The Inside Story Podcast

The US Middle East envoy proposes a way to keep the ceasefire going in Gaza. But the original deal remains stuck in the first phase with no progress towards a permanent solution. So what is the actual state of play - and the risks of more war? In this episode:  Alon Pinkas, Former Ambassador and Consul General of Israel in the United States. Tahani Mustafa, Senior Palestine Analyst,...

A UN investigation concludes Israel carried out genocidal acts by destroying Gaza's main fertility clinic and maternity hospitals. Israel has rejected the report, which also alleges sexual violence. So, what are the implications? And will there be accountability? In this episode:  Sari Bashi, Program Director at Human Rights Watch Muhammad Dahleh, Lawyer specialising in human rights Arwa Damo...

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the front while Washington's diplomatic drive to end the Ukraine war intensifies. US officials are in Moscow after winning Ukrainian backing for a 30-day ceasefire. Is the war nearing an end - and what are the obstacles? In this episode:  Peter Zalmayev, Executive Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative Leonid Ragozin, Independent journalist who sp...

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is under arrest. He's facing charges of crimes against humanity for his war on drugs. The International Criminal Court says thousands were killed under his watch. So, how will this play out domestically? In this episode:  Kristina Conti - Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers Luis Moreno Ocampo - Former Chief Prosecutor at the...

Sharp words for the U.S. from Canada’s incoming prime minister. Mark Carney has lashed out at Donald Trump, saying his country will never be part of the United States. As the standoff between the two nations intensifies, how will Carney deal with Trump? In this episode:  Jen Hassum -- Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute, a progressive think tank Amy Koch -- Republica...

Could South Sudan slip into another civil war? Fighting in the northeast, is endangering an already fragile power-sharing agreement. With a war ongoing in neighbouring Sudan, what would a new conflict in South Sudan mean for the region? In this episode:  Nicholas Haysom, UN Special Representative for South Sudan. Alan Boswell, International Crisis Group's Project Director for the Ho...

We won't negotiate under pressure. The words of Iran's top leader after Donald Trump offered to talk about its nuclear programme. The US President threatened war would be the alternative. So, is a nuclear deal with Iran possible? And if so, on what terms? In this episode:  Heino Klinck, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh - Director of the House...

Civilians among hundreds killed in Syria while government forces battle fighters loyal to the deposed Assad regime. President Ahmed al-Sharaa promises accountability for anyone attacking civilians; the UN envoy expresses alarm. What's the risk of escalation? In this episode:  Marie Forestier, Senior Adviser, European Institute of Peace. Ammar Kahf, Executive Director, Omran Center for Strateg...

A deepening political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The autonomous Serb region bans state police and the judiciary, after its leader is convicted of undermining the national constitution. Both the US and EU are condemning the move. So, what might happen next? In this episode:  Srdan Mazalica, Member of Parliament  Kurt Bassuener, Co-Founder of Democratization Policy Co...

Tariffs are central to US economic and foreign policy in the new Trump administration. The reverberations of his supporters' cheers in Congress are matched only by the shudders of apprehension globally. So, what's in store for the US and the world? In this episode:  Niall Stanage, White House columnist, The Hill Dimitris Valatsas, Chief economist and founding partner of Aurora Macro Strategie...

Arab leaders approve Egypt's plan for Gaza's future -- including major reconstruction and elections. It follows President Trump's proposal to forcibly expel Palestinians and turn Gaza into a US-controlled beach resort. Can the Arab nations' plan become reality? In this episode:  Ori Goldberg -- Political commentator and former academic specialising in Middle East studies Mansour Shouman...

A lack of international action to counter a new round of Israeli siege on Gaza raises questions and concerns. Is the use of starvation as a weapon of war being normalized? Is the U.S. still committed to the ceasefire deal it helped broker? In this episode:  Akiva Eldar, political analyst, contributor to Haaretz and Author of "Lords of the Land". Tahani Mustafa, Senior analyst on Pal...

