For months, Iranian backed Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant shipping in the Red Sea. In response, an international task force patrols the waters to protect the civilian vessels. In this episode of Battle Lines we speak to former warship commander and Telegraph writer Tom Sharpe about operation Prosperity Guardian, naval strategy and life at sea.

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Tom Sharpe,  former Royal Navy officer, @TomSharpe134 on X.

Read: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/t/tk-to/tom-sharpe/

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In this episode of Battle Lines, we hear from Foreign Correspondent Lizzie Porter in Jerusalem, who brings up to date on the war in Gaza. Then we look South, with The Telegraph’s Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, at the tensions rising in the Red Sea as Houthi rebels continue to target a busy shipping lane with missiles and drones.

Finally, with our Asia Correspondent Nicola Smith, we travel to Taiwan a week ahead of presidential election in the embattled island nation that could have profound consequences for the country, the region and the world.

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Lizzie Porter (Foreign Reporter). @lcmporter on X.

Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor). @SheridanDani on X.

Nicola Smith (Asia Correspondent). @niccijsmith on X.

Read: Navy has so few sailors it has to decommission ships, by Danielle Sheridan

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In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva joins us from Israel to give us this week's update on the fighting, the diplomacy, and the unprecedented events in the Red Sea as Houthi rebels target international shipping. 

Then we stay with Nataliya for a special dispatch from Jerusalem, as she interviews the only licensed Santa in the city, ahead of a Christmas full of worry for the region's Christian population.

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.

Read: Jerusalem’s only accredited Santa Claus vows to keep entertaining children despite war, by Nataliya Vasilyeva

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In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva joins us from Bethlehem in the West Bank to bring us up to date with the news from the Israeli assault on the Gaza strip, and Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan talks us through her analysis of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and asks how the war has impacted his chances of political survival. 

Plus more than a month on from the start of Israeli ground operations in Gaza, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon shares his thoughts on the tactics and effectiveness of the IDF. 

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.

Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @sophia_yan on X.

Hamish de Bretton Gordon, former British Army Colonel. @HamishDBG on X.

Read: Netanyahu fighting on two fronts – in Gaza and for his own survival, by Sophia Yan

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'Children think that their father is a superhero, but I cannot do anything for them': a dispatch from Gaza

In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva and Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan both join us from on the ground in Israel, and Sophia guides us through the experience of Gazan journalist Sami Abu Salem and how his life has altered forever after October 7th.

Plus we hear from Ilay David, who is calling for the world not to forget the Hamas hostages still waiting to be released, like his brother Evyatar.

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.

Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @sophia_yan on X.

We were joined by Sami Abu Salem.

You can watch Ilay David talk about his brother Evyatar here: https://youtu.be/YUa3A7t3c4U

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Life in Gaza.

For weeks now, we've been covering the deteriorating situation in Gaza, as Israeli strikes and fierce fighting between the IDF and Hamas destroyed buildings, infrastructure, and lives. 

To get an idea of what life is like on the ground, we contacted our journalist and fixer, Siham Shamalakh who lives in Gaza. Sending us her thoughts via WhatsApp voice notes, Siham reflects on her personal journey of having to flee her home and considers what the future might hold for the Palestinian people.

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Siham Shamalakh reporting from Gaza.

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As the ceasefire ends, we reflect on the hostage releases - and those left behind.

In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva and Senior Reporter Henry Bodkin join us from on the ground in Israel, where they reflect on a week of hostage releases, and consider what the West Bank settlement of the Israeli finance minister can tell us about Gaza's future.

Plus we hear from Orit Meir, whose son Almog is a hostage of Hamas, as she makes a heartfelt plea to get him back. 

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.

Henry Bodkin (Senior Reporter). @HenryBodkin on X.

We were joined by Orit and Aviram Meir. You can watch their interview here: https://youtu.be/rcPehC4sd2s

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The view from Lebanon

In this bonus episode of Battle Lines, Sophia Yan brings us her interview with Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib. They discuss how the war in Israel and Gaza is impacting his country and the wider region, and what role the US and Britain have to play in resolving the conflict. 

Contributors:

Sophia Yan (Host, Senior Foreign Correspondent). @sophia_yan on X.

Abdallah Bou Habib (Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs).

Read: Britain must take more responsibility for Israel-Hamas war, says Lebanon, by Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/27/uk-responsible-israel-hamas-war-balfour-declaration-lebanon/

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Israel waits for Hamas to release hostages

In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva looks at the highly anticipated hostage release and temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, after weeks of bloody fighting. She also talks about the rollercoaster of emotions being experienced by the families of hostages, desperate to find out if their loved makes will make the lists of those being released.

Plus Foreign Reporter Verity Bowman on the dire public health situation in Gaza as disease stalks the streets. 

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on Twitter.

Verity Bowman (Foreign Reporter). @VerityBowman on X.

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In this bonus episode of Battle Lines, we hear from Naomi Greenaway, Deputy Editor of the Telegraph Magazine, who tells the story of Adi Efrat.

Adi Efrat was taken from her home on Kibbutz Be’eri and held hostage by Hamas for over 12 hours. Naomi explains that for Adi, her life will forever more be split in two – before and after October 7th, recounts that day, and explains how Adi is still full of hope for peace.

Contributors:

David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.

Naomi Greenaway (Deputy Editor, Telegraph Magazine). @naomisamuelsgreenaway on X.

Read: October 7 survivor: ‘I was alone with 15 terrorists – I knew at any second they might kill me’, by Naomi Greenaway: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/12/adi-efrat-hostage-israel-hamas-terrorist/

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