The Brief In

Three years after 7 October 2023, the large-scale phase of Israel’s assault has receded under the October 2025 ceasefire framework, but Palestinians continue to be killed, large parts of Gaza remain under Israeli control, movement is heavily restricted, reconstruction has barely begun and much of the population remains displaced. In this episode of The Brief In podcast, we ask what life in Gaza actually looks like today, and whether the so-called ceasefire has ended the war or simply transformed it into a less visible system of military control, intermittent attacks and permanent emergency. We examine the struggle for shelter, healthcare, education and basic services; the restrictions holding back reconstruction; Israel’s continuing territorial control; and the unresolved question of who will govern Gaza. We also look at the ICC and ICJ, Palestinian detainees, the global Palestine solidarity movement, the political impact of Gaza in Britain, and whether journalism itself has changed after three years of unprecedented scrutiny. Finally, we ask the most important question: what would need to change before Palestinians could genuinely say the war was over?And after three years of destruction, are two states still a viable route to Palestinian self-determination, or has the moment arrived for a deeper debate about one state, equal rights and transitional justice?

Israel heads to the polls on 27 October in an election that could become a referendum not only on Benjamin Netanyahu, but on the wider genocidal doctrine that has defined Israel since 7 October 2023.  In this episode of The Brief In, we look at what is really at stake: Can Netanyahu survive the fallout from Gaza and the war with Iran? Could Arab parties hold the balance of power? Would an opposition victory actually change Israeli policy towards Palestinians, settlements and Gaza? And how could the result reshape Israel’s military adventurism in the region and beyond?  With neither major bloc currently assured of the 61 seats needed to govern, the election could produce a change of leader without necessarily producing a change of direction.

A week from now, the World Cup will kick off in the US, Mexico and Canada. But the warmongering, authoritarianism, and visa bans of the Trump administration threaten to make this the most controversial in recent memory. Yet there is record MENA participation, and that’s not the only positive story of the World Cup 2026. The New Arab is joined by sports content creator Salma Mashhour to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the beautiful game.

Is Syria finally having its accountability moment?  In this episode of The Brief In, we examine Syria’s fragile and deeply contested transitional justice process after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The episode examines Syria’s transitional justice process, the Atef Najib trial and wider questions of accountability. Is Syria finally having its accountability moment, or is it witnessing the performance of justice? In this episode of The Brief In, we examine Syria’s fragile and deeply contested transitional justice process after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, focusing on the high-profile trials of former regime figures accused of torture, repression, killings and crimes that helped define one of the most brutal chapters in modern Middle Eastern history.

As a fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon approaches its 17 May deadline, uncertainty is mounting over what comes next. Agreed in mid-April and extended to allow negotiations, the truce has been repeatedly violated, with continued Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks raising fears of renewed war. In this episode of The Brief In, we unpack the competing pressures shaping Lebanon’s next move: US and regional demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israeli insistence on security guarantees, and deep internal divisions in Beirut that have stalled a unified negotiating position. With over a million displaced and parts of southern Lebanon devastated, the stakes are existential. Can diplomacy hold, or is escalation inevitable? And what would the collapse of the ceasefire mean for Lebanon’s sovereignty, economy, and regional position in an already widening Middle East conflict?

Journalists from Middle East focused newsroom The New Arab unpack the questions surrounding the US-Iran ceasefire. Is Lebanon still included after Israel's deadly assault on 'Black Wednesday'? What will the sides discuss in Islamabad on Friday? Did Donald Trump get his ego trip and secure a win against Iran? With guest appearance from Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, to tell us where the U.S. stands strategically as the war is halted for at least the next two weeks.

On this special episode, The New Arab Head of News Paul McLoughlin welcomes Syrian filmmaker-journalist Waad Al-Kateab, co-creator of the acclaimed documentary For Sama (98% on Rotten Tomatoes, Oscar and BAFTA nominated), and Syrian political scientist Azzam Al Kassir. They reflect on their personal journeys, their work and what the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s fall means today. Their conversation weaves together frontline journalism and deep research to explore Syria’s past, its trauma and glimpses of hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Gaza is not over. Israel has violated the ceasefire killing scores already. What implications is this new phase of the war has on solidarity with the Palestinians Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.