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.

Today is Day 109 of the war. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Israelis awoke today to the terrible announcement that 21 Israeli soldiers were killed Monday when they came under attack in the southern Gaza Strip, triggering a blast that collapsed two buildings with soldiers inside them. Fabian tells us what we know so far.

Israel has reportedly submitted a proposal through Qatari and Egyptian mediators that would see it agree to pause its military offensive against Hamas for as long as two months, in exchange for a phased release of the remaining 136 hostages in Gaza. Berman and Fabian weigh in on what a ceasefire would do to the war effort.

Iran is “very directly involved” in ship attacks that Yemen’s Houthi rebels have carried out during Israel’s war against Hamas, the US Navy’s top Mideast commander told The Associated Press on Monday.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg of their capabilities. Berman weighs in with what he's finding.

To close out today's program, Berman puts on his "chaplain's hat," a role he held in university, as Borschel-Dan asks what can help Israel as a nation move forward after such terrible news this morning.

For the latest updates, please look at The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Live blog January 21, 2024

In deadliest incident of Gaza combat, 21 soldiers killed as buildings collapse in blast

Israel said to offer two-month pause in Gaza fighting for staged release of hostages

US Navy’s Mideast chief says Iran ‘very directly involved’ in Houthi attacks on ships

While Iran’s recent strikes show weakness, its threat of escalation is working

THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

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IMAGE: Family and friends of Israeli soldier Hadar Nissim Kapeluk attend his funeral at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on January 23, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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