Tug of War

By CNN

What's Tug of War about?

CNN reporters take us on-the-ground in Israel to document the escalating conflict and what it means for the rest of the world.

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Tug of War episodes:

05.10.2024
Biden’s Weapons Warning to Israel
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...
05.08.2024
Israel Enters Rafah. Is a Ceasefire Deal Off the Table?
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...
05.03.2024
A Rare Look Inside Iran
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...
05.01.2024
Will a Ceasefire Deal Stop the Rafah Incursion?
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,...
04.26.2024
A Hostage Family Gets Proof of Life
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...
04.24.2024
Why Sanctions May Not Stop the Violence in the West Bank
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...
04.19.2024
Israel Strikes Inside Iran. Is the Tit-for-Tat Over?
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...
04.18.2024
How Israel-Iran Tensions Moved Out of the Shadows
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...
04.17.2024
Israel Tries to Thread the Needle
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...
04.15.2024
Iran Strikes Israel. Will Israel Return Fire?
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...
04.12.2024
How An Aid Group in Gaza Works Around Israel’s Restrictions
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,...
04.10.2024
The Meaning Behind Israel’s Latest Military Moves
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...
04.05.2024
Gaza’s Humanity, On Tape
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...
04.03.2024
The Strike in Syria That Could Ignite a Wider War
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...
03.29.2024
The Conscription Plan That Could Shake Up Israel’s Government
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...
03.27.2024
The True Cost of Hunger in Gaza
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...
03.22.2024
Israeli Officials Are Coming to DC. Will They Bring an Open Mind?
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...
03.20.2024
The Babies Being Sent Back to Gaza
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...
03.15.2024
Inside the Far-Right Israeli Push to Resettle Gaza
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...
03.13.2024
Ramadan, Rafah, & Red Lines
As Ramadan begins, hunger in Gaza is setting in and there is fear about a possible Israeli ground incursion into the overcrowded city of Rafah. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have gone back and...
03.08.2024
UN Report on Sexual Violence Allegations in Israel and Gaza
Earlier this week, the United Nations special envoy on sexual violence in conflict shared her team’s findings about allegations of sexual assault in the aftermath of the deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7th. The response follows months of...
03.06.2024
Has the US Run Out of Patience with Israel?
As mediators struggle to broker a deal for a hostage release and temporary ceasefire, the US has taken to airdropping food into Gaza to help stem the massive humanitarian crisis unfolding in the enclave. Meanwhile, Israeli war cabinet Minister Benny Gantz has...
03.01.2024
How a Chance Discovery Revealed a Hidden Atrocity in Gaza
As the Palestinian death toll passes 30,000, scenes of desperation and heartbreak are everywhere in Gaza. Nearly every civilian has experienced death and violence at the hands of Israeli forces or knows someone who has. However, because of frequent communications...
02.28.2024
Biden’s Optimistic About a Ceasefire Deal. Hamas and Israel Say Not So Fast.
In recent days, negotiating parties have met in Paris and Qatar in hopes of reaching a deal on a hostage release and a pause in fighting in Gaza. While two sources familiar with the discussions say Hamas has softened on...
02.23.2024
How a Gaza Food Convoy Became an Israeli Target
Despite heavy Israeli bombardment, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are still living in northern Gaza without basic supplies like food. The United Nations says it has identified acute malnutrition in 16.2% of children there as hunger continues to spread throughout...
02.21.2024
What Kind of Ceasefire Can the US Get Behind?
As Israel prepares a potential ground operation into Rafah, the US has vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza. Meanwhile, it has proposed its own draft resolution which calls for a ‘temporary ceasefire.’ The diplomatic...
02.16.2024
On The Frontlines of the Red Sea Response
Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen continue to target commercial ships and US coalition forces in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s aggression in Gaza. The attacks have disrupted global shipping and escalated tension in the region. While the US...
02.14.2024
The Huge Toll of a Hostage Rescue in Rafah
Israel has announced plans to launch a ground offensive into Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are taking shelter with nowhere else to go. On Monday, Israel’s military rescued two Israeli-Argentine hostages from the southern Gaza city but killed about...
02.09.2024
Four Months of War: Running Out of Time in Rafah
Thousands of displaced Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah say they are increasingly worried about what will happen when Israel’s military pushes even further into southern Gaza. Four months into the war, aid groups say hospitals are barely functional...
02.07.2024
Four Months of War: Complicated Anger in Israel
Four months after the deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the region speaking to the major players working on a potential hostage release and ceasefire deal. As hostage families continue to...
02.02.2024
Iran's New Headache: Its Own Proxies
As Iranian-backed proxies continue to step up attacks across the Middle East, experts have been closely watching Iranian leadership for their response. Meanwhile, the US continues to weigh its next moves after a recent attack that killed three US service...
