Day 484 - 2 freed men were hugged by their kids; Yarden Bibas was not
The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
The Times of Israel
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 1 February 2025
⏱️ 22 minutes
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Summary
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.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
Three Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity today and returned to their families in Israel: Yarden Bibas, Ofer Calderon and Keith Siegel. Horovitz compares today's two release "ceremonies" with the bedlam experienced on Thursday. We also learn how Hamas symbolically reminded onlookers of the horrors of October 7, 2023.
As we are increasingly hearing details of how those who are now released were treated in captivity, the mother of freed hostage Emily Damari revealed Friday that her daughter was held by Hamas at UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip, and that her captors refused to give her access to medical treatment. Horovitz weighs in on how seriously the world will listen to the freed hostages.
Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, shortly after three Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 were released by the terror group in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian authorities, 18 of the prisoners were serving life sentences. Alongside the return of their brothers in arms, what else are Hamas's aims in the release of these terror masterminds?
Twelve more living hostages are meant to be freed in the coming weeks of phase one. Later this week, negotiations are supposed to begin in earnest on phase two of the accord. How does Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington, DC, further Israel's goals?
For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
Hostages Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon freed after 484 days in Hamas captivity
Tears, cheers and tight embraces as 3 released hostages reunited with relatives
As Yarden Bibas is released, relief, dread, and evidence that Hamas is reviving
Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical treatment
Hostages’ stories: Gadi Mozes paced 7km a day in tiny cell, soldiers rationed grains of rice
183 Palestinian security prisoners released after Hamas sets free 3 civilian hostages
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IMAGE: Yarden Bibas is seen on an IDF helicopter on his way to a hospital in central Israel on February 1, 2025 (Israel Defense Force)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Times of Israel's daily briefing. |
| 0:07.6 | Today is Saturday, February 1st, Day 484 of the war. |
| 0:13.0 | Amanda Borchelle Dan here with our editor, David Horvitz. |
| 0:15.9 | Hi, David. |
| 0:16.9 | Thanks for joining me today. |
| 0:18.1 | Hi, Amanda. |
| 0:19.1 | Three Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity today |
| 0:22.8 | and returned to their families in Israel, Yardin Bibas, Ofer Calderon, and Keith Siegel. We'll hear |
| 0:30.1 | about the stark differences in today's handovers versus Thursday's Bedlam and speak about what |
| 0:36.4 | messaging Hamas was intent on getting across today. |
| 0:40.8 | We'll also hear some of the details of the captivities of recently released hostages and much, much more after this. |
| 0:52.2 | What if we could protect Israel with autonomous airborne devices, lasers, robots, and cyber technologies? |
| 1:00.3 | We can, because of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. |
| 1:04.3 | The Technion empowers brilliant innovators to make technological discoveries that keep Israel safe. |
| 1:10.1 | From the Iron Dome to the soon-to-come iron beam |
| 1:12.4 | to vital cybersecurity, Technion alumni are leading projects that protect Israelis and will |
| 1:18.7 | reestablish the country's military deterrence. Be part of Israel's future at ats.org |
| 1:22.9 | slash what if. That is ats.org slash what if. |
| 1:29.7 | And we're back. |
| 1:31.0 | Two of today's freed hostages are returning to loved ones who were released in the |
| 1:36.1 | November 2020-3 mediated ceasefire. |
| 1:39.8 | Keith Siegel's wife of Viva was freed in November 20203 and began attending rallies and fighting for her husband the following week. |
... |
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