Day 28 - Fighting heats up in north as Gaza City is encircled

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. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian and reporter Canaan Lidor join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode. Today is the 28th day of the war with Hamas and the IDF announced it had encircled Gaza City last night. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Israel to ask for humanitarian pauses in the fighting. What are we hearing from Israeli officials? The Reuters news service has reported that the US is flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to help gather intelligence on the locations of hostages taken by Hamas. Next, we turn to Israel's northern border, which has heated up over the past few days ahead of a planned speech by Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. We cast the spotlight on a battle overnight Wednesday-Thursday with intense and chaotic fighting that raged for over three hours following an ambush targeting soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion. Lidor reports on how European Jewry is faring during the Israel-Hamas war and discusses the Dagestan airport attempted "pogrom" on Sunday. Lidor spent several days in the refuge city of Eilat this week and reports back on the incredible encounters he experienced there. For the latest updates, please look at The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Live blog November 3, 2023 Israeli troops roll into Gaza City as ground offensive intensifies, IDF toll rises IDF releases radio recording, footage of troops fending off Hamas ambush in Gaza Hezbollah’s Nasrallah to break silence as Lebanon border skirmishes intensify Rocket from Lebanon strikes Kiryat Shmona as fighting ramps up on northern border Different this time: On Israel trip, UK Jewish leaders share grief and deep concern Pro-Hamas sentiment shocks European Jews, rekindling fears about their future In Europe, soaring antisemitism popularizes a new invention: The camouflaged mezuzah Rioters storm airport in Russia’s Dagestan in hunt for Jews aboard flight from Israel For displaced families, Eilat’s charms are a painful reminder of a life pierced by war 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: Israeli artillery stationed near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, November 2, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.