01.31.2024
What the Next Hostage Release Could Look Like
After weeks of negotiations, a broad framework for a new hostage release and potential ceasefire is being considered by Hamas. While details are still being sorted out, the news could provide hope to families of those who have been held...
01.26.2024
Why are Graves in Gaza Being Unearthed?
As Israeli military operations continue inside Gaza, Palestinians continue to struggle to find food and shelter. Meanwhile, tactics being used by Israel Defense Forces on the ground are coming under scrutiny ahead of an initial ruling from the International Court...
01.24.2024
The US-Israel Divide Over a Two-State Solution
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty as Israel fights Hamas in Gaza. The Biden administration continues to push for a two-state solution, as Biden and Netanyahu remain publicly at odds over what will happen to...
01.19.2024
The Gazan Doctor's Phone Call That Shook Israelis
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is known as the first Palestinian doctor to hold a staff position at an Israeli hospital, advocating for peace while delivering thousands of babies. Then during fighting between Israel and Hamas in 2009, the Gazan doctor became known for...
01.17.2024
What’s Really Behind the Houthi Red Sea Attacks
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to target cargo ships in the Red Sea despite multiple rounds of retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets from a US-led coalition. Meanwhile, Iran itself launched missiles into Iraq and Syria, escalating fears of a...
01.12.2024
CNN Goes Inside Gaza’s Tunnels
Hamas has long used an intricate series of tunnels in Gaza to transport weapons and do battle with Israeli forces. A number of Israeli hostages are also believed to be held underground after being kidnapped on October 7th. In this...
01.10.2024
The Genocide Case Against Israel
South Africa has filed an unprecedented genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its war in Gaza. As court proceedings get underway this week, Israel is slamming the case and defending its methods as it fights...
01.08.2024
Can The US Help Reduce Tensions in the Middle East?
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East for meetings with key players as tensions remain high across the region. As Israel continues to strike inside Gaza, a number of attacks in Lebanon have raised the...
01.05.2024
A Former Hamas Hostage Tells Her Story
Doron Katz Asher describes October 7th as a “war movie.” On that day, she was thrown into the back of a tractor with her 5-year-old and 2-year-old daughters and taken hostage into Gaza. The family spent nearly 50 days in...
01.03.2024
Why Fewer Troops May Not Mean Less War in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces say military operations in Gaza will continue “throughout” this year, even as it withdraws a number of reservists from the territory. The move comes as senior US officials anticipate a transition to a lower-intensity strategy that...
12.22.2023
Investigating a ‘Slow-Motion Annexation’ in the West Bank
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank say they are being forced from their homes due to violence from extremist Israeli settlers and Israeli military actions, which the Israel Defense Forces often says is in response to suspected terror activity. However,...
12.20.2023
Why Are Container Ships Being Attacked in the Red Sea?
As Israel continues its military operation in Gaza, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea in retaliation. A senior US military official says the breadth of attacks has not been seen in at...
12.18.2023
Israeli Military Kills 3 Hostages. What Happens Now?
On Friday, three Israeli hostages in Gaza tried to make contact with their country’s military, waving a white flag and yelling in Hebrew. In response, troops mistakenly shot and killed them. Now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is dealing with...
12.14.2023
Witnessing Gaza's Reality: Hospitals Filled with Children
As Israel continues its military campaign across the Gaza strip, humanitarian groups say children are being disproportionally killed and injured. Field hospitals have been struggling to keep up as more evacuees make their way to southern Gaza. In this episode,...
12.13.2023
Inside the Antisemitism Debate on Campus
The presidents of three Ivy League universities have been criticized for their congressional testimony, in which they failed to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews as explicitly against campus harassment and bullying codes. In fact, University of Pennsylvania president...
12.11.2023
Containing the Clashes at the Israel-Lebanon Border
Israel’s military and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have been trading fire since October 8, causing global anxiety that these clashes could spread into a larger war. In this episode, CNN’s Ivan Watson takes us to Lebanon’s border with Israel to...
12.08.2023
Two Months Later, Has Israeli Sympathy Run Out?
More than a week after the truce with Hamas ended, the Israel Defense Forces continue to strike hundreds of targets in Gaza daily. Meanwhile, prominent voices continue to speak out against Israeli military tactics as civilian deaths and humanitarian concerns...
12.06.2023
What We Know About Sexual Violence on October 7th
Note: this episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence and war. Nearly two months after the deadly Hamas terror attacks on Israel, more prominent voices are speaking out against sexual violence allegedly committed by Hamas on October 7th. Advocates say some...
12.04.2023
No Food, No Safety: Gaza’s Humanitarian Disaster
The restart of war in Gaza has left humanitarian aid hanging in the balance. Israel is expanding its ground operation into southern Gaza, placing civilians’ access to food and other necessary items at risk. In this episode, CNN International Correspondent Larry...

