Podcasts about Gaza City

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. Archaeology reporter Rossella Tercatin and diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. If Iran attacks Israel, it will be “perhaps the most serious mistake in their history,” warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening, threatening an overwhelming response to any aggression. As the world awaits US President Donald Trump's State of the Union address tonight, Freiberg updates us with the push-pull diplomacy of the past day. The Palestinian technocratic body tasked with managing postwar Gaza announced last week that it was opening applications for “qualified candidates” seeking to serve in a “transitional police force” to be deployed in the Strip. This comes as Hamas appears poised to keep hold of its control of civilian and security infrastructure even as the Trump peace plan moves ahead. The Great Isaiah Scroll, the oldest nearly complete book from the Hebrew Bible ever found, is on display in its full length for the first time since 1968. Tercatin was on hand at Jerusalem's Israel Museum for the unveiling and fills us in. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump said frustrated with limits of military leverage against Iran Netanyahu: An attack on Israel would be ‘most serious mistake’ in Iranian history Hamas seen working to maintain control of Gaza via Trump-backed bodies Gaza oversight committee seeks ‘qualified’ candidates to join Strip’s police force Great Isaiah Scroll, oldest near-complete biblical book ever found, on show in entirety for 1st time since 1968 Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ari Schlacht produced this episode. IMAGE: Hamas gunmen in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, November 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. A group of at least five armed Palestinian terror operatives on Saturday evening emerged from a tunnel and approached troops in the northern Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of a ceasefire line. We learn of the retaliatory strikes. Fabian, who was embedded with IDF troops outside of Gaza City last week, describes what he saw on the ground even as the IDF is finalizing plans for a potential renewed operation. We learn about the new policy for reservists as the army faces budget cuts. As part of “upgrading readiness for future threats” -- read: Iran -- the Defense Ministry said last week it successfully completed a series of “complex” tests with the David’s Sling medium-range air defense system. We learn the economic impact of repurposing the system. And finally, an Israeli military reservist and a civilian were indicted last week for using classified information to place bets regarding military operations on the popular Polymarket prediction market. What is this website and how dangerous was the intel leak? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF strikes gunmen who approached troops in north Gaza after emerging from tunnel Anti-Hamas militia says it is destroying terror group’s tunnels in Gaza IDF readying new Gaza offensive to disarm Hamas by force IDF says cutting back superfluous reservists, will reduce duty time Eyeing future missile threats, Israel successfully completes ‘complex’ David’s Sling tests Two indicted for using classified info to place online bets on military operations Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Smoke and flames rise from an Israeli military strike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, February 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La mano scava tra i calcinacci di Gaza City. Cerca ossa, brandelli di vestiti, tracce minime di una famiglia rimasta sotto il cemento dal 2023. La scena attraversa le agenzie e resta lì, sospesa. È il fotogramma delle ultime ventiquattro ore: un padre piegato a terra mentre sopra di lui passano dichiarazioni, vertici, comunicati. La tregua regge sulla carta. Sul terreno arrivano spari, raid mirati, accuse di violazioni reciproche. L'esercito israeliano parla di risposta a movimenti sospetti; da Gaza si contano altri corpi. La parola cessate il fuoco resta scritta nei briefing, intanto le ambulanze fanno la spola tra macerie e ospedali esausti. La Striscia vive dentro una pausa armata, fragile come il vetro. A Washington Benjamin Netanyahu incontra Donald Trump. Sul tavolo c'è l'Iran, con i colloqui indiretti in Oman e il nodo del programma nucleare. Gaza entra come capitolo collegato, pedina dentro un disegno più ampio. Le priorità si leggono nei tempi e nei sorrisi delle foto ufficiali: sicurezza regionale, deterrenza, equilibri strategici. La Striscia resta scenario. Da Bruxelles arriva una frase che pesa. L'Alta rappresentante Kaja Kallas definisce “controproducenti” e “incompatibili con il diritto internazionale” le ultime decisioni del gabinetto di sicurezza israeliano sulla Cisgiordania. È un richiamo formale, registrato nei verbali dell'Unione. Le parole europee fotografano l'espansione degli insediamenti e l'aumento delle operazioni nei campi profughi. Intanto a Torino tre bambini feriti di Gaza entrano al Regina Margherita. Vengono accolti nei reparti pediatrici, lontani dalle sirene. La guerra attraversa il Mediterraneo e prende posto in un corridoio d'ospedale. Restano la mano che scava e i letti bianchi. Tutto il resto gira intorno. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.

AP correspondent Laurence Brooks reports on Buckingham Palace releasing a statement to say King Charles III is ready to assist police "assessing" Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's links to Jeffrey Epstein; the funerals for three Palestinians killed in Monday's Israeli airstrike on Gaza City; and the Lunar New Year rush in China, as the government estimates billions of journeys and hundreds of millions returning home.

AP correspondent Laurence Brooks reports on a funeral for three Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Monday.

Rafah funziona a intermittenza. Due giorni di stop, poi un varco contingentato, poi di nuovo l'attesa. Le evacuazioni sanitarie passano “a tranche”, poche decine alla volta, mentre migliaia restano in lista. La tregua si misura così: con un cancello che decide chi respira e chi aspetta. È il quadro degli ultimi tre giorni, raccontato dalle agenzie e confermato sul terreno, dove l'uscita dalla Striscia resta un'eccezione amministrativa, non un diritto. Dentro questa cornice tornano i colpi “di contorno”. Fuoco su tende di sfollati a est di Gaza City. Un ventenne ucciso a Deir al-Balah. Segnalazioni di spari nel nord per il superamento di una linea “gialla” che cambia di giorno in giorno. Episodi presentati come incidenti, poi sommati in bollettino. La parola tregua resta in alto, la pratica resta bassa. E intanto l'imbuto sanitario si stringe: feriti cronici, dialisi, oncologici che dipendono da una finestra di poche ore. Sullo sfondo, la pace entra in calendario. A Washington prende forma un Board of Peace, investimenti annunciati, fase due, tavolo arabo. La diplomazia come evento, con date e foto. In Europa si discutono compatibilità statutarie, mentre sul terreno la normalità viene rinviata. La distanza tra i comunicati e i varchi è tutta qui. Il controcampo è la Cisgiordania. Raid notturni nei villaggi, case perquisite, giovani presi di mira. L'Unione europea annuncia fondi a UNRWA per Gaza e Cisgiordania insieme, riconoscendo che la linea è una sola anche quando si finge di spezzarla. Le famiglie dormono in abitazioni danneggiate, nella paura, mentre le operazioni “di sicurezza” producono paura come effetto collaterale. Rafah che apre e chiude, tende colpite, villaggi rastrellati, tavoli di pace apparecchiati. Negli ultimi tre giorni il conflitto ha mostrato la sua grammatica: la tregua come parola, la violenza come procedura, l'uscita come concessione. Finché questa resta la sintassi, ogni annuncio suona come un titolo senza testo. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.

