Israel

Since Israel’s offensive began in Rafah in May, the amount of aid actually entering Gaza has dropped by two-thirds, according to the United Nations. Some of it has been stopped by Israeli citizens blocking the aid from entering. Now, other Israelis are pushing back to try to help get aid in.

Israel’s national security adviser says top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is “living on borrowed time.” Sinwar is believed to be the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He would also have to sign off on any ceasefire deal to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza.  

The Israel Defense Forces now controls Gaza’s main border crossing with Egypt in the city of Rafah. Israel’s military carried out airstrikes overnight in Rafah. The IDF operation commenced on Monday as Hamas offered a counterproposal for a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange. The negotiations aimed at getting a ceasefire in place appear to be ongoing.

Many visitors in Israel, both local and international have traveled within Israel to the sites of the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. Host Marco Werman was in Israel recently and asked some of these visitors why they decided to visit these sites of violence. Their answers are varied — and complex.

Israel carried out another attack on Iran, this time on the city of Isfahan. It follows Iran’s firing of hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel for Israel’s strike on the Iranian Embassy complex in Syria. US officials have urged restraint and a deescalation of tensions. The World’s host Carol Hills speaks with Ali Vaez, the Iran project director for the International Crisis Group.