Day 825 - US works to fill seats on Board of Peace for Gaza
The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
The Times of Israel
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 8 January 2026
⏱️ 20 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 bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
Magid reports that despite the difficulties, the Trump administration wants to unveil the various components of phase two of the fragile Gaza ceasefire. This includes the technocratic Board of Peace, which currently has six countries on board from Europe and the Middle East.
Magid notes that while senior aides to US President Donald Trump are sometimes frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Middle East policies, the American leader's strategy is to keep the relationship warm, usually siding with the Israeli prime minister to keep moving forward on the various issues.
After years of being stuck with third-generation cellphone service in the West Bank due to Israel's security control, Magid reports, Palestinians will now have access to 4G service.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
US plans to start 2nd phase of Gaza deal before Hamas disarmed, last hostage’s body returned
Trump’s effusive praise for PM part of strategy to keep disagreements private — sources
Israel grants 4G access to Palestinian West Bank cell companies after war delay
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IMAGE: Tents are crammed together in a displaced Palestinians camp along the beach of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, welcome to the Times of Israel's Daily Briefing. It's Thursday, January 8th, and I'm Jessica Steinberg. |
| 0:09.0 | I'm speaking today with U.S. Bureau Chief Jacob Magid. |
| 0:12.1 | Jacob, how are you doing? How are you? |
| 0:13.9 | Hi, Jessica. Good to be with you again. |
| 0:15.9 | It has been a while, for the two of us, at least. |
| 0:18.8 | Yes. |
| 0:19.1 | On the daily briefing. Yes, it has. |
| 0:22.1 | Anyway, it's good to have you here. |
| 0:28.9 | It is day 825 of the war. As Hamas and the Red Cross resumed the search for the body of Rangvili, the last hostage whose remains are still in Gaza, Jacob will report to us on U.S. |
| 0:35.7 | plans to start the second phase of the Gaza deal before |
| 0:39.3 | Hamas is disarmed and before Gvili's body is returned. We'll also discuss U.S. President |
| 0:46.2 | Donald Trump's intent to avoid any public spats with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, |
| 0:51.7 | even when they do disagree. And we'll also talk about Palestinian |
| 0:55.2 | telecom companies in the West Bank, who will finally gain access to 4G cell phone service |
| 1:00.9 | after years of delays. Stay with us. |
| 1:08.5 | This is Israel's story. |
| 1:11.8 | He could feel the ticking of the clock. |
| 1:14.6 | On their nightly debrief calls, General Segev, the military atiche, was sounding |
| 1:19.3 | increasingly anxious. |
| 1:21.6 | Both men knew that with each passing day, the window of opportunity was closing. |
| 1:26.4 | The Shah's regime was crumbling, and El-L flights were |
| 1:29.4 | having ever more trouble landing. And then suddenly, Avramkotafonkel from Iran... |
... |
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