Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Knesset reporter Carrie Keller-Lynn and Tech Israel editor Sharon Wrobel join host Jessica Steinberg on today's episode.

Today is day 25 of the war, marked by the return of kidnapped soldier Ori Megidish who was rescued by IDF forces in an overnight raid, proof, said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, that Israel can rescue hostages as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses calls for a ceasefire, calling that a surrender to Hamas.

Keller-Lynn discusses the sit-down Gallant held with reporters, in which he delineated phases of the war, currently, he said in its second phase, and expected to take many months in order to rid Gaza of Hamas.

Wrobel describes the situation at the Ashdod and Haifa ports, as international shipping companies try to understand those locations vis a vis Gaza and the war with Hamas.

Keller-Lynn talks about visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz with Hadas Calderon, who survived the October 7 massacre with two of her children, while her mother and niece were killed and her two other children and ex-husband are captives in Gaza.

Steinberg mentions the opening of Empty Beds, an installation at Jerusalem's Safra Square of 230 beds, representing each person taken captive or missing since October 7.

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog October 31, 2023

Gallant: Second stage of war may last months, ‘pockets of resistance’ will remain

In Jerusalem, hundreds of empty beds and cribs bring home enormity of hostage crisis

New National Library opens its doors to readers, semiofficially

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 iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

IMAGE: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks with soldiers at staging area not far from the Gaza border, October 19, 2023 (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.