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. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Israel Defense Forces captured a “senior” member of the al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group) terror organization during an overnight raid in southern Lebanon. We hear how, according to the IDF, the operative was nabbed late Sunday from a building in the Mount Dov area near the border by a special forces unit operating with troops of the 210th “Bashan” Regional Division. We then turn to a tour of Israel's borders and learn where are the hot spots and where things are (smuggling) business as usual. In light of Hamas's continued refusal to lay down its arms, the IDF is preparing plans for a larger ground operation. Fabian fills us in. And to close out the program, we learn about a new, all-female combat intelligence unit and how the IDF is happy for all the woman-power it can get. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF nabs top terror group figure from Lebanon, targets Hezbollah operative IDF says it hit Hamas arms depot after issuing evacuation warning for Gaza City building Hamas terrorist who murdered IDF surveillance soldier Noa Marciano killed in strike Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Hezbollah supporters raise their group's flags during a protest condemning recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon in Beirut, Lebanon, February 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:1. Iran rejected calls by the United States to halt uranium enrichment on its territory during talks in Oman on Friday.A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran told Reuters Friday that while the Islamic Republic would not budge on its right to enrich uranium inside Iran, it was willing to discuss the “level and purity” of enrichment or a regional consortium.2. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck a Hamas arms depot in Gaza City on Friday in response to an attack on troops a day earlier, after issuing an evacuation warning for a residential building for the first time since the start of the ceasefire.3. The United Arab Emirates has drafted plans to build a compound to house thousands of displaced Palestinians in a part of south Gaza under Israeli military control, according to a map seen by Reuters and people briefed on the plans.The planning map shows where the “UAE Temporary Emirates Housing Complex” would be constructed near Rafah.4. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Friday that Lebanon's army must be given the means to disarm the terror group Hezbollah and replace a United Nations peacekeeping force after its mandate ends this year.“France's vision for Lebanon is that of a strong, sovereign state holding a monopoly on arms,” Barrot told AFP.5. Russian Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev has been shot multiple times in Moscow by an unknown assailant, the Kremlin said on Feb 6.In response to the shooting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Kyiv for the assassination attempt, accusing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky of "provocations aimed at destabilizing the (peace) negotiation process."Ukraine is yet to comment on the shooting.6. US President Donald Trump inked a new executive order today, calling for national production interests to be taken into greater account when the US sells foreign nations weapons, creating a new list of platforms to push on the market, and prioritizing arms sales for countries who invest more in their own defense spending.  7. Singapore is slated join the F-35 operator club once the first of its Lockheed Martin F-35B fighters enter service later this year, becoming the fourth Asia-Pacific nation to fly the fifth-generation fighter.8. The U.S. Army has stood up a rotational force in the Philippines, according to recently released defense media.While details regarding the rotational force's formation date, capabilities and mission remains unclear, the force is headed by a lieutenant colonel and has assigned a liaison officer with Task Force-Philippines. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USNI News.

A Gaza, nelle ultime ventiquattro ore, conta altro. Contano i corpi che tornano, le corsie che si riempiono, i cieli che restano attivi. Al complesso medico di Al-Shifa arrivano 54 corpi e 66 casse con resti umani e organi. Il trasferimento avviene tramite il Comitato internazionale della Croce Rossa, lo conferma il ministero della Salute di Gaza. È una consegna amministrativa, dicono. In realtà è una scena: camion, bare numerate, personale sanitario che ricomincia a contare. Al-Shifa resta insieme obitorio e pronto soccorso, simbolo di una tregua che non si deposita mai del tutto sul terreno. A ovest di Gaza City, nel campo profughi di Al-Shati, un bombardamento colpisce un gruppo di civili. Un morto, diversi feriti. Le immagini circolano prima dei dettagli, come sempre. Le agenzie parlano di raid mirati, di operazioni “in risposta” al ferimento di un soldato israeliano lungo la Linea Gialla. La geografia è quella già vista, la dinamica pure: un episodio militare, una rappresaglia, vittime civili che entrano nel bilancio quotidiano. Rafah resta il punto cieco. La Mezzaluna Rossa palestinese segnala evacuazioni mediche sospese, Israele replica che il valico è operativo e che mancano i dettagli di coordinamento richiesti all'Oms. La burocrazia diventa confine. Pazienti in attesa, accompagnatori bloccati, responsabilità che si rincorrono mentre il tempo clinico scorre in una sola direzione. Sul fronte israeliano il gabinetto politico-di sicurezza anticipa una riunione straordinaria. Sul tavolo c'è l'Iran, i colloqui annunciati in Oman, il timore che l'intesa salti. Gaza resta dentro questo perimetro più largo, compressa tra dossier regionali che ne oscurano il peso umano. Alla fine della giornata il conto è semplice e crudele. Al-Shifa riceve corpi e feriti nello stesso giro di ore. La tregua continua a vivere nei comunicati. A Gaza, ancora una volta, resta una parola senza riparo. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.

