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, from Sunday through Thursday.

Editor David Horovitz and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

We are in day three of Operation Swords of Iron, which began Saturday morning with Hamas’s infiltration by land, sea and air. Terrorists are still attempting to cross into Israel and there are ongoing gunfire battles in several towns and cities in the south. Berman updates on what has happened in the past 24 hours.

Starting on Saturday, there have been calls for an emergency government. So far, many conditions have been made and the make-up of such a government is unclear. Horovitz breaks it down.

President Isaac Herzog delivered an address to the nation Sunday night. Berman fills us in on the important messages.

Horovitz delves into the heartbreaking ongoing saga surrounding those who have been kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

And finally, we hear an unbelievable story of a couple who fended off terrorists -- with coffee and cookies.

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog October 9, 2023

Air Force pounds Gaza overnight in bid to ‘devastate’ Hamas; rocket fire continues

Israel evacuates civilians from Gaza-area towns as forces scour for remaining gunmen

Emergency group says 260 were slain by terrorists at rave, as families seek answers

Coffee and cookies: How a hostage kept her terrorist captors distracted till rescue

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IMAGE: A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian terrorists hits a building in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on October 9, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

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