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 162 of the war with Hamas. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

This morning US and Jordanian aircraft dropped food supplies to Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip in a joint humanitarian aid operation and the World Central Kitchen NGO has finished unloading its first maritime aid shipment, in a test run for a new aid route by sea from Cyprus. Magid explains what we know so far.

Magid spoke with a few officials this week who told him that Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani proposed expelling Hamas’s leaders from Doha during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken days after the terror group’s October 7 onslaught. How was this proposal made — and why was it rebuffed?

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday called on Israel to hold new elections, saying he believed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost his way” and was an obstacle to peace in the region. What was the context for his comments and how were they received both in the US and in Israel?

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog March 16, 2024

NGO says 1st aid ship to Gaza is unloaded, supplies being readied for distribution

First ship to use new sea route arrives in Gaza with 200 tons of humanitarian aid

Qatar emir proposed expelling Hamas officials in meet with Blinken days after Oct. 7

Biden hails ‘good speech’ by Schumer criticizing Netanyahu, says many Americans agree

Senate leader Schumer urges Israeli election, says Netanyahu ‘has lost his way’

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

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.

IMAGE: File - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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