London Case - Not about Truth and AccountabilityIn May 2022 a civil case was launched against me in England. The civil trial will begin on 9 March in London, and conclude on St Patrick's Day.There are some aspects of the case I can comment on and others I cannot at this time. Suffice to say that this is an unorthodox claim against me about events which occurred 29 and 53 years ago. In short, three Claimants, seek to hold me personally liable for three bombings committed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in March 1973 (at the Old Bailey), in February 1996 (at London Docklands) and in June 1996 (at the Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre).Many innocent people were seriously hurt, three were killed in the bombings. The Claimants were injured and have suffered as a result. They deserve nothing but sympathy for what they have gone through. So do all those who were killed or injured in the conflict. And their families.  I regret all the deaths and injuries.People are entitled to use the law. However, this case is brought decades after these incidents and decades after the Good Friday Agreement brought peace to us all.   I anticipate, from public statements made by the Claimants' solicitors, that a number of former British Army, and RUC/PSNI witnesses will give hearsay evidence that because I was a senior republican during the conflict I must be responsible for these specific events.Stand-up to a Genocidal BullyAs the world ponders the implications of US President Trump's talk of an ‘armada' heading for Iran; or his latest threat of tariffs against Canada; or his ongoing threats against Cuba, Greenland and Europe; the so-called ceasefire in the Gaza Strip which he brokered in October has been breached over 1300 times by the Israeli apartheid regime. 509 Palestinians have been killed.In just one morning last week, Israeli attacks on Gaza City and Khan Younis left 31 Palestinians, including six children, dead. The limited medical facilities were overwhelmed with the dead and wounded.Streets of MinneapolisI have been very fortunate over the years to see Bruce Springsteen live. The concerts and the music are amazing. The Boss's lyrics are sharp and he is unafraid to sing about the politics that anger and outrage him. ‘Born in the USA' is an anthem against the War in Vietnam. ‘Streets of Philadelphia' highlighted the aids crisis.Last week he turned his ire on the behaviour of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE )agents.Springsteen dedicated the song – Streets of Minneapolis - to the “people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbours and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good”. Well done Bruce. 

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. The body of the final hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, was recovered from the Gaza Strip this week and buried on Wednesday in his hometown of Meitar. Rettig Gur delves into the deep Jewish roots and societal promise to bring every last person home that led to this moment of relief. We then hear about the likelihood of realizing the vision that US envoy Jared Kushner laid out last week about a flourishing, reconstructed "New Gaza." And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: A man walks through tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid the ruins in Gaza City, January 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. The body of the final hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, was recovered from the Gaza Strip this week and buried on Wednesday in his hometown of Meitar. Rettig Gur delves into the deep Jewish roots and societal promise to bring every last person home that led to this moment of relief. We then hear about the likelihood of realizing the vision that US envoy Jared Kushner laid out last week about a flourishing, reconstructed "New Gaza." And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: A man walks through tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid the ruins in Gaza City, January 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Board of Peace launched on Thursday in Davos and is chaired for life by US President Donald Trump. It is beginning its work by addressing the Gaza conflict and at its launch, the US announced plans for a “New Gaza” rebuilt from scratch, to include residential towers, data centers and seaside resorts, part of US President Donald Trump’s push to advance an Israel-Hamas ceasefire shaken by repeated violations. We hear about Jared Kushner's vision for a "New Gaza" and the demilitarization of Gaza. The head of a transitional Palestinian committee backed by the US to temporarily administer Gaza, Ali Shaath, said on Thursday that the Rafah border crossing — effectively the sole route in or out of Gaza for nearly all of the more than 2 million people who live there — would open this week. We learn who will be manning the crossing and how involved the IDF will be. And finally, we discuss the increased involvement of the Palestinian Authority -- albeit in different garb and under changed names. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Witkoff and Kushner meet Netanyahu as US seeks to advance its Gaza peace plan With Hamas armed and Strip in ruins, Kushner’s vision for Gaza faces major obstacles Rafah crossing reopening was ‘imposed’ on Israel by Gaza mediators — officials Israel reportedly plans to monitor Rafah Border Crossing, as its reopening nears Despite concerns, PM’s reliance on Trump left him no choice but to join Board of Peace Arab diplomat: Turkey, Qatar filling vacuum in Gaza created by Israel’s snub of PA Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves and Ari Schlacht. Check out yesterday’s episode here: IMAGE: Hamas terrorists search for the remains of Israeli hostage Ran Gvili in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, January 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot caused global outrage after it flooded X with sexually explicit images. Raphael Satter of Reuters joins to discuss how the photos proliferated so quickly — and what governments are doing about it. The Trump administration is halting all immigrant visas from 75 countries. The Washington Post’s David Nakamura explains how the move fits into Trump’s larger immigration crackdown. After two years of no formal education, the children of Gaza City have returned to makeshift classrooms for school. The BBC reports on how classes are lively and the mood is hopeful despite remaining anxiety over the war. Plus, the U.S. and Denmark remain at odds over the future of Greenland, Iran temporarily closed its airspace, and why some people are being left out of this year’s Super Bowl halftime crew. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, says the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is beginning. He said “phase two” will establish a new Palestinian administration in Gaza, and begin the full demilitarization and rebuilding of the territory. Our reporter tells us what all of this could mean for Gaza in practice. And we hear reaction to the plan from people living in Gaza City.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack CW: This podcast contains a personal story that discusses topics that some listeners may find upsetting. Ali Skaik is an English Literature student and writer from Gaza City. In his own words: "Literature should be lived and not just read. Growing up amid the struggles in Gaza, every word I write carries the reality I face daily. Literature became my way of living, feeling, and speaking the truth of the spirit, pain, and enduring hope of my people. In this very special episode Ali shares his story. Warning: He dose not spare any detail and discusses topics listeners may find upsetting. Ali has also been published on We Are Not Numbers, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The Intercept. The Immigration "Debate" Podcast with Lawyer Cathal Malone is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-148191117 Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack CW: This podcast contains a personal story that discusses topics that some listeners may find upsetting. Ali Skaik is an English Literature student and writer from Gaza City. In his own words: "Literature should be lived and not just read. Growing up amid the struggles in Gaza, every word I write carries the reality I face daily. Literature became my way of living, feeling, and speaking the truth of the spirit, pain, and enduring hope of my people. In this very special episode Ali shares his story. Warning: He dose not spare any detail and discusses topics listeners may find upsetting. Ali has also been published on We Are Not Numbers, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The Intercept. The Immigration "Debate" Podcast with Lawyer Cathal Malone is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-148191117 Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