What's Tug of War about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Tug of War episodes:

Biden’s Weapons Warning to Israel

Israel Enters Rafah. Is a Ceasefire Deal Off the Table?

A Rare Look Inside Iran

Will a Ceasefire Deal Stop the Rafah Incursion?

A Hostage Family Gets Proof of Life

Why Sanctions May Not Stop the Violence in the West Bank

Israel Strikes Inside Iran. Is the Tit-for-Tat Over?

How Israel-Iran Tensions Moved Out of the Shadows

Israel Tries to Thread the Needle

Iran Strikes Israel. Will Israel Return Fire?

How An Aid Group in Gaza Works Around Israel’s Restrictions

The Meaning Behind Israel’s Latest Military Moves

Gaza’s Humanity, On Tape

The Strike in Syria That Could Ignite a Wider War

The Conscription Plan That Could Shake Up Israel’s Government

The True Cost of Hunger in Gaza

Israeli Officials Are Coming to DC. Will They Bring an Open Mind?

The Babies Being Sent Back to Gaza

Inside the Far-Right Israeli Push to Resettle Gaza

Ramadan, Rafah, & Red Lines

UN Report on Sexual Violence Allegations in Israel and Gaza

Has the US Run Out of Patience with Israel?

How a Chance Discovery Revealed a Hidden Atrocity in Gaza

Biden’s Optimistic About a Ceasefire Deal. Hamas and Israel Say Not So Fast.

How a Gaza Food Convoy Became an Israeli Target

What Kind of Ceasefire Can the US Get Behind?

On The Frontlines of the Red Sea Response

The Huge Toll of a Hostage Rescue in Rafah

Four Months of War: Running Out of Time in Rafah

Four Months of War: Complicated Anger in Israel

Iran's New Headache: Its Own Proxies

What the Next Hostage Release Could Look Like

Why are Graves in Gaza Being Unearthed?

The US-Israel Divide Over a Two-State Solution

The Gazan Doctor's Phone Call That Shook Israelis

What’s Really Behind the Houthi Red Sea Attacks

CNN Goes Inside Gaza’s Tunnels

The Genocide Case Against Israel

Can The US Help Reduce Tensions in the Middle East?

A Former Hamas Hostage Tells Her Story

Why Fewer Troops May Not Mean Less War in Gaza

Investigating a ‘Slow-Motion Annexation’ in the West Bank

Why Are Container Ships Being Attacked in the Red Sea?

Israeli Military Kills 3 Hostages. What Happens Now?

Witnessing Gaza's Reality: Hospitals Filled with Children

Inside the Antisemitism Debate on Campus

Containing the Clashes at the Israel-Lebanon Border

Two Months Later, Has Israeli Sympathy Run Out?

What We Know About Sexual Violence on October 7th

No Food, No Safety: Gaza’s Humanitarian Disaster

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