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.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

As negotiating heavyweights White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer arrive for talks in Egypt, Magid surmises that it's crunch time for the potential Gaza deal. He expects discussions to revolve around thornier issues, such as disarming Hamas, and which Palestinian prisoners the terrorist group is demanding in exchange for the remaining hostages.

Following the Kumu (Rise Again) ceremony held to mark October 7 in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, Steinberg discusses the speakers, singers and audience at the event, which is run by bereaved and hostage family members, and is not an official government event.

Steinberg also talks about "Red Alert," the new October 7 drama series about four intertwined stories of survivors from that day.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

PM’s office reports progress in talks on Gaza deal as top negotiators set to join

Trump ‘pretty sure’ there will be a Gaza deal, denies telling PM to not be ‘f*cking negative’

As negotiators head to Egypt, Trump aims for ‘first phase’ of Gaza deal this week

‘We will rise’: Grief, defiance and hope as 30,000 gather in Tel Aviv two years after Oct. 7

Oct. 7 series ‘Red Alert’ a harrowing global reminder of what unfolded in Hamas massacre

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 IMAGE: At the end of the Kumu (Rise Again) October 7 ceremony in Tel Aviv, on October 7, 2025 (Courtesy Eclipse Media)

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