It has been three months since the ceasefire in Gaza began and food that is desperately needed after being largely blocked for two years has begun returning by the truckload. We go to Gaza City to see what kind of food is arriving and where it is going.And we visit a haven in Tel Aviv for Jews and Palestinians to interact amid heightened tensions. In a nail salon.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Listen to the article with analysis from the author:  Multiple outlets report that Israeli leaders are drawing up military plans to launch an invasion of Gaza City in March. The Wall Street Journal spoke with people familiar with the planning in Tel Aviv, who explained that the IDF has new battle plans for ground operations in Gaza. A ground invasion in Gaza would destroy the ceasefire and peace deal that was brokered by President Donald Trump. Israel has violated the truce over 1,000 times in three months and blocked aid from entering Gaza. While over 425 Palestinians have been killed by Israel during the truce, Israel was killing scores of Palestinians daily before the ceasefire. At least three Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Sunday. The Times of Israel reports speaking with an Israeli official who said the new operations would begin in March and start with an invasion of Gaza City. One Arab diplomat told the outlet that he believes President Donald Trump could prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from resuming negotiations in Gaza. Netanyahu and Trump are demanding that Hamas give up power in Gaza and disarm as a condition for continuing the ceasefire. Hamas has stated it is willing to hand over power to an independent Palestinian government in Gaza and would disarm in the process of creating an independent Palestinian state. While Israel has decimated the Strip, its forces are likely to face stiff resistance from Gaza if it restarts the invasion. Tel Aviv estimates Hamas has at least 20,000 fighters and 60,000 rifles. First Published at Antiwar.com

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack CW: This podcast contains a personal story that discusses topics that some listeners may find upsetting. Ali Skaik is an English Literature student and writer from Gaza City. In his own words: "Literature should be lived and not just read. Growing up amid the struggles in Gaza, every word I write carries the reality I face daily. Literature became my way of living, feeling, and speaking the truth of the spirit, pain, and enduring hope of my people. In this very special episode Ali shares his story. Warning: He dose not spare any detail and discusses topics listeners may find upsetting. Ali has also been published on We Are Not Numbers, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The Intercept. The Donroe Doctrine Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-147717138 Pedro Sanchez's Spain special podcast is out here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-146421867 Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack CW: This podcast contains a personal story that discusses topics that some listeners may find upsetting. Ali Skaik is an English Literature student and writer from Gaza City. In his own words: "Literature should be lived and not just read. Growing up amid the struggles in Gaza, every word I write carries the reality I face daily. Literature became my way of living, feeling, and speaking the truth of the spirit, pain, and enduring hope of my people. In this very special episode Ali shares his story. Warning: He dose not spare any detail and discusses topics listeners may find upsetting. Ali has also been published on We Are Not Numbers, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The Intercept. The Donroe Doctrine Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-147717138 Pedro Sanchez's Spain special podcast is out here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-146421867 Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Chris Bennett, Dr Naomi Green, Michele Marken and Professor Duncan Morrow join Audrey Carville to reflect on some of the major ethical and faith themes of 2025, and offer their hopes for 2026. The panel discuss the alienation and dehumanisation of young men; changes and challenges in leadership of faith communities; as well as global conflict and politics.We revisit interviews with Niobe Way (professor of behavioural psychology), Father Carlos Ferrero (parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City), Andrey Kurkov (Ukrainian satirist and diarist), Bishop Mariann Budde (National Cathedral in Washington DC), and dip into Sunday Sequence's live broadcast from St Peter's Square after the election of Pope Leo XIV.

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on September 3. None of the dates or references have been changed. Inside Gaza City, as the Israeli military escalates its takeover, Al Jazeera continues to report from the ground on the day-to-day reality for more than a million Palestinians still there. As top scholars declare that Israel is committing genocide and US plans for a "Gaza Riviera" continue to circulate, how are Palestinians bracing for what comes next? In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el Khalili and Diana Ferrero, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Special thanks to Youmna ElSayed. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. A woman holds a child as they stand in front of their tent in a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians set up in an area in Gaza City, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Gaza Families Wait as Ceasefire Talks Stall and Uncertainty Grows; Zohran Mamdani Announces New Members to Team and 2026 Agenda; Coastal Flood Advisories in Effect Across California; Remembering Betty Reid Soskin. The post Uncertainty Over Gaza Ceasefire Grow; Mamdani's 2026 Team – December 30, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, we dive into the five likely scenarios that could play out in Gaza during 2026, which Alkhatib recently proposed on his social media channels. According to Alkhatib, the five proposals all "undermine Hamas severely and massively change the calculus and geostrategic landscape following the Trump-sponsored ceasefire in October, which has temporarily halted the war." The five proposals include: A mutiny from Hamas’s ranks within Gaza due to economic and cost-of-living pressures; a significant rise and empowerment of anti-Hamas militias in different areas of the Gaza Strip; mass protests and large-scale uprisings against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip by civilians; a mass exodus of civilians, from the Red Zone controlled by Hamas behind the "yellow line" into the Israeli-controlled Green Zone; and a successful international stabilization force (ISF) deployment with the mandate of battling and demilitarizing Hamas. We go through each scenario point-by-point throughout the conversation, leaving time for a reader's question or two. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians walk along a street past a tent camp in Gaza City, December 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, we dive into the five likely scenarios that could play out in Gaza during 2026, which Alkhatib recently proposed on his social media channels. According to Alkhatib, the five proposals all "undermine Hamas severely and massively change the calculus and geostrategic landscape following the Trump-sponsored ceasefire in October, which has temporarily halted the war." The five proposals include: A mutiny from Hamas’s ranks within Gaza due to economic and cost-of-living pressures; a significant rise and empowerment of anti-Hamas militias in different areas of the Gaza Strip; mass protests and large-scale uprisings against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip by civilians; a mass exodus of civilians, from the Red Zone controlled by Hamas behind the "yellow line" into the Israeli-controlled Green Zone; and a successful international stabilization force (ISF) deployment with the mandate of battling and demilitarizing Hamas. We go through each scenario point-by-point throughout the conversation, leaving time for a reader's question or two. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians walk along a street past a tent camp in Gaza City, December 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The total number of people killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire took place in October has reached 400, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Flooding, low temperatures and makeshift shelters have also presented issues for those in the region. We speak with a Gazan resident about what life is like now for her and her peers. Also in the programme: More children abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month look set to be released; CBS News faces criticism for delaying a '60 Minutes' special on the US deportation of migrants to an El Salvadoran megaprison; and Ukraine takes part in a morale-boosting Secret Santa scheme, offering gifts to soldiers on the frontline.(Photo: Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on Friday, according to medics, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Credit: Dabou Abu Alkas, Reuters)

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. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Israel Defense Forces said Friday it was investigating a strike in Gaza City which reportedly killed at least five people, including civilians. According to the military, during operations on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line in the Strip’s north, troops spotted several suspects in “dominant structures” on the western side of the Yellow Line — meaning not in IDF-held territory. Fabian discusses the idea of "dominant structures" and reports on the uptick of Gazans attempting to cross the Yellow Line into Israeli-controlled Gaza. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said yesterday that his country is close to completing the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River. This comes after Israel struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Thursday morning, hitting weapons stores deep inside the country and a training camp used by the terror group. So which is it? Fabian weighs in. The Israel Defense Forces captured a suspected Islamic State jihadist in an overnight raid earlier this week in southern Syria, the military said in a Saturday statement. We learn how active ISIS is in southern Syria. Finally, an Israeli woman who reported having been kidnapped on Friday was extracted by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces from the West Bank city of Jericho, the military said. We hear about the oft-overlooked close coordination between Israeli and PA forces.Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: 5 said killed in Gaza City strike; IDF says it’s investigating, regrets any civilian harm Army says it killed two terror operatives who crossed Gaza’s Yellow Line Lebanese PM says country close to completing Hezbollah disarmament south of Litani River Widescale IDF strikes target Hezbollah training camp, terror sites across Lebanon IDF says it nabbed suspected ISIS jihadist in southern Syria operation PA forces extract Israeli from Jericho who reported being kidnapped Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: An Israeli woman who was extracted from the West Bank city of Jericho is seen next to an officer from the Civil Administration, December 19, 2025. (Courtesy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this last episode before our two month break (save for an occasional special, check your feed!) Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron talk about (1) What to make about Bondi Beach and the many, many violent things around the world that maybe led up to it, and (2) What does Hanukkah mean in 2025? For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What do we look for in a Rabbi? All that and a Mufti and a Chief Rabbi studying the New Testament in Gaza City. Plus some really good music that sounds more or less how we feel these days.

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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. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Senior officials from the US, France and Saudi Arabia are set to meet in Paris today amid fears that Israel could embark on a new military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon after a December 31 deadline to disarm the Iran-backed terror group passes, a diplomatic official told The Times of Israel on Tuesday. We have seen an uptick in tensions over the past few weeks. Fabian takes us back to early October to give context for what is currently happening on the ground. In one of his first moves, new Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Itai Ofir decided today to close a criminal case against a senior reserves officer who was facing charges over his involvement in the circumstances that led to the deaths of a soldier and a civilian researcher in southern Lebanon in November 2024. Fabian was in the area when this occurred and fills us in. Israeli settlers torched a vehicle and sprayed graffiti in a West Bank village near Ramallah overnight, according to Palestinian media. The suspected crime took place in Ein Yabrud. The conflict in the West Bank, always at a low boil, but are appearances deceiving in that it seems to be on a higher flame in the past several weeks? After Palestinian media reported a series of Israeli airstrikes in eastern Gaza City, the IDF said it is conducting routine activity to demolish Hamas infrastructure in the Israeli-controlled area. In addition to the tunnel demolitions, there are almost daily incidents in which Gazans attempt to cross the Yellow Line from the Hamas-ruled side. Fabian gives several scenarios for the attempted crossings. Earlier in the month, Fabian visited Hamas’s “most complex” tunnel network in the Gaza Strip, where, eventually, the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin were recovered. He was killed and abducted by the terror group in 2014, and it transpires that he was held some two kilometers from the Israeli border. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US, French, Saudi officials to meet in Paris about preventing renewed war in Lebanon IDF postpones planned strike on alleged Hezbollah site as Lebanese army searches it IDF drops charges against reserve officer over deadly Lebanon incident last year Settlers said to torch vehicle, spray graffiti in attack on West Bank village Scouring massive labyrinth under Rafah, IDF just missed finding Hadar Goldin’s body Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: An officer with the elite Yahalom unit is seen inside a tunnel in the Rafah area of the southern Gaza Strip, where the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin was held, December 8, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following the IDF strike that killed top Hamas commander Raad Saad in Gaza City, Berman reviews the obstacles for Israel and Hamas in moving toward the second phase of the broader ceasefire. He discusses how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump will need to find a way to agree on the thorny and fundamental issue of how to get Hamas to disarm. As the IDF postponed a planned airstrike on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, Berman reports on the ongoing issue of needing Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese Army's efforts to work to accomplish that, and Israel's dissatisfaction with Lebanon's progress. After the Water Authority began channeling desalinated water to the Sea of Galilee, the first ever attempt anywhere in the world to top up a freshwater lake with processed seawater, Surkes reports on hopes that it will raise the level of the sea by half a centimeter a year. Surkes also discusses the new facility for the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, featuring the world’s only sea turtle breeding program, helping protect and preserve these creatures that have existed on the planet for 330 million years. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US State Department said to ask 70 countries to contribute to Gaza stabilization force Report: Israel agrees to US demand to pay for massive Gaza rubble-clearing operation Beirut has been warned of possible Israeli offensive against Hezbollah — Lebanese FM Scientists tracking impact as desalinated water flows into Sea of Galilee for first time Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Palestinians inspect a car belonging to Hamas commander Raad Saad after it was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on December 13, 2025. (Fathi Ibrahim/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We are approaching the shortest day of the year- it's next Sunday when the Winter Solstice will happen at three minutes past three on December 21st. So that, plus the fact that today is the start of the Festival of Hannukah- the Jewish festival of Lights, got us thinking about the part light plays in all our lives, and especially for those of faith. Audrey is joined by Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick, Dr Tina Beattie and Dr Leon Litvak. We also talk to Father Carlos Ferrero from the Holy Family Church in Gaza City about how they are planning to celebrate Christmas this year and also whether things have improved since the Ceasefire. And finally we talk to Paul Davies, a renowned physicist and professor at Arizona State University. His new book Quantum 2.0 finishes with the words 'to be aware of the quantum world is to glimpse something of the majesty and elegance of the physical universe and our place within it.'

