In Tel Aviv there have been scenes of true joy in Hostages Square and in the pictures of the hostages reunited with their families after a harrowing two year ordeal at the hands of Hamas and other militants in Gaza. Our first guest understands the agony experienced by those receiving their loved ones today. Meirav Leshem Gonen's daughter Romi was held by Hamas for 471 days. She was released in January and then spent 6 months in hospital. Meirav joins Christiane from Israel.  Also on today's show: Yousra Abu Sharekh, Gaza Program Coordinator, INARA; Khaled Elgindy, Visiting Scholar Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies; Gershon Baskin, former hostage negotiator

Oct 13, 2025

Two years after October 7th,  a rare moment of hope and jubilation for war-ravaged Gaza and for Israelis awaiting the return of their loved ones, after Donald Trump announced the Israel-Hamas deal had been reached. Christiane speaks with three Middle East mediators, Oliver Mcternan of Forward Thinking, Israel's Yossi Beilin who served as the country's justice minister, and Hussein Agha who has a long history in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, about the intricacies of the deal and whether it wi...Show morell lead to a lasting peace. Then, Christiane speaks with Israeli journalist Nir Hasson about why he thinks Israel's brutal response to the October 7th massacre "destroyed the foundations on which the State of Israel was founded." Plus, CNN's Gustavo Valdes reports on the administration's deportation of Emmy-award winning journalist, Mario Guevara, who was arrested by ICE in June after live-streaming coverage of a "No Kings" protest. Also on the show, former Israeli hostage Nili Margalit recounts her horrendous experience in the tunnels of Gaza during Hamas captivity. Christiane also speaks with Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief, Wael al-Dahdouh who became the face of what journalists like himself have had to endure covering the carnage in Gaza. And as the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded this week, from her archives, Christiane revisits the story