Middle East matters

Feb 07 2024 24 ep. 12 mins 474

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Political and social events from the Middle East, with exclusive reports and interviews. Tuesday at 5:45pm Paris time.

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Israel, Lebanon, Turkey: Reports from our correspondents

Feb 07 2024 12 mins

For this final edition of Middle East Matters, we bring you a series of reports from our correspondents in the region. We begin in Israel, where as the war in Gaza drags on, divisions in Israeli society are growing more stark. Immediately after the attacks of October 7, the vast majority of people supported the government's decision to pursue Hamas aggressively. But a growing, voca

Allegations against UNRWA: Future of biggest Gaza aid provider in jeopardy

Jan 31 2024 12 mins

Around a dozen donor countries are freezing funding to UNRWA, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israel alleged that 12 UN staffers took part in the October 7 Hamas attacks. The UN has fired the employees in question and promised a full investigation. The budget cuts come at a profoundly challenging time. A quarter of the population of Gaza is starving, and UNRWA is th

Attacks in the Red Sea: After US-UK strikes, what next for Yemen?

Jan 17 2024 12 mins

From Lebanon to Iraq and Syria, the ripple effects of the war between Israel and Hamas are being felt, but nowhere more so than Yemen. For months now, Houthi rebels there have been firing missiles at cargo ships in the Red Sea, prompting the US and UK to bomb targets inside Yemen this past weekend. FRANCE 24 spoke to Dr Elisabeth Kendall, a Yemen specialist at the University of Cam

With case filed to ICJ, South Africa accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza

Jan 10 2024 12 mins

The International Court of Justice is to hold hearings this week on a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and seeking a halt to its military campaign. Israel has described the allegations against it as "baseless" and intended to stir up lethal hatred of Jews. FRANCE 24's Shirli Sitbon tells us more about South Africa's decision to file the case, the Is

Fallout from Israel-Hamas war: What's behind Houthi attacks in Red Sea?

Dec 13 2023 13 mins

In this edition, we look at the ripple effects of the war in Gaza. In the Red Sea, Houthi rebels from Yemen are stepping up their attacks on vessels in the vital shipping lane, saying they're doing so in protest at Israel's actions in Gaza, even though many of the ships in question are not Israeli-owned. Might that lead to a wider conflict? We speak to Abdul Ghani Al-iryani, senior

Sultan al-Jaber under fire: COP28 president accused of conflict of interest

Dec 06 2023 12 mins

He's claiming that his remarks were "misinterpreted". The Emirati oil executive leading the COP28 climate conference in Dubai has come out fighting after widespread criticism of his suggestion that there was "no science" indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels was needed to contain global warming. A controversial choice as president, Sultan al-Jaber argues he's "uniquely placed

Israeli hostages released: More details of their captivity emerge

Nov 29 2023 11 mins

This week, we are starting to learn more about the conditions of the mainly Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Those who have been released tell different stories: some received medical attention, while others were denied it. Many were held in the dark, with little food. What is clear is that all the hostages suffered a massive ordeal; we take a closer look. Plus, FRANCE 24's Wassim Na

West Bank forgotten? Settler violence against Palestinians grows as war continues

Nov 22 2023 12 mins

The world's eyes are on Gaza at the moment, and rightly so. But violence is also continuing in the occupied West Bank. Even before the October 7 Hamas attacks, 2023 was already the deadliest year for Palestinians there in two decades. Now, violent confrontations are happening almost every day. Israel says it is trying to stamp out militant groups in the West Bank, but civilians are

Building bridges: Palestinians and Israelis fight for peace amid war

Nov 15 2023 12 mins

As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, violence is also on the rise in the occupied West Bank, fuelling tensions and creating divides amongst the Jews and Arabs living side by side in the region. While some continue to perpetuate the violence that splits communities, others are trying to build bridges between Palestinians and Israelis despite the anger and loss on both sides

Special edition: Israel-Hamas war, one month on

Nov 08 2023 12 mins

We bring you a special edition of Middle East Matters, one month after the start of the Israel-Hamas war. On October 7, 1,400 people were killed in the unprecedented Hamas attacks; the largest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust. A month on, Israelis are still reeling, none more so than the families of hostages still held in Gaza, as our team on the ground repor