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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

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

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

A huge blast at a hospital in Gaza City is reported to have killed hundreds. 

Recorded at just before 10pm in Israel, BBC International Correspondent Lyse Doucet and her colleague Anna Foster grapple with the breaking news and the claims and counter claims as protests break out across the region.
 
HOSTS:
- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
- Anna Foster, BBC Correspondent, Northern Israel

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 and Joe Kent in London and Alex Lederman and Naomi Scherbel-Ball in Israel. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

The Gaza Hospital Strike

Amid claim and counter claim about the deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza, Lyse Doucet and Jo Floto take a step back, debrief and try to make sense of what’s happening. 

They assess the mood in the region, reflect on US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel and discuss how journalists are still able to report in Gaza. 

HOSTS
BBC International Correspondent Lyse Doucet 
BBC Middle East Bureau Chief Jo Floto 

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 Madeleine Drury and Joe Kent in London and Alex Lederman in Israel. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham

Gaza Hospital: Chaos, claim and counter claim

In collaboration with Newscast, Lyse is joined by Chris Mason and Jeremy Bowen, to discuss the aid trucks waiting to cross into Gaza, and the West’s response to the crisis.

Plus Lyse shares what it’s like living through several air raid sirens a day.

PRESENTERS:

- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
- Jeremy Bowen, BBC international editor
- Chris Mason, BBC Political 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 Hayley Clarke in London and Alex Lederman in Israel. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Aid and Air Raids

Lyse and Jeremy answer your questions about the Israel-Gaza conflict – including its history, potential solutions and what we know about the first hostages released by Hamas. 
 
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 Madeleine Drury, 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 Global News Podcast: Two Hostages Released

Lyse and Frank answer your questions about the Israel-Gaza conflict, with analysis on the responses of Iran, Russia, and the rest of Europe.

FEATURING:
- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent
- Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
- 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 Chris Flynn and Anna Murphy in London and Alex Lederman in Israel. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The senior news editors are Karen Martin and Neal Razzell.

The Conflict x Global News Podcast: The World's Response

What can history teach us about the conflict in the Middle East?

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 Dr Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow for Middle East security at Rusi, and historian, James Barr.

Please get in touch with Jonny and the team: theconflict@bbc.co.uk. 
 
The Conflict: Middle East was made by Keiligh Baker and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producers were Jonny Hall and Tim Heffer. 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 14:00 on Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Israel-Lebanon (1982)

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