After a public dressing down in Washington, Ukraine's leader got a much warmer welcome in London. European leaders have pledged to increase their support and work on a plan to end the war. But can they reach a common ground with Donald Trump -- on agreeing a peace deal? In this episode:  Robert Hamilton - Head of Eurasia Research at the Foreign Policy Institute. He's also a retired...

The ceasefire in Gaza hangs in the balance, as Israel insists on extending phase one. Hamas says that is a breach of their original truce agreement. And Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of consequences if the group does not accept. So will Israel resume its war on Gaza? Or can the ceasefire be salvaged? In this episode:  Xavier Abu Eid, Political Analyst, former adviser to th...

It was meant to pave the way for a ceasefire in Ukraine. But the public meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned contentious. And the US president has threatened to withdraw his support. What does this mean for the war in Ukraine? And will Washington force a settlement with Moscow? In this episode:  Michael Bo-Sir-Queue, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council's Eurasia...

The jailed founder and leader of the PKK calls on the Kurdish group to disband. That follows four decades of fighting with Turkiye, costing forty thousand lives. So why is this coming now, and what impact could it have on Turkiye and the region? In this episode:  Omer Ozkizilcik, Director of Turkish Studies at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies. H. A. Hellyer, Senior Fellow in G...

Recent elections in Europe have seen wins for parties with harsh stances on migration. That mirrors Donald Trump's success in the US. Inflammatory claims shape political debate, while statistics deny a link between rising crime and migration. So why is this happening? I n this Episode:   Suzanne Lynch, Associate Editor and author of the Global Playbook newsletter at POLITICO. Zoe Gardner...

The Gaza ceasefire deal remains in place after Hamas says Israel has agreed to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, which was delayed last week. But uncertainty surrounds the overall agreement before the second stage has even begun. Can the deal hold? And what threatens it? I n this Episode:   Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General, Palestinian National Initiative. Paul Musgrave, Associ...

Difficult times for Germany's new government after Sunday's elections. An economic crisis at home, war in Ukraine and transatlantic turbulence with the US under Donald Trump. So, how will Europe's biggest economy deal with the challenges ahead? I n this Episode:   Cathryn Cluver Ashbrook, Executive Vice President, Bertelsmann Stiftung.  Carl Muhlbach, Founder and Director, Fisc...

Three years since Russian forces launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine - and the art of war has turned into the art of the deal. Kyiv and Washington are negotiating over minerals, and American support hangs in the balance. But how realistic are Donald Trump's demands? And what options does Volodymyr Zelenskyy have? I n this Episode:    Peter Zalmayev, Executive Director, Eurasia Democracy I...

Israel has postponed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners despite Hamas earlier releasing six Israeli captives. The group calls it a 'blatant violation' of the Gaza ceasefire deal. So, what's the reason for Israel's decision? And how will it affect the fragile ceasefire?  I n this Episode:   Alon Liel, Former Director, Israel's Foreign Ministry.  Xavier Abu Eid, Politi...

Do Arab leaders have an alternative to Donald Trump's proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza? Some have met to discuss the future of the war-torn strip, and they didn't hold back on their rejection of the US President's idea. But will they be able to make him change his mind? I n this Episode:   Dania Thafer, Executive Director, Gulf International Forum.  Yossi Mekelberg, Senior Con...

Fighting is intensifying in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwanda-backed M23 group is making further territorial advances. So with diplomacy having failed, what are the risks the conflict may escalate into another regional war? I n this Episode:   Kambale Musavuli, Researcher at the Center for Research on the Congo. Angela Muvumba Sellström, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Afr...

The new US administration has revealed a stunning reversal of America’s policy on the war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of misleading the US into spending billions of dollars on a war that could not be won. He also blamed Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war, despite the fact Russia invaded. So is all this about what's best for Ukraine? Or is it...

A meeting on Ukraine without Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticises talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia while Donald Trump blames Kyiv for the war. The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin and Trump are likely to talk again soon. So where does all this leave Ukraine? I n this Episode:   Anatol Lieven, Director, Eurasia Programme, Quincy Institute.  Andrey Kortunov, Former D...