re hearing threats from the head of United Torah Judaism that he'll hold it up until haredi young men are fully exempt from military conscription. But is this a real threat?

Family, friends and the president on Tuesday eulogized Oded Lifshitz, the 83-year-old peace activist who was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz and slain in captivity, with his wife lamenting that he was killed by those he sought to help. Today, Israel accompanies Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir on their way to burial. We describe the mood in the country.

In a heart-rending address during a rally of relocated Kibbutz Nir Oz residents held in Kiryat Gat on Saturday, the mother of Yoav Avital, a friend of murdered hostage Ariel Bibas, described his loss from the perspective of her 5-year-old son. Surkes describes his ineffable pain.

An interim report issued Monday by the State Comptroller on the rehabilitation of Gaza border communities following the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion found that communities badly hit on that day but located more than 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Gaza border — thus making them ineligible for special state support — were suffering and in need of aid. Surkes reports how these include the southern city of Ofakim, where 53 people were murdered.

Please see today's ongoing live blog for more updates.

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.

For further reading:

Hamas: Deal reached for ‘simultaneous’ release of 4 slain hostages, Palestinian prisoners

Lapid presents Gaza ‘day after’ plan in DC, urges extended Egyptian takeover

‘We fought for peace, were attacked by those we helped’: Yocheved Lifshitz parts from Oded

Bibas family tells Netanyahu to ‘shut up,’ as he details the murders of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir

‘He isn’t dead, he’s in his room’: Ariel Bibas’s 5-year-old friend struggles with his loss

State comptroller urges PM to finish review of southern communities eligible for aid

IMAGE: A makeshift memorial in front of portraits of murdered Israeli hostages Shiri (L), Ariel (CL), and Kfir (CR) Bibas, as well as Oded Lifshitz (R) at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on February 25, 2025. (Jack Guez / AFP)

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