Day 601 - Why Witkoff has a 'good feeling' about hostage negotiations

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

The Times of Israel

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4.4 • 864 Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2025

⏱️ 29 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.

US military reporter Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff says he has “some very good feelings” about the chances for reaching a temporary ceasefire that leads to a long-term resolution to the conflict in Gaza. Magid explains what could be on the table and why Witkoff is expressing optimism despite long-time Israeli and Hamas intransigence.

The Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said Wednesday it had successfully opened its second aid distribution center in southern Gaza, after the launch of its first site a day earlier descended into chaos when crowds stormed the facility. International media is reporting shootings and deaths at the first aid center this week. Magid attempts to make order of the chaos.

The United Arab Emirates rebuked Israel over this week’s Jerusalem Flag March, characterizing it as an “annual spectacle of unchecked violence and extremist provocation” and issuing a rare warning against Israel if Jerusalem doesn’t take “decisive steps” against the phenomenon. Magid explains why summoning of Israel's envoy -- only the second time the UAE has taken this measure -- is so significant even as several of Israel's allies are openly condemning the Jewish state.

US President Donald Trump confirms that he asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a call last week not to take military action against Iran that could disrupt Washington’s ongoing nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic. Magid describes the differing accounts of the phone call.

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

For further reading:

Witkoff says US to issue new Gaza terms, has ‘very good feelings’ on reaching hostage deal

Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

UAE issues rare warning to Israel after summoning envoy over Jerusalem Flag March

Trump: I told Netanyahu striking Iran would be ‘very inappropriate,’ as deal is close

Report: Netanyahu-Trump phone call on Iran was marked by heated disagreements

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 and video edited by Thomas Girsch.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump invites US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to respond to a question in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Times of Israel's Daily Briefing. I'm Amanda Borschal Dan. Today is Thursday, May 29th, Day 601 of the War. I'm joined by our U.S. Bureau Chief Jacob Magid. Hi, Jacob. Thanks for joining me today in my very early morning and your late night. As always, good to be with you, Amanda.
0:21.9	Always a pleasure.
0:23.4	You a special envoy to the mid-east, Steve Whitkoff announced to reporters in Washington, D.C.
0:28.2	yesterday that he has a good feeling that a temporary ceasefire hostage release deal could be
0:34.7	announced in the coming days.
0:36.3	Jacob will tell us more.
0:37.4	We'll also hear about the
0:39.5	war of narratives over the rollout of the Gaza humanitarian foundations startup in the Gaza Strip right now,
0:47.5	which is delivering thousands of packages of food to very hungry Gazans. All of this and more when we're back.
1:01.0	We're being used. Jews are being used on Israel, on anti-Semitism, for other purposes.
1:08.0	And that puts us in a dilemma. If it was Jews-Quant Jews, it's one thing to stand up.
1:13.8	But now, when Jews are being used on immigration issues, on woke issues, makes it a lot more
1:19.4	difficult when to say something or not say something.
1:22.8	On the most recent episode of identity crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Abe Foxman,
1:28.2	longtime anti-defamation league leader and Holocaust survivor,
1:31.6	about the relationship between major Jewish organizations and those in power,
1:35.7	and to understand when and how to speak up for the Jewish people.
1:40.1	Join us as we take on the issues facing contemporary Jewish life
1:43.5	on Identity Crisis from the Shalom Hartman Institute, wherever you get your podcasts.
1:54.1	And we're back. I'm Amanda Borchelle Da. I'm here with our U.S. Bureau Chief Jacob Magid.
1:58.8	Jacob, you were in Washington, D.C. yesterday, and I'm sure there was a lot of buzz over U.S.
2:04.7	Mid-East envoy Steve Whitcalf's announcement that he has a good feeling about hostage-release
	...

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