Middle East matters

Middle East matters episodes:

• 02.07.2024

  Israel, Lebanon, Turkey: Reports from our correspondents

  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...

  
• 01.31.2024

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

  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...

  
• 01.17.2024

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

  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...

  
• 01.10.2024

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

  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...

  
• 12.13.2023

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

  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...

  
• 12.06.2023

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

  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...

  
• 11.29.2023

  Israeli hostages released: More details of their captivity emerge

  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...

  
• 11.22.2023

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

  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....

  
• 11.15.2023

  Building bridges: Palestinians and Israelis fight for peace amid war

  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...

  
• 11.08.2023

  Special edition: Israel-Hamas war, one month on

  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...

  
• 11.01.2023

  Israel's strategic challenge: Will ground invasion succeed against Hamas?

  In this special edition, we take a closer look at the military strategy behind Israel's ground offensive in Gaza. Can Hamas truly be defeated?

  
• 10.25.2023

  The impact of Israel-Hamas war: How the conflict could affect regional ties

  In this special edition of Middle East Matters, we focus on the regional repercussions of the Israel-Hamas war. The October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel have placed Arab nations which have peace treaties with Israel in the awkward position of trying...

  
• 10.18.2023

  Israel-Hamas, the media war: How to verify information?

  In this special edition of Middle East Matters, we look at the media war being played out in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Researchers who study mis- and disinformation warn that fake stories are spreading fast, adding to the digital fog of...

  
• 10.11.2023

  Hamas-Israel conflict: Could it spread to the wider region?

  Hamas fighters on Saturday launched an unprecedented deadly assault on Israel, catching Israeli intelligence services off-guard. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed the militant group will pay a heavy price. As Israel responds with force, razing whole districts in Gaza,...

  
• 10.04.2023

  Hands off my hummus: Cultural appropriation or tasty treat?

  Is "chocolate hummus" an original, creative recipe or an insult to Arab culture? That's the burning question as a chorus of voices slam the so-called cultural appropriation of Middle Eastern food in the West. Where to draw the line between appropriation...

  
• 09.27.2023

  Egypt presidential election: Opponents under pressure ahead of December vote

  The ballot hadn't been expected until spring next year. But Egypt's National Election Authority announced this week that the country would be holding its presidential vote in December, amid its worst-ever economic crisis. The vote is already fraught with accusations...

  
• 09.21.2023

  Iran-US prisoner swap: Controversy over unblocking of frozen Iranian assets

  This week, five Americans released from an Iranian prison arrived back home in the United States. Their release was a part of a deal brokered by Qatar. The prisoner swap agreement also included the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iranian...

  
• 09.13.2023

  Israel’s judicial reform: A country on the brink of a constitutional crisis?

  Israel's Supreme Court has opened the first case examining the legality of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul, lurching towards a showdown with the nation’s far-right government. The latter has split Israel in two ever since it announced plans...

  
• 09.06.2023

  Nine years of war in Yemen: Is there any hope of a ceasefire?

  It's sometimes called a forgotten war: fighting in Yemen has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Hunger has claimed even more lives, while 4.5 million Yemenis are internally displaced. Yet the complex conflict between Saudi-led forces and Houthi rebels doesn't...

  
• 08.30.2023

  Anti-government protests in Syria spurred by economic crisis and inflation

  Anti-government anger is mounting in southern Syria, where rare protests in the heartland of the minority Druze community are now into their second week. The protests were initially driven by surging inflation and the war-torn country's economic crisis, but have quickly...

  
• 07.12.2023

  Anger on the streets of Israel: Parliament backs controversial judicial reform package

  Protesters in Israel continue to take to the streets. The renewed demonstrations come after the Knesset adopted a key clause in the country's judicial reform package. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing ahead with the controversial bill that seeks to...

  
• 07.05.2023

  Sisi's decade in power: Egyptians struggle under authoritarian rule

  Ten years ago this week, Egypt's first democratically elected president was ousted in a coup d'état. Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was propelled to power by the Arab Spring. His dramatic fall was orchestrated by Abdel Fattah...