According to the UN's humanitarian affairs agency, more than 800,000 displaced Gazans could be affected by flooding, as a winter storm surges along the coast. Most of them are living in tents. Also in the programme: we meet the man who smuggled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado out of Venezuela; and Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is the clear winner in the world's top gaming awards, so why has a French arthouse creation proved such a hit? (Photo: Displaced Palestinians ride a donkey-drawn cart on a flooded street in Gaza City, December 12, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)

As global powers double down on militarism and defense, Daniel Zoughbie argues that the most transformative force in the Middle East has always come from citizen diplomacy. A complex-systems scientist and diplomatic historian, Zoughbie joins Mark Labberton to explore how twelve U.S. presidents have "kicked the hornet's nest" of the modern Middle East. Drawing on his work in global health and his new book Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump, Zoughbie contrasts the view from refugee camps and microclinic networks with the view from the Oval Office, arguing that American security rests on a three-legged stool of defense, diplomacy, and development. He explains why Gerald Ford stands out as the lone president who truly leveraged diplomacy, how the Marshall Plan model of enlightened self-interest can guide policy now, and why nationalism, not mere economics, lies at the heart of Gaza's future. Throughout, he presses listeners toward "citizen diplomacy" that resists pride, militarism, and fatalism. Episode Highlights "We've constantly ignored diplomacy." " You don't have to be enemies with people to get them to do what is in their own self-interest." "You can build skyscrapers in Gaza. You can build the Four Seasons in Gaza and it's not going to work. You're just going to have another war until you address that core issue of nationalism." "These three Ds defense diplomacy development are the three legged stool of American security and we know how important diplomacy and development are." "From Truman to Trump, only one president, and that is Gerald Ford, surprisingly the only unelected president, gets this right." "Pride—national pride, the pride of any one individual—is toxic. It's toxic to the individual. It's toxic to the nation. It's toxic to the world." "Foreign policymaking is not just something for secretaries of state and those in power. All of us in a democracy have a role to play." Helpful Links and Resources Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Kicking-the-Hornets-Nest/Daniel-E-Zoughbie/9781668085226 American University of Beirut (founded as Syrian Protestant College), a key example of long-term educational diplomacy https://www.aub.edu.lb Al-Ahli Arab (Gaza Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ahli_Arab_Hospital Max Weber, "Politics as a Vocation" https://open.oregonstate.education/sociologicaltheory/chapter/politics-as-a-vocation About Daniel Zoughbie Daniel E. Zoughbie is a complex-systems scientist, historian, and expert on presidential decision-making. He is associate project scientist at UC Berkeley's Institute of International Studies, a faculty affiliate of the UCSF/UCB Center for Global Health Delivery, Diplomacy, and Economics, and principal investigator of the Middle East and North Africa Diplomacy, Development, and Defense Initiative. He is the author of Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump and of Indecision Points: George W. Bush and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. His award-winning research has appeared in journals such as PLOS Medicine, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Social Science and Medicine. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UC Berkeley, he studied at Oxford on a Marshall Scholarship and completed his doctorate there as a Weidenfeld Scholar. Show Notes Middle East Background and Microclinic Origins Daniel Zoughbie recalls visiting the Middle East as a child—"frankly horrified" by what he saw UC Berkeley protests over the Iraq War and post-9/11 U.S. policy in the region Metabolic disease and type 2 diabetes as an overlooked "greatest killer in the region." Neighbors in the West Bank sharing food, medicine, and blood-pressure cuffs—leads to the "micro clinic" concept Good health behaviors, like bad ones and even violence, can be contagious through social networks Social Networks, Anthropology, and Security Social anthropology, political science, and international relations Medical problems as simultaneously biological and sociological problems Understanding Middle East security demands attention to decisions "at the very bottom" as well as "the view from above" October 7 and 9/11 illustrate how small groups of people can "change the world with their decisions." Complex Systems and Foreign Policy Complexity is always increasing, and diplomacy and development exist to slow it down. Definition of "complex system": as one where many inputs produce outcomes that cannot be reduced to single causes. "We almost have a new law here, which is that complexity is always increasing in the universe. And the role of diplomacy and development, as I see it in international relations, is to slow things down. It's to stop complexity from advancing so that people have time to cool their tempers and to solve major security crises." Type 2 diabetes as a model for thinking about how city planning, economics, relationships, and habits interact He applies that lens to international relations: nations, leaders, institutions, and history form a "cascade of complexity." From Refugee Camps to Presidential Palaces George Shultz and Tony Blair: decision-makers as "real human beings," not abstractions Theological and ideological forces—such as certain apocalyptic readings of scripture—that shape U.S. foreign policy Gnosticism and eschatology within American right-wing Christianity Painstaking global health work on the ground and sweeping decisions made in Washington, Brussels, or New York Twelve Presidents and One Exception Kicking the Hornet's Nest: analysis of twelve presidents from Truman to Trump through the lens of Middle East decision-making Core claim: Only Gerald Ford truly rebalanced the three Ds of defense, diplomacy, and development. U.S. policy in the Levant: heavy reliance on militarism, coups, and covert actions while underinvesting in diplomacy and development Claim: "Far better alternatives were on the table" for every administration, yet consistently passed over. Gerald Ford, Kissinger, and the Path to Peace Daniel contends that the 1967 and 1973 wars were both preventable and nearly became global nuclear catastrophes. Ford inherits the presidency amid Watergate and national division, but keeps Henry Kissinger at State. Ford presses Israel and Egypt toward serious negotiations, empowering Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy and personal ties. A sharply worded letter threatening to "reconsider" the U.S.–Israel relationship Ford's diplomacy and the development of Camp David and the enduring Egypt–Israel peace based on "land for peace." Pride, Personality, and Presidential Failure Did Ford's temperament keep him from making himself the center of the story? In contrast, many presidents and other leaders write themselves "thickly" into the narrative of the conflict. Pride—personal and national—as a toxic force that repeatedly undermines U.S. policy The Iraq War and democracy-promotion agenda and the self-defeating nature of moralistic, militarized crusades Marshall Plan and Enlightened Self-Interest George Marshall and harsh punishment after World War I helped produce Nazi Germany The Marshall Plan models an "enlightened way of viewing the American self-interest": rebuilding Europe and Japan to secure U.S. security. He contrasts that with the neglect of the Levant, where aid and institution-building never matched military activism. Marshall's genius lies in locating the intersection between others' deepest needs and American capabilities. Militarism, Iran, and Nuclear Risk Recent U.S.–Israel–Iran confrontation as an "extremely dangerous moment"—with 60 percent enriched uranium unaccounted for JCPOA as an imperfect but effective diplomatic achievement, but dismantled in favor of militarism Claim: Bombing Iran scattered nuclear material and increased complexity rather than reducing the threat. He warns that one nuclear device could be delivered by low-tech means—a boat or helicopter—endangering civilians and U.S. forces in the Gulf. The only realistic path forward: renewed multilateral diplomacy between U.S., Israel, Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, and regional actors Ethical Realism and Max Weber "Ethical realism"—Max Weber's distinction between the ethic of the gospel and the ethic of responsibility Statespeople bear responsibility for using force, yet the greatest can still say "here I stand and I can do no other." Claim: True leadership seeks a higher ethic where national interest aligns with genuine concern for others. Gaza, Nationalism, and Two States Welcoming the end of active war between Israel and Hamas and critiquing reconstruction plans that ignore politics Conflict is fundamentally nationalist: a struggle for self-determination by both Jewish and Palestinian peoples Claim: Economic development without a credible political horizon will not prevent "another October 7th and another terrible war." In his view, only partition of mandatory Palestine into two states can meet legitimate self-determination claims. For example, "You can build skyscrapers in Gaza… and it's not going to work" without addressing nationalism. Citizen Diplomacy and a Better Way Foreign policy is not only the work of secretaries of state; democratic citizens have responsibilities. American University of Beirut and the Gaza Baptist Hospital as fruits of citizen diplomacy Claim: Educational and medical institutions can change lives more profoundly and durably than military campaigns. Redirecting resources from bombs to universities and hospitals to reduce the need for future military interventions An invitation to citizen diplomacy: informed voting, sustained attention, and creative engagement for a more just peace Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.  

