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 70 of the war. Health editor Renee Ghert-Zand and reporter Shira Silkoff join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Ghert-Zand discusses the long-awaited visit by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger who met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, President Isaac Herzog and representatives of the families of the hostages, but offered no real response to the matters raised about the 135 hostages still in Gaza.

Silkoff speaks about the absence of a full female presence in the security cabinet and no women at all in the war cabinet, given the findings that female surveillance soldiers reported signs of unusual activity in Gaza well before October 7.

Ghert-Zand talks about the reports of an increase in mental health stress, as well as an increase in Covid cases in the hotels housing Israeli evacuees from the north and south.

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog December 15, 2023

Visiting ICRC head tells PM public pressure won’t sway Hamas to allow hostage visits

For Israeli women, the IDF war room’s glass ceiling is constantly reinforced

Amid war’s mental health crisis, deal reached for more psychologists in public health system

Health Ministry says COVID cases in Israel up 10%, infections seen at evacuee hotels

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: Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza protest outside a Tel Aviv meeting of Red Cross International President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger on December 14, 2023 (Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

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