Despite heavy Israeli bombardment, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are still living in northern Gaza without basic supplies like food. The United Nations says it has identified acute malnutrition in 16.2% of children there as hunger continues to spread throughout the strip. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups have faced a number of challenges in getting aid into Gaza and are finding even more difficulty delivering it. In this episode, CNN’s Katie Polglase investigates how a UN aid convoy came u...
Feb 23, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 56
As Israel prepares a potential ground operation into Rafah, the US has vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza. Meanwhile, it has proposed its own draft resolution which calls for a ‘temporary ceasefire.’ The diplomatic moves come after Israel’s military raided the largest functioning hospital in Gaza, exacerbating the healthcare crisis for desperate Palestinians. In this episode, CNN’s Nic Roberson explains why the Biden administration’s cautious language...
Feb 21, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 55
Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen continue to target commercial ships and US coalition forces in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s aggression in Gaza. The attacks have disrupted global shipping and escalated tension in the region. While the US continues to respond by striking targets in Yemen, it’s not clear how much of the Houthi’s capabilities have been destroyed. In this episode, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand tells us about her unique experience on board two US Navy vessels leading the respons...
Feb 16, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 54
Israel has announced plans to launch a ground offensive into Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are taking shelter with nowhere else to go. On Monday, Israel’s military rescued two Israeli-Argentine hostages from the southern Gaza city but killed about 100 Palestinians in the process, local officials say. In this episode, CNN’s Nic Robertson explains why much of the international community is worried this rescue mission could be just a precursor to a much deadlier ground operation in ...
Feb 14, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 53
Thousands of displaced Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah say they are increasingly worried about what will happen when Israel’s military pushes even further into southern Gaza. Four months into the war, aid groups say hospitals are barely functional and full-blown famine is starting to set in for thousands. In this episode, CNN’s Ivana Kottasová tells us why a push into Rafah could be so deadly and examines Israel’s lack of progress in eliminating top Hamas leadership. Host: David Rind ...
Feb 09, 2024•17 min•Season 3Ep. 52
Four months after the deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the region speaking to the major players working on a potential hostage release and ceasefire deal. As hostage families continue to wait for news, there are other points of anger being directed at Israel’s government. In this episode, CNN’s Ivana Kottasová tells us about her conversations with Israelis frustrated with how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the response. Host: Da...
Feb 07, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 51
As Iranian-backed proxies continue to step up attacks across the Middle East, experts have been closely watching Iranian leadership for their response. Meanwhile, the US continues to weigh its next moves after a recent attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. In this episode, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand explains what new intelligence can tell us about how Iran may adjust its strategy moving forward. Host: David Rind Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN National Security Reporter Learn more abou...
Feb 02, 2024•11 min•Season 3Ep. 50
After weeks of negotiations, a broad framework for a new hostage release and potential ceasefire is being considered by Hamas. While details are still being sorted out, the news could provide hope to families of those who have been held inside Gaza for months. In this episode, CNN’s Alex Marquardt lays out the parameters of a potential deal and explains how allegations that staffers from the main UN relief agency in Gaza were involved in Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks could complicate matters. ...
Jan 31, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 49
As Israeli military operations continue inside Gaza, Palestinians continue to struggle to find food and shelter. Meanwhile, tactics being used by Israel Defense Forces on the ground are coming under scrutiny ahead of an initial ruling from the International Court of Justice in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. In this episode, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond tells us about his team’s investigation which found at least 16 cemeteries in Gaza desecrated by Israeli forces. Learn more about your ad c...
Jan 26, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 48
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty as Israel fights Hamas in Gaza. The Biden administration continues to push for a two-state solution, as Biden and Netanyahu remain publicly at odds over what will happen to Gaza once the war is over. In this episode, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour explains what a two-state solution could look like and why domestic pressures may be behind Netanyahu’s sharp comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
Jan 24, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is known as the first Palestinian doctor to hold a staff position at an Israeli hospital, advocating for peace while delivering thousands of babies. Then during fighting between Israel and Hamas in 2009, the Gazan doctor became known for a phone call. After learning an Israeli airstrike had killed his three daughters, he called his friend and TV reporter, who broadcast his anguished call live on the air. 15 years later, we revisit his story — and hear how he’s still advoca...
Jan 19, 2024•17 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to target cargo ships in the Red Sea despite multiple rounds of retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets from a US-led coalition. Meanwhile, Iran itself launched missiles into Iraq and Syria, escalating fears of a wider war in the region amid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. In this episode, CNN military analyst and retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling explains what the Biden administration is weighing as it navigates the situation and looks at what the Hout...
Jan 17, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 45
Hamas has long used an intricate series of tunnels in Gaza to transport weapons and do battle with Israeli forces. A number of Israeli hostages are also believed to be held underground after being kidnapped on October 7th. In this episode, CNN’s Nic Robertson tells us what he saw in one of the tunnels while embedded with the Israel Defense Forces in Khan Younis and how they factor into the next phase of the ground campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 12, 2024•15 min•Season 3Ep. 44
South Africa has filed an unprecedented genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its war in Gaza. As court proceedings get underway this week, Israel is slamming the case and defending its methods as it fights Hamas. In this episode, we hear from CNN's Abbas Al Lawati on why while a ruling on genocide could take years and how the case could have immediate ramifications in Gaza and on the world stage. Subscribe to CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter here. ...
Jan 10, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 43
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East for meetings with key players as tensions remain high across the region. As Israel continues to strike inside Gaza, a number of attacks in Lebanon have raised the prospect of a wider war. In this episode, we examine Blinken’s message and political divisions inside Israel’s war cabinet for postwar plans in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 08, 2024•15 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Doron Katz Asher describes October 7th as a “war movie.” On that day, she was thrown into the back of a tractor with her 5-year-old and 2-year-old daughters and taken hostage into Gaza. The family spent nearly 50 days in Hamas captivity, which she describes as “psychological warfare.” She spoke exclusively with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga about the harrowing experience and how she and her daughters are coping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 05, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 41
The Israel Defense Forces say military operations in Gaza will continue “throughout” this year, even as it withdraws a number of reservists from the territory. The move comes as senior US officials anticipate a transition to a lower-intensity strategy that narrowly targets Hamas militants and leaders. However, Palestinians in Gaza continue to experience widespread hunger and displacement as the civilian death toll rises. In this episode, CNN’s Elliott Gotkine examines what the next few months of...
Jan 03, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank say they are being forced from their homes due to violence from extremist Israeli settlers and Israeli military actions, which the Israel Defense Forces often says is in response to suspected terror activity. However, some say it’s becoming increasingly hard to tell the two groups apart. In this episode, CNN Chief International Investigative Correspondent Nima Elbagir takes us inside the territory, where she witnessed how settlers and the Israeli military a...
Dec 22, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 39
As Israel continues its military operation in Gaza, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea in retaliation. A senior US military official says the breadth of attacks has not been seen in at least “two generations.” In this episode, CNN’s Katie Bo Lillis explains why the Houthis are targeting ships and how the attacks could continue to snarl worldwide shipping and commerce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 20, 2023•11 min•Season 3Ep. 38
On Friday, three Israeli hostages in Gaza tried to make contact with their country’s military, waving a white flag and yelling in Hebrew. In response, troops mistakenly shot and killed them. Now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is dealing with the fallout – and the continued anger from released hostages and the families of those still held in the strip. In this episode, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond breaks down how Israelis are reacting, and where hostage talks might go from here. Learn mo...
Dec 18, 2023•13 min•Season 3Ep. 37
As Israel continues its military campaign across the Gaza strip, humanitarian groups say children are being disproportionally killed and injured. Field hospitals have been struggling to keep up as more evacuees make their way to southern Gaza. In this episode, CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward tells us about her rare access inside a Gaza field hospital, where doctors are working with limited supplies to treat injured civilians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Dec 14, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 36
The presidents of three Ivy League universities have been criticized for their congressional testimony, in which they failed to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews as explicitly against campus harassment and bullying codes. In fact, University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill recently resigned over the issue. In this episode, CNN’s Gabe Cohen explains how the debates over free speech on campus that have erupted since October 7th are forcing some Jewish students and parents reconsidering c...
Dec 13, 2023•18 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Israel’s military and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have been trading fire since October 8, causing global anxiety that these clashes could spread into a larger war. In this episode, CNN’s Ivan Watson takes us to Lebanon’s border with Israel to get a sense of how UN peacekeepers and Lebanese civilians are coping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 11, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 34
More than a week after the truce with Hamas ended, the Israel Defense Forces continue to strike hundreds of targets in Gaza daily. Meanwhile, prominent voices continue to speak out against Israeli military tactics as civilian deaths and humanitarian concerns rise. In this episode, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond explains why former hostages are speaking out against the Israeli government, and how Israelis view civilian deaths in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 08, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Note: this episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence and war. Nearly two months after the deadly Hamas terror attacks on Israel, more prominent voices are speaking out against sexual violence allegedly committed by Hamas on October 7th. Advocates say some groups have been slow to forcefully criticize the acts by Hamas for fear of appearing to side with Israel in its retaliation in Gaza. In this episode, CNN Senior Global Affairs Analyst Bianna Golodryga explains what we know about...
Dec 06, 2023•18 min•Season 3Ep. 32
The restart of war in Gaza has left humanitarian aid hanging in the balance. Israel is expanding its ground operation into southern Gaza, placing civilians’ access to food and other necessary items at risk. In this episode, CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo breaks down what aid is making it in, and the harrowing experiences of refugees leaving the strip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 04, 2023•14 min•Season 3Ep. 31
A seven-day truce between Israel and Hamas has come to an end, as Israel has resumed combat operations against Hamas in Gaza. Negotiations with Qatari and Egyptian mediators over the release of hostages continues, but the fighting will put millions of Gazan civilians at risk yet again. In this episode, CNN Pentagon Correspondent Oren Liebermann explains why the Biden administration is pressing Israel to conduct this next round of fighting differently. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...
Dec 01, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 30
As part of the hostage deal with Hamas, Israel has released over 100 Palestinians prisoners and detainees being held in Israeli jails. However, thousands remain behind bars – some of whom are detained without a trial or formal charges. In this episode, CNN Chief International Investigative Correspondent Nima Elbagir explains why the reunions in the West Bank look very different from the Israeli homecomings. Correction: This episode has been updated to correct that CNN contacted the Israeli Prime...
Nov 29, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 29
For weeks, Thomas Hand has been pushing for the release of his daughter Emily from Hamas captivity after initially being told she was killed during the October 7th terror attack. On Saturday, Emily was part of a group released from Gaza and finally reunited with her father. In this episode, Thomas speaks to CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward about the conditions Emily faced, her long road to recovery, and why he feels guilty about not being able to help her more. Learn more abou...
Nov 28, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Qatar has announced that an agreement has been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza by two additional days. Dozens of Israelis and foreign nationals who were held hostage have been released by Hamas in recent days. In return, Israel has released more than one hundred Palestinian prisoners, and more aid has been allowed into a devastated Gaza. In this episode, CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins lays out the challenges that remain and takes us inside the agonizing wait for the hundreds of fami...
Nov 27, 2023•14 min•Season 3Ep. 27