Searches in Gaza City for body of last hostage Ran Gvili. Families Forum; No phase B until body returned. PM meets with German Chancellor Merz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fatma Hassona was a Palestinian photographer from Gaza City who was killed with her family by an Israeli airstrike in April 2025. A year earlier, the Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi began recording video conversations with Hassona about her life and work under Israeli bombardment, which became the film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk. In this episode, Adam Shatz talks to Farsi about the process of making the film, the connection she formed with Hassona, and the practical and ethical challenges of documenting Israel's devastation of Gaza and its people. From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠https://lrb.me/storelrbpod⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This summer, Alkhatib flew over Gaza as part of the last days of the United Arab Emirates's aid drop missions. It was the first time since he had seen his former home since leaving the enclave in 2005 for what was meant to have been a high school year abroad. To begin the program, Alkhatib relates how he felt viewing the swaths of destruction two years of war had left in its wake. An outspoken anti-Hamas voice, Alkhatib promotes what he calls “radical pragmatism” through his work with the Atlantic Council and his speaking engagements around the world. No short on considered criticism for Israel's prosecution of the war sparked by Hamas's murderous onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, we learn of concrete steps that could be taken to drive out the terrorist organization. We hear how Hamas is re-rooting itself into all aspects of the Strip's governance. Now that the terror regime has been reestablished, so has law and order, says Alkhatib, leaving Gazans stuck in a "safe-ish," but abusive relationship. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stand amid the destruction left by Israeli strikes north of Gaza City, November 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Last week, the US officially launched negotiations within the 15-member United Nations Security Council on a draft resolution that would follow up on Israel and Hamas’s October 9 ceasefire-hostage agreement. Tomorrow, the Security Council is set to vote on the resolution, which would deliver Gaza to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and an apolitical Palestinian administration overseen by a Trump-chaired Board of Peace. In the first half of the program, Berman gives an analysis of some of the implications for Israel -- and questions the world's appetite for seeing through in the demilitarization of Hamas. US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he was considering agreeing to a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are made by Lockheed Martin. We hear whether a more robust Saudi air force could affect the Middle East and learn why the United Arab Emirates has not yet received its promised planes. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that the Israeli army had built walls on the Lebanese side of the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border. We learn about the Blue Line and discuss whether a complaint to the UN has any teeth. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US says its plan for postwar management of Gaza offers pathway to Palestinian statehood US: Failure to back UN resolution based on Trump’s Gaza plan is a vote for Hamas, war Indonesia says it has trained 20,000 troops for Gaza peacekeeping force First storm of the season pummels Gaza, flooding tent camps and makeshift shelters Trump says he’s weighing Saudi request to buy F-35s, hopes Riyadh will normalize Israel ties Lebanon to file UN complaint accusing Israel of building border wall beyond Blue Line Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Illustrative: An armed Palestinian Hamas gunman stand not far from an International Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle, as a search for the bodies of killed Israeli hostages takes place, in Gaza City on November 2, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Friday Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, the duo is joined by military expert John Spencer, chair of War Studies at the Madison Policy Forum and executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute. As of recording time, some 100-200 Hamas terrorists are estimated to be holed up in tunnels in southern Gaza on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line. The US has pressured Israel to allow the terrorists safe passage back to Hamas-held areas of Gaza, though Israel has not agreed to such a solution as of yet. For the first part of our conversation, we plumb the depths of the extensive Hamas tunnel network, speaking about its scope and how the IDF is able to destroy or at least neutralize its many tentacles. In the second half, we speak about where the current ceasefire in Gaza may turn, as reports are circulated about a two-year mandate for an International Security Force that could be implemented to demilitarize Hamas. Spencer gives bad -- and better -- examples of international forces and discusses why UNIFIL, the force deployed in southern Lebanon, was destined to failure. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: John Spencer (courtesy) / Hamas militants search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, November 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 discussions continue about Jared Kushner's concept of 'new Gaza,' residential neighborhoods constructed for Gazans on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line, Magid discusses the lack of support for the plans from some of the Gulf donor countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Those countries have concerns that the plan maintains the status quo of Israeli control and leaves Hamas entrenched in Gaza. There are also questions as to which countries are ultimately willing to send troops to guard borders and help deliver aid, and whether those troops will be involved in peacekeeping missions or peace-enforcing missions, says Magid, noting that the US wants the missions to demilitarize Gaza. The US is pushing Israel on the matter of offering safe passage for a couple of hundred Hamas operatives still in Gaza tunnels, either letting them go back to the Hamas side of the yellow ceasefire line, says Magid, or offering them safe passage to another country, while forcing them to give up their weapons. The issue of allowing the press into Gaza now that there is a ceasefire in place is also being pushed by the US. Magid notes that Israel's High Court of Justice gave the government 30 days to update its position. US President Donald Trump is also weighing in, says Magid, who notes that it is more likely to be settled in Israel's High Court. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US looks to build ‘new Gaza’ on half of Strip under IDF control, but faces pushback US pressures Israel to allow safe passage for 100 to 200 Hamas operatives in Rafah With ceasefire in place, US renews request for Israel to allow foreign press into Gaza Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians seen along the Gaza City seafront, following the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, October 18, 2025 (Ali Hassan/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reporting on the war in Gaza has only been possible because of the work of Palestinian journalists, because the Israeli government will not let foreign broadcasters – including the BBC – inside the territory to report freely, even now a ceasefire is in place. One month ago, freelance journalist Ghada Al-Kurd began sharing voice notes with us, talking about her life, her hopes, her family, and her days reporting in Gaza City. Her job is dangerous – almost 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza in the past two years – and even with a ceasefire in place, safety is far from reach. Ghada has continued to report for us through her displacements, sharing her treasured memories of pre-war Gaza, and her fears and hopes for its future.Image: Ghada Al KurdWith Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC's international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Reporting on the war in Gaza has only been possible because of the work of Palestinian journalists, because the Israeli government will not let foreign broadcasters – including the BBC – inside the territory to report freely, even now a ceasefire is in place. One month ago, freelance journalist Ghada Al-Kurd began sharing voice notes with us, talking about her life, her hopes, her family, and her days reporting in Gaza City. Her job is dangerous – almost 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza in the past two years – and even with a ceasefire in place, safety is far from reach. Ghada has continued to report for us through her displacements, sharing her treasured memories of pre-war Gaza, and her fears and hopes for its future.Image: Ghada Al Kurd

Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TYT and use code TYT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Jennifer Welch Multiple Palestinians are killed in Gaza City for allegedly violating the ceasefire, according to the IDF. Drop Site News journalist Noa Avishag Schnall accuses Israeli guards of “extreme brutality.” Trump prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday. Hosts: Cenk Uygur & Ana Kasparian SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE ☞  https://www.youtube.com/@TheYoungTurks FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK  ☞   https://www.facebook.com/theyoungturks TWITTER  ☞       https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks INSTAGRAM  ☞  https://www.instagram.com/theyoungturks TIKTOK  ☞          https://www.tiktok.com/@theyoungturks

President Trump's budget director is canceling billions in projects and threatening mass layoffs as the White House uses the government shutdown to push for deeper spending cuts. The shutdown's ripple effects are spreading nationwide, with key federal services slowing or stopping. And in Gaza, Israel has issued a final evacuation order, warning that anyone who remains in Gaza City will be treated as a militant as Hamas considers changes to Trump's ceasefire plan.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay TottyWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Tommy & Ben start with Gaza: the UN Human Rights Council's finding that Israel has committed genocide, and Israel's ground operation into Gaza City. They discuss how Marco Rubio signaled that Trump has given up on brokering a peace deal in Gaza, and why the Netanyahu government is telling the press that Trump is lying about his knowledge of the IDF airstrike in Qatar. Also covered: Kash Patel's combative Senate hearing about the rampant dysfunction at the FBI, the global reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk and the dark conspiracy theories that have emerged around it, the long-term harm to the US-South Korea relationship caused by the ICE raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia, Nepal's democracy by Discord, Trump's UK state visit amid Jeffrey Epstein fallout and far-right protests, Trump's ultimatums to NATO, and Conor McGregor's aborted bid for the Irish presidency. Then, Tommy speaks to Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the humanitarian situations in Haiti, Sudan, and Gaza, the devastating effects of the gutting of USAID, and what's giving him hope right now. Check out Be Hope here.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FBI Director Kash Patel spoke on Tuesday about a massive rise in the number of investigations into so-called NVEs, which stands for “nihilistic violent extremists.” He defined them as people who “engage in violent acts motivated by a deep hatred of society.” Some experts would use that term to describe the suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting. Utah prosecutors said Tuesday that the suspect allegedly wrote video game references and online jokes on the bullet casings. We've chosen not to reference the name of the alleged shooter because we think it's important not to give people who commit acts of violence the infamy they crave. To talk more about the online spaces where Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter spent most of his time and the rise of NVEs, we spoke to David Gilbert, who covers disinformation and online extremism for Wired Magazine.And in headlines: President Donald Trump is suing the New York Times again, Israel officially launches its ground offensive in Gaza City, and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez testifies to a Senate panel about her ouster by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Show Notes:David's work — https://www.wired.com/author/david-gilbert/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss information warfare and the biased reporting about Israel ahead of their ground offensive in Gaza City.    Then, the backlash against parties in power in Europe and why Americans need to care about it. In Politicology+ they discuss China's military parade, the meetings between the leaders of China, Russia, and India and why it matters so much right now. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don't miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week's panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Related Reading:  TOI - Tens of thousands of reservists drafted ahead of Gaza City takeover, but turnout down | The Times of Israel TOI - At stormy cabinet meet, IDF chief said to warn Gaza op will lead to full-fledged occupation | The Times of Israel FP - WATCH: Gazan Journalists Say Al Jazeera Works Hand in Glove with Hamas FP - They Became Symbols for Gazan Starvation. But All 12 Suffer from Other Health Problems. The Dispatch - White Hats and Black Hats in the Middle East WSJ - Populist Right-Wing Parties Lead Polls in Europe's Biggest Economies The Spectator - Migrant protests and the twilight of luxury beliefs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel plans to call up 60,000 reservists for a new Gaza City offensive, even as Hamas says it has accepted a ceasefire deal. U.S. and European officials are drafting security guarantees for Ukraine. And Hurricane Erin is flooding North Carolina's Outer Banks and forcing evacuations as it tracks up the East Coast.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Andrew Sussman, Susanna Capelouto, Adriana Gallardo and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Destinee Adams, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy