Day 611 - Booby traps, not combat: IDF's most lethal Gaza challenge

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

The Times of Israel

News

4.4 • 864 Ratings

🗓️ 8 June 2025

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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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.

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Four more soldiers were declared dead on Friday morning after a booby trapped building exploded in the southern Gaza Strip. The slain soldiers were Sgt. First Class Tom Rotstein, Staff Sgt. Uri Yhonatan Cohen, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Chen Gross and Staff Sgt. Yoav Raver. Fabian weighs in on the challenges facing troops on the ground as Operation Gideon's Chariots continues.

The leader of a small Gaza terror group responsible for the October 7, 2023, abductions and eventual murders of several hostages -- including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir -- was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Saturday, the military said. Another senior member was killed in a separate strike in the city. Fabian explains what the Mujahideen Brigades group is and other hostages who were murdered by it.

The body of slain hostage Nattapong Pinta, who Hamas-led terrorists abducted on October 7, 2023, was recovered in a joint Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet operation in the southern Gaza Strip, officials announced Saturday morning. This follows the recovery of two additional hostage bodies, Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein from the Khan Younis region. We learn how their whereabouts were determined.

The Israeli Navy is expected to block a high-profile activist mission sailing to Gaza to challenge Israel’s blockade, should the boat near Israel’s territorial waters in the coming days. Among the 12 activists on the ship are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, Irish “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham, and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian European Parliament member. With the world's gaze on Israel, Fabian describes how the Navy may block the boat from reaching the Gaza shore.

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

For further reading:

IDF names two other soldiers killed in booby-trapped Gaza building on Friday

4 IDF soldiers killed, 5 wounded after booby-trapped south Gaza building collapses

Gaza aid group says Hamas threats to staff kept distribution hubs closed on Saturday

Heads of terror group that abducted and murdered Bibas family killed by IDF

Body of Thai hostage Nattapong Pinta recovered by IDF from south Gaza’s Rafah

Activist aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg reaches Egypt’s coast as it heads for Gaza

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: Golani troops operate in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip in this June 3, 2025, handout image from the IDF. (Israel Defense Forces)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Times of Israel's daily briefing.
0:05.0	Today is Sunday, June 8th, day 611 of the war.
0:09.8	Amanda Borchelle Dan here with our military reporter, Immanuel Fabian.
0:13.1	Hi, Mannie. Thanks for joining me today.
0:15.0	Hi, Amanda.
0:15.8	After four soldiers were killed on Friday morning, we'll discuss what's happening on the ground in Gaza
0:21.9	and the concept of the booby-trapped buildings and other minds that are laid out in wait for
0:27.0	them. We'll also learn about IDF operations targeting the heads of the Mujahidine Brigades,
0:32.6	the terror group that abducted and murdered several hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons.
0:39.1	We'll also learn about recent efforts to recover the bodies of slain hostages from Gaza.
0:44.8	All of this and more when we're back.
0:52.1	A single call can mean the difference between life and death.
0:57.7	Magen de Vida-Dom, Israel's emergency medical service, is there every time, everywhere,
1:04.7	for anyone in need.
1:07.2	McGein-Davidodom is first on the scene treating victims of terror attacks, providing critical
1:12.2	care in remote communities, and managing Israel's national blood supply, ensuring a vital
1:17.4	lifeline for soldiers and civilians in need. But most people don't realize that Israel's government
1:23.8	doesn't fund Migen-Davidadom. Our life-saving work depends on compassionate individuals like you.
1:30.4	Your generous donation to American friends of Magan-Dav-A-D-O-M-E-A-D-O-M ensures that Israel remains prepared
1:35.8	for whatever comes next.
1:39.0	Visit Magendavid-A-D-O-M-D-O-R-G.
1:41.8	That's M-A-V-A-V-D-A-V-I-D-O-M.org.
	...

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