ABC News Daily

A fortnight since the horrifying attack by Hamas in southern Israel, the war is escalating and the civilian death toll is growing.

This week, an explosion at a hospital in Gaza shocked the world, fuelling anger and confusion, with both sides blaming each other.

All the while, Israeli troops have been waiting on the border ready to invade, in a mission to root out and destroy the militant group, Hamas. 

Today, Dr Jacob Stoil, an expert on urban warfare, on the complexities of an expected ground war. 

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Dr Jacob Stoil, expert in military history and urban warfare

Cheng Lei spent almost three years detained in China before being unexpectedly released last week.

Now back home, the Australian journalist is telling her story, describing the conditions she was detained in. 

Today, Dr Lavina Lee, a senior lecturer in security studies at Macquarie University on why China freed the mother of two now and what it wants in return. 

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Dr Lavina Lee, senior lecturer in security studies at Macquarie University

After the horrifying attacks on its citizens, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in Gaza. 

But how will the international community react to what’s to come?

Iran is warning of a regional escalation of the war if Israel continues to kill what it says are civilians in Gaza.

Today, Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, explains the history of the disputed territory and why he thinks Israel is walking into a trap.  

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Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza, with more than a million citizens warned by Israel to move to the south of the territory ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north.

As more civilians die in air strikes on Gaza, are we at a tipping point where sentiment turns against Israel, and what will an escalation of the war look like? 

Today, we take you to Gaza and speak to resident and Oxfam worker Najla Shawa, and to Israel’s south where our global affairs editor John Lyons is witnessing a massive build up of soldiers.

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Najla Shawa, Gaza resident

John Lyons, ABC Global Affairs Editor

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the referendum was a moment of disagreement that doesn’t define us. 

But what’s the lasting impact of it? And what does the resounding No vote say about Australia and our democracy? 

Today, the hosts of The Voice Referendum Explained podcast, Fran Kelly on Gadigal land in Sydney and Carly Williams from Minjerribah North Stradbroke Island, on the failed referendum and what happens next.

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Fran Kelly, ABC presenter

Carly Williams, ABC national Indigenous correspondent

It was the referendum Anthony Albanese promised to hold at the last election, but pretty much all the opinion polls suggest that when Australians cast their votes, it will be a resounding “No” to an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. 

The Voice would act as an independent advisory body to the government for First Nations people, but the proposed change to the Constitution has led to a divisive and heated debate. 

Today, ABC reporter Isabella Higgins on why Yes campaigners still see a glimmer of hope and what to expect when you wake up the morning after the vote.  

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Isabella Higgins, ABC reporter

Israeli troops are gathering near the border with Gaza and could be preparing for a ground invasion of the densely populated Palestinian territory. 

The full horror of Hamas’s weekend attacks inside Israel is still emerging and it’s been described as the country’s 9/11 moment. 

Today, director of the Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA, Dov Waxman on the potential ground assault and how Hamas’s allies could respond. 

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Dov Waxman, director of the Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA

In a few days Australia will hold the first referendum to change the constitution in more than 20 years. 

It’s a significant moment, but the debate leading up to it has been divisive and confusing. 

Today, 7.30’s chief political correspondent Laura Tingle with her analysis of the bitterness of the campaign and the scars that will be left once it’s all over. 

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Laura Tingle, 7.30's chief political correspondent

It took just 48 hours for the death toll to rise to more than a thousand and it’s only going to grow as Israel responds to the surprise attack by Hamas militants. 

For decades there’s been hope of a peace deal, but now Israel has declared war with more than a hundred of its citizens also taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group. 

Today, the ABC’s global affairs editor John Lyons on the unprecedented attack, the history of the disputed territory and why he believes there’s still hope for peace. 

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John Lyons, ABC global affairs editor

It’s no secret that China’s economy has taken a hit since COVID, but what the government doesn’t want you to know is the number of young people who can’t find a job. 

Midway through the year, the youth unemployment rate hit a record high and now Beijing is refusing to even publish the figures.

Today, Chinese-American economist Nancy Qian explains why 16 to 24 year olds in China are increasingly frustrated and what that means for the nation’s stability. 

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Nancy Qian, economist at Northwestern University