  
• 06.28.2023

  Millions of pilgrims converge on Saudi Arabia for Hajj

  It's one of the largest religious gatherings in the world: the Hajj pilgrimage is underway this week in Saudi Arabia, with some 2 million Muslims converging in Mecca and at Mount Arafat. This year's Hajj could be the largest on...

  
• 06.14.2023

  Investing in sport: A weapon of Saudi soft power

  As football superstars like Karim Benzema head to Saudi Arabia, and the kingdom announces a bombshell golf merger, we're asking what role sport plays in Saudi soft power. And is this a case of "sportswashing"? We speak to Yasmine Farouk,...

  
• 06.07.2023

  Lebanon bathing suit row: Woman harassed at Sidon public beach

  Feminists and human rights activists in Lebanon are speaking out against attempts to impose increasing restrictions on their lives in the name of "conservative values". This follows an attack on a woman at a beach in the southern city of...

  
• 05.31.2023

  Truffle hunters killed in Syria: FRANCE 24's investigation exposes IS group attacks

  In Syria, the Islamic State group stands accused of executing a series of attacks targeting truffle hunters. Truffles, or 'sand truffles' as they're commonly known, grow in the desert and have become a sought-after commodity. FRANCE 24's Observers team delved...

  
• 05.24.2023

  ISS welcomes Saudi astronauts: Rayyanah Barnawi becomes first Saudi woman in space

  The International Space Station has rolled out the welcome mat for two Saudi visitors, including the kingdom's first woman in space. The pair is among a group of four that will spend about a week in space before returning to...

  
• 05.17.2023

  Turkey's presidential election: Erdogan headed for historic run-off

  Turkey's presidential election is headed to a run-off on May 28, when Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go head-to-head with the opposition's Kemal Kilicdaroglu. While the incumbent is in a strong position going into the vote, the opposition isn't giving up hope...

  
• 05.10.2023

  Will Turkey's economic crisis impede Erdogan's re-election bid?

  He's the most powerful leader since Ataturk founded the modern Turkish republic a century ago. After three stints as prime minister, the highly divisive and populist Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a third consecutive term as president in Sunday's elections....

  
• 05.03.2023

  Meeting those leaving Israel in opposition to judicial reform

  Israel is still being rocked by huge protests. The most recent rallies took place last Saturday, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets. On the table is a major judicial reform that Benjamin Netanyahu's critics say will...

  
• 04.26.2023

  'I am Alevi': Turkish presidential hopeful Kilicdaroglu breaks religious taboo in video

  The presidential election in Turkey is now less than a month away. Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu is hoping to unseat Recep Tayyip Erdogan and polls show the 74-year-old is expected to win a majority of votes in the first round...

  
• 04.19.2023

  A new order in the Middle East? The ripple effects of Saudi-Iran rapprochement

  In Yemen, more than 900 prisoners were released this past week as momentum builds to end the nine-year conflict there. This is linked to the fact that the leadership in Saudi Arabia and Iran are talking to each other again. The...

  
• 04.12.2023

  Lebanon's economic crisis forces soldiers to desert or take on second jobs

  Lebanon's economic meltdown has plunged most of the population into poverty. It's now also threatening the country's security. As the currency has plummeted to new lows in recent months, salaries too have fallen, as prices rise. To make ends meet,...

  
• 04.05.2023

  The rehabilitation of Assad? Syria's efforts to end regional isolation

  Is Bashar al-Assad's isolation on the world stage coming to an end? The Syrian dictator has been shunned by the international community since 2011, when his regime brutally crushed anti-government protests, triggering the civil war in Syria. But in recent months,...

  
• 03.29.2023

  Israel PM delays judicial reform: Netanyahu wants to 'give time for broad agreement'

  Following weeks of mass protests and a day of nationwide turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yielded to pressure and agreed to postpone his controversial judicial reforms as of March 27th. This decision was a significant reversal for his...

  
• 03.22.2023

  Saudi Arabia and Iran restore relations: A chance at peace for Yemen?

  The two sides in Yemen's conflict have agreed to free nearly 900 people in a prisoner exchange. That deal comes less than two weeks after Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties after years of hostility. The two regional powers...

