Day 75 - Can IDF dismantle Gaza's high-tech, serpentine tunnels

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 75 of the war. Political correspondent Tal Schneider and legal affairs reporter Jeremy Sharon join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast. Schneider discusses what's been discovered about Gaza tunnels during the ongoing war, including their architecture, materials and design and what the IDF needs to accomplish in order to fully conquer the underground structures. Sharon talks about far right Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich and his latest threats as finance minister with regard to Palestinian Authority funds to Gaza, and how that could be the final straw in his political coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Schneider looks at another issue that's arisen during the 75 days of war, as certain conscripted combat soldiers have been embedded in Gaza for weeks, unable to come home or communicate with their families, leading to a heated public conversation on the matter. Sharon looks at the report issued by State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman regarding the government's mishandling of many civilian issues on the homefront in the first six weeks of the war. For the latest updates, please look at The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Live blog December 20, 2023 ‘If the generals are counting tunnels, it suggests things are not going well’ Amid reported plan to funnel PA money into Gaza, Smotrich insists: ‘Not one shekel’ State comptroller assails government failures on home front after Oct. 7 onslaught 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 soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says Hamas militants used to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.