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 139 of the war. Zman Yisrael editor-in-chief Biranit Goren and health reporter Renee Ghert-Zand join host Jessica Steinberg.

Goren discusses Wednesday night press conference by war cabinet member MK Benny Gantz about a possible hostage deal, what details it may include and why it was Gantz and not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking about it. 

Goren also looks at the tensions and differing opinions in the war cabinet and the power plays at work among that group of politicians.

Ghert-Zand talks about the predicted 30,000 Israelis who will probably suffer from PTSD in Israel after the attacks of October 7 and the ongoing war, and how psychologists and therapists plan on tackling that issue.

She also discusses Ram 2, the IDF medical unit that operates inside Israeli hospitals as a kind of separate military wing for injured soldiers.

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog February 22, 2024

Gantz sees signs of progress on hostage deal, warns of looming Rafah op during Ramadan

October 7 and war trauma will lead to at least 30,000 new cases of PTSD, expert says

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: War cabinet minister Benny Gantz speaks at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem on February 18, 2024 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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