  
• 03.15.2023

  Two decades after invasion of Iraq, shadow of war still looms large

  Twenty years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, the shadow of the war still looms large. As well as the destabilisation of Iraq and the wider region, the conflict also created a power vacuum that enabled the rise of the...

  
• 03.08.2023

  A month after quake, 1.5 million people still homeless in Turkey

  This week marks one month since the ground shook under southern Turkey and northern Syria. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks killed over 50,000 people, making it one of the deadliest quakes worldwide in the past century. Entire cities...

  
• 03.01.2023

  Authorities in Iraq and Egypt launch social media crackdown

  Iraq's government is going after what it calls "decadent content" on social media. Users of TikTok, Instagram and other platforms who are found to breach "morals and traditions" can now be jailed. The campaign was announced in January and so far, a...

  
• 02.22.2023

  Rising poverty and hunger in Lebanon: The fight against malnutrition for low-income families

  Protesters smashed windows of banks in the Lebanese capital Beirut this past week as the currency hit a new low against the dollar. The Lebanese lira has lost about 97 percent of its value, and more than 80 percent of the population...

  
• 02.15.2023

  In Turkey, President Erdogan faces criticism over earthquake response

  In this special edition of Middle East Matters, we focus on the aftermath of last week's deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Tens of thousands dead and millions in desperate need of basic food-stuffs, water, shelter and medical aid -...

  
• 02.08.2023

  Turkey-Syria earthquakes: International aid guided by geopolitics

  We bring you a special programme on one of the worst natural disasters to hit the Middle East in decades. Thousands have been killed after two massive earthquakes struck south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday. Relief efforts are still underway,...

  
• 02.02.2023

  Israeli-Palestinian conflict: How to end escalating violence after Jenin raid?

  In East Jerusalem, locals are still coming to terms with the trauma of the attack that left seven people dead as they gathered to pray at a synagogue on January 27. That attack was followed by a second incident the...

  
• 01.25.2023

  France demands 'immediate release' of seven French citizens held in Iran

  Concern is growing for seven French nationals being held in Iran. Among them is Fariba Adelkhah, a researcher at Sciences Po university in Paris, who was arrested back in June of 2019, along with her colleague Roland Marchal. Marchal was released...

  
• 01.18.2023

  Israelis rally against Netanyahu government's judicial reform plans

  Just weeks into the job, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's new coalition is facing a backlash over plans to overhaul the judiciary, with tens of thousands joining rallies over the past two weekends. Demonstrators say the proposed reforms, which would allow parliament...

  
• 01.11.2023

  New executions in Iran: UN says regime weaponising death penalty to frighten public

  The UN human rights chief has accused Iran of weaponising the death penalty to frighten the public and crush dissent. The statement follows the execution of four protesters, two of whom were killed last weekend. The UN body says it has information...

  
• 01.04.2023

  The Kurds, a nation without a state: A century-long fight for rights and autonomy

  In this special edition of Middle East Matters, we focus on the Kurds. Spread across four nations, they are the world's largest stateless ethnic group. Indigenous to the Middle East and numbering at least 35 million, the Kurds have sought to...

  
• 12.14.2022

  Controversy over Netflix's 'Farha': Praise and criticism for film's depiction of Nakba

  A polarising new film has been released worldwide on Netflix. "Farha", by Darin J. Sallam, tells the story of a Palestinian teenager during the Nakba, or catastrophe, of 1948. Supporters say the film tells a true Palestinian story, rarely seen on a mainstream...

  
• 12.07.2022

  Is it the end for Iran's morality police? Activists sceptical of claims body is being disbanded

  A three-day general strike is taking place in Iran this week. It's a show of defiance, as the anti-regime protest movement approaches its three-month mark with no sign of abating. On Monday, the strike was observed in dozens of Iranian cities, from...

  
• 11.30.2022

  Iraqi Kurdistan under attack as Iran targets Kurdish opposition groups

  For decades, Iranian Kurdish opposition groups have sought refuge in neighbouring Iraq. But in recent weeks, they have been targeted by dozens of missile and drone attacks launched by Tehran. Authorities there accuse them of supporting anti-government protests that have swept...