App Store

Google Play

Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

BBC News

The BBC's podcast on the Middle East. Hosted by Jonny Dymond.

The Conflict: Israel-Gaza

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.

Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully curated panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the Middle East.

What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And, what can history teach us about what might happen next?

This week, Jonny is joined by Dr Ahron Bregman, from King’s College London, and the BBC’s International Editor, Jeremy Bowen.

In the second of two special episodes, they focus in on the former Israeli leader, Ariel Sharon. Last week’s episode covered another leader who bestrode the modern Middle East - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

This episode was made by Keiligh Baker and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. The technical producers were John Scott and Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. The discussion was recorded at 15:00 on Friday 6 December 2024.

Leaders: What Is Ariel Sharon’s Legacy?

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.

Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.

What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And what can history teach us about what might happen next?

This week, Jonny is joined by Tom Bateman, the BBC’s State Department correspondent and before that, Middle East correspondent; Jotam Confino, the Telegraph’s Middle East correspondent; and Broderick McDonald, Associate Fellow at Kings College London’s International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. 

They explore the Six Day War - also known as the Arab-Israeli war - a brief, but bloody conflict fought in June 1967 between Israel and the Arab states of Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Israel’s victory changed the map of the Middle East and fanned the flames of the Israeli-Arab conflict for decades to come. 

This episode was made by Keiligh Baker and Sally Abrahams. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 12:30 on Monday 16 December 2024.

Six Day War (1967): What Next For Syria and Israel?

Following intense negotiations, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal to end more than 15 months of war in Gaza. All Israeli hostages being held by Hamas will be released, while Israel’s soldiers will withdraw fully from Gaza, and allow 600 aid trucks per day to enter the devastated territory. 

In the hours after the deal was announced, Jonny Dymond spoke to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet for this episode of The Global Story podcast. She breaks down the terms of this landmark agreement and tells us how these bitter rivals arrived at an accord. 

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. You can find a fresh episode each weekday wherever you get your BBC podcasts. 

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas. The senior news editor is China Collins. 
The senior news editor for The Conflict is Sam Bonham.

The Global Story: A Ceasefire in Gaza

What’s happening now and what could happen next? Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s chief international correspondent, provides context and clarity on the events in Israel and Gaza.

In this first podcast of a new series, she’s joined by international editor Jeremy Bowen, who like Lyse, lived and worked in Jerusalem in the 1990s and has covered all of the conflicts since.

They talk about why the latest attacks feel very different to what has been seen before.

REPORTERS:

• Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
• Jeremy Bowen, BBC international editor

GET IN TOUCH:

• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480

TEAM: 

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Hayley Clarke and Claire Bowes. The studio manager was Lewis Allsopp. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

The Conflict Erupts Into War

Lyse Doucet and Jeremy Bowen are back to take a closer look at what’s happening on the ground.

Jeremy has been in Kfar Aza, a small border village where Israeli soldiers told him Hamas had stormed in, burning homes and killing families, including babies in their bedrooms.

We also hear BBC reporting inside Gaza, where our correspondent says the bombings were the worst he’d seen in 20 years. 

REPORTERS:

- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
- Jeremy Bowen, BBC international editor

GET IN TOUCH:

- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480

TEAM:

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Hayley Clarke and Claire Bowes. The studio manager was Lewis Allsopp. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

The Kibbutz Killings

As Israel prepares for an expected ground offensive, Gaza’s only power station runs out of fuel.
 
Lyse and Jeremy try to make sense of what’s happening on the ground in their usual clear and considered way.
 
BBC Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, has spent the day on the edge of Israel’s closed military zone on its southern border. Where Hamas rockets continue to streak above. And International Editor Jeremy Bowen has seen how the Israeli military is preparing for an expected ground offensive into Gaza. 
 
 
GET IN TOUCH:
 
- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk 
 
TEAM:
 
This episode was made by Claire Bowes, Madeleine Drury and Joe Kent . The studio manager was Philip Bull. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Gaza Without Power

Where are the 150 hostages? 

Lyse Doucet and Tom Bateman debrief on the latest in the Gaza-Israel conflict.

Lyse has been reporting from the Israeli border town of Sderot. She speaks to the Mayor about how he wants his country to respond to the Hamas attacks. And Tom reflects on seven years living in Jerusalem and how this latest conflict feels in the context of his time in the region.

REPORTERS:

- Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent
- Tom Bateman, BBC Middle East Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH:

- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Or Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk

TEAM:

This episode was made by Joe Kent with Claire Bowes and Clare Williamson in London and Alex Lederman in Israel. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

The Israel Hostage Crisis

Your questions answered on the Israel-Gaza conflict and on the geography, history and politics of the region.

FEATURING: 

- Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent
- Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor 
- Jackie Leonard, presenter of the BBC’s Global News Podcast
 
GET IN TOUCH:
 
- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk
 
TEAM:

This episode was made by Clare Williamson, Anna Murphy, Judy Frankl and Joe Kent in London and Alex Lederman and Kathy Long in Israel. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The senior news editors are Karen Martin, Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

The Conflict x The Global News Podcast

Thousands on the move as the new deadline to evacuate Northern Gaza elapses. We get the latest and hear about an expected Israeli ground assault against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group from defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.

Lyse takes cover as air raid warnings sound in southern Israel but she continues broadcasting as she co-hosts with Paddy from Newscast. 

 WITH: 
- Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent
- Paddy O Connell, Newscast host

GET IN TOUCH:
 - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Or Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk

Team: TEAM:
This episode was made by Chris Flynn and Clare Williamson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall

Fleeing Northern Gaza

Why is the border crossing Gaza’s lifeline?

Thousands gather near the Gaza-Egypt border desperate to leave, but the frontier remains closed and humanitarian aid shut out.

Lyse and Jeremy give us an update from Southern Israel where the situation remains tense.

And we hear about the intense diplomatic efforts by the US secretary of state to prevent the situation spreading.

PRESENTERS:

- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
- Jeremy Bowen, BBC international editor

GET IN TOUCH:

- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
-Or Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk

TEAM:

This episode was made by Tim Walklate with Clare Williamson in London. Cathy Long and Alex Lederman in Israel. The studio manager was Lewis Allsopp. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Confusion at the Rafah Crossing

Israel's military says it has "completed the encirclement of Gaza City" and has been attacking outposts, headquarters and other Hamas infrastructures there.

We look at what Israel taking the area would mean for the next stage of the war.

REPORTERS:
- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
- Jon Donnison, BBC correspondent and former BBC Gaza correspondent 

GET IN TOUCH:
- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Or email theconflict@bbc.co.uk

This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Alex Lederman in Jerusalem and Emilia Jansson in London. The studio manager was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor was Neal Razzell. The senior news editors are Sam Bonham and Jonathan Aspinwall.

Gaza City ‘encircled’

Listen and read

Other podcasts you might like ...