Tug of War

Note: this episode contains graphic descriptions of injury. As the Israeli military campaign in Gaza continues, the toll on Palestinian women and children is coming into clearer focus. In this episode, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Sarah Sirgany tell us about their trip to a special hospital in Qatar where some of the most vulnerable Palestinians are being treated for war wounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US President Joe Biden says Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches a major invasion of Rafah. It comes as his administration is set to deliver a report to Congress on whether Israel has violated international humanitarian law during its war in Gaza. In this episode, CNN's Kylie Atwood explains how this moment could be a turning point for US-Israel relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Tuesday, Israel's military seized the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, warning its military operation in the southern city would move forward, even as ceasefire talks continue. Airstrikes have rocked eastern Rafah, displacing many fearful Palestinians yet again. Israel meanwhile says the terms of a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas were "far from" meeting its demands. In this episode, CNN's Jeremy Diamond explains how the military pressure is impacting the ongoing talks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Around the world, some students have staged protests in solidarity with pro-Palestinian protestors on US college campuses – including in Iran. Anger against Israel and the US is still simmering after an unprecedented aerial attack from Iran on Israel was foiled. In this episode, CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins us from Tehran and explains how Iranian military officials are evaluating the latest escalation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hamas is considering a new framework for a hostage release and ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt. It comes amid fears that Israel will launch a ground offensive into Rafah whether or not a deal is reached. In this episode, CNN's Becky Anderson tells us about the parameters and examines a longshot push to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Wednesday, Hamas released a video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, giving his family hope that he is still alive despite being badly wounded when he was abducted on October 7th. However, Israel’s government says at least 129 hostages remain in Gaza with dozens of those feared dead. In this episode, CNN's Jeremy Diamond examines why Hamas released this video now and looks at the state of negotiations over a hostage release and ceasefire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli ministers have lashed out against reported plans by the United States to sanction an Israeli military unit for alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The uproar comes amidst an uptick in violence against Palestinians in the territory. In this episode, CNN's Nada Bashir examines why the reported plans have struck a nerve and gives us an update on the dire situation inside Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A US official tells CNN that Israel carried out a military strike inside Iran on Thursday night, the latest dangerous escalation between the two countries. Israel has not commented and Iran has not yet identified the source of the attack. In this episode, CNN's Jeremy Diamond examines what we know and whether this latest round of back-and-forth is over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Iran’s air attack on Israel over the weekend was uniquely brazen, experts say the two nations have been engaged in a ‘shadow war’ through proxies and covert actions for decades. In this episode, CNN's Nic Robertson looks at what two past Israeli attacks can tell us about how they may respond in this case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, Israeli officials have been debating how to respond. Meanwhile, members of the Biden administration have told Israel that the US will not participate in any offensive action against Iran, according to US officials familiar with the matter. In this episode, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond tells us how the Israeli war cabinet is thinking about this perilous moment. -- Tug of War has been nominated for a Webby Award in the News & Politics category. Please click on the link and vote for us. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Saturday, Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel from Iranian territory in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month. US air defenses jumped in to intercept some Iranian drones in defense of Israel. In this episode, CNN’s Clarissa Ward examines what the dramatic escalation could mean for the region and ongoing war in Gaza. -- Tug of War has been nominated for a Webby Award in the News & Politics category. Please click on the link and vote for us. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Israel has recently made efforts to allow more aid trucks into Gaza, humanitarian groups say the need is still extremely far from being met. Hunger is widespread, and medical facilities continue to operate without basic supplies. In this episode, Arwa Damon, the President & Founder of International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance tells us about her recent trip inside Gaza to help children impacted by the war. -- Tug of War has been nominated for a Webby Award in the News & Politics category. Please click on the link and vote for us. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of fighting, the Israeli military said it has withdrawn its ground forces from Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The move follows a frank phone call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu where Biden told Netanyahu he needed to take meaningful action to address the humanitarian crisis or face consequences. In this episode, CNN’s Nic Robertson examines what the military move could signal for the future of the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Israel’s brutal onslaught of Gaza continues, millions of Palestinians are caught in the conflict, left desperately looking for reliable shelter, food and medical care. In this episode, we hear directly from students, teachers, and journalists about what their lives look like and what they want the world to know about what they’re experiencing. Read and see more here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran is vowing revenge on Israel after an airstrike on its embassy complex in Syria killed several high-ranking Iranian officials. While Israel is not confirming or denying responsibility, a military spokesperson said Israel believes the building struck is associated with the Iranian military. In this episode, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand examines what the retaliation could look like and tells us why the Biden administration is close to greenlighting a sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel, according to three people familiar with the matter, despite concerns over how it is conducting its military operation inside Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rift between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to grow again this week after Netanyahu decided to cancel a planned delegation to Washington, before reversing course a few days later. Meanwhile, tensions between Israeli war cabinet ministers seem to be deepening as well while the brutal war in Gaza continues. In this episode, CNN’s Mick Krever examines plans for a key piece of legislation concerning ultra-Orthodox conscription that is dividing lawmakers in Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A recent UN-backed report found that all 2.2 million people in Gaza do not have enough food to eat, with famine expected to arrive in the north any time between now and May 2024. The European Union’s foreign policy chief has accused Israel of using starvation of a weapon of war as it continues to throttle aid deliveries into the enclave. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country’s policy is to let as much humanitarian aid into Gaza as is necessary, aid groups say the evidence on the ground points to the contrary. In this episode, CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh explains how the hunger crisis could impact Gaza long after this latest round of fighting ends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A team of top Israeli officials is expected to visit Washington next week to discuss Israel’s plan for a military operation into Rafah. Biden administration officials say they will lay out options for how to dismantle Hamas in Gaza without launching a full ground incursion into the southern city, which could endanger over a million Palestinian civilians already suffering from lack of shelter and hunger. In this episode, CNN’s Kylie Atwood examines what options are on the table and whether Israel is actually interested in considering them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the humanitarian aid crisis in Gaza deepens, negotiators have returned to the table in hopes of hashing out a hostage release and temporary ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for new elections in Israel, angering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In this episode, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond tells us how those comments are being received in Israel and explains why a group of Gazans being treated at hospitals in Jerusalem are being deported back into Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As extremist Israeli settlers continue to commit violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, there is another controversial settlement movement getting more attention inside Israel. Some far-right Israelis have plans to reestablish Jewish settlements inside Gaza and displacing Palestinians in the process, prompting accusations of ethnic cleansing. In this episode, CNN’s Clarissa Ward examines the major players behind the idea and looks at how Israeli views have been hardened by the October 7th terror attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices