TGS: Lebanon 13/6/2024

yesterday morning (thursday 13th), 11.32-11.55am, on bbc world service radio

hezbollah: tensions on the israel-lebanon border (in the the global story series) (presented by lucy hockings)

“Ever since Israel launched its Gaza offensive in October, it has also been exchanging fire over its northern border with the Shia militia group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah are ideologically aligned with Hamas, and say they won’t back down until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza.

Now, some in the region are concerned increasing tensions could lead to a full-blown ground war.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah confirmed an Israeli airstrike had killed one of its senior field commanders, before responding with its own barrage of rockets.

In Israel, domestic pressure to act is increasing, and arguments for the IDF to engage Hezbollah further have been bolstered in recent weeks by bushfires in the north of the country sparked by rocket-fire.”

including discussion with …

• bbc reporter hugo bachega

• bbc reporter lina sinjab

TGS: West Bank 3/5/2024

this morning (friday 3rd), 11.32-11.59am, on bbc world service radio

west bank: a bbc investigation into alleged war crimes (in the the global story series) (presented by katya adler, with joshua baker and isobel yeung of bbc investigations)

“Why were two Palestinian boys shot by the Israeli military?

As part of an investigation into the conduct of Israel’s security forces in the West Bank, which has been under military occupation for more than half a century, the BBC has pieced together what happened on the day two boys were killed.

With violence having surged in the enclave in the months since the Hamas led attack on Israel on 7 October, the BBC team also found evidence of civilians threatened with weapons, and increasing tensions.”

TGS: Gaza/Iran 22/4/2024

this morning (monday 22nd), 11.32-11.59am, and podcast, on bbc world service radio

israel-iran: a sigh of relief in the middle east? (in the the global story series) (presented by lyse doucet with parham ghobadi and james landale)

“After weeks of tit for tat strikes between Iran and Israel, the dust appears to be settling on a confrontation that the whole world has nervously observed.

But both sides have crossed what was previously seen as a red line.”

TGS: Feeding Gaza

this morning (friday 19th), 11.32-11.55am, bbc podcast 

feeding gaza: why isn’t more aid getting in? (in the the global story series) (presented by mark lowen)

“Gaza is on the brink of famine. The UN says more than half the population – over a million people – could face catastrophic hunger.

But the process of delivering aid is slow and dangerous..”

including interview with …

• bbc reporter james landale

• journalist ghada ouda

TGS: Gaza 15/4/2024

this morning (monday 15th), 11.32-11.59am, on bbc world service radio

iran-israel attack: a turning point for the middle east? (in the the global story series) (presented by james reynolds with lyse doucet, gordon corera, and siavash ardalan)

“Israel says 99% of the missiles and drones fired by Iran on Saturday night were intercepted without hitting their targets.

Iran said the assault was in response to a deadly attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria two weeks ago.

Now all eyes are on how Israel will respond to Iran’s unprecedented move, is this a whole new chapter in the relations between Iran and Israel?”

TGS: Gaza 5/4/2024

this morning (friday 5th), 11.32-11.59am, on bbc world service radio

how the bbc covers the israel-gaza war (in the the global story series) (presented by katya adler with jo floto)

“Jo Floto – who’s covered conflict for more than two decades — takes us back to the first text he received from Gaza on Oct 7th. It simply said: ‘They’ve started a war’.

In the six months since, he and his team have been working flat out in what he calls the toughest assignment of his life.

He tells his old friend, Katya, where he thinks the war could go next.”

TGS: Rushdi Abualouf

friday 19th january, 27 minutes, bbc podcast 

i won’t let my children suffer again – bbc gaza correspondent (in the the global story series) (presented by katya adler)

“How Rushdi Abualouf reported the Gaza conflict while getting his family to safety.

Ever since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th, the BBC has been reporting on the ongoing Israeli response through air bombardment and ground offensives.

Leading our coverage from the ground in Gaza was our correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, a Palestinian who has lived in the enclave his entire life.

After being forced to leave their home in Gaza City, Rushdi and his family fled south with hundreds of thousands of others attempting to reach safety.

He continued to report on the conflict, even as it threatened the lives of those closest to him, before he secured his family’s escape to Turkey.”

including interview with …

• bbc gaza reporter rushdi abualouf 

TGS: Eurovision 2024

last monday morning (11th march), 18 minutes, bbc podcast 

will politics steal the show at the eurovision song contest? (in the the global story and eurovisioncast series) (presented by james reynolds with daniel rosney)

“As war continues in Gaza, a cultural row is flaring on the other side of the world over Israel’s involvement in the 2024 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The country’s act was initially blocked from entering the world’s largest music competition as its proposed lyrics were deemed too political, but they have since been cleared to compete.

This has outraged many on social media, with some fans calling for other countries to boycott the event.”

TGS: Rafah

this morning (wednesday 28th), 24 minutes, bbc podcast 

rafah: caught in the crossfire (again) (in the the global story series) (presented by katya adler with fergal keane)

“Rafah, the city the world is watching.

Overflowing with hungry refugees and facing a lethal showdown between Hamas and Israeli forces, Rafah is at the heart of an urgent push for peace.

Children are scavenging for food, even as aid trucks line up over the border in Egypt, and diplomats try to avert a further humanitarian catastrophe.

President Biden is positive a deal can be reached.

But Israel says its hostages must be home by Ramadan, or else.”

including interview with …

• bbc gaza reporter rushdi abualouf 

TGS: Gaza: Families of Israeli Hostages

last wednesday (31st january), 24 minutes, bbc podcast 

families of israeli hostages: “whatever it takes to get them back” (in the the global story series) (presented by katya adler with anna foster)

“The politics of growing anger from desperate relatives.

Israel’s crushing military response to the Hamas mass murder and kidnapping on October 7th has failed to free all the hostages.

It refuses to negotiate directly with Hamas, which it calls a terrorist organisation.”

including interviews with …

• gilad karplus, survivor, festival

• gali idan, survivor, mother of murdered maayan idan 18, wife of kidnapped tsachi idan, nahal oz

• michael levy, brother of kidnapped or levy 33, brother-in-law of murdered einav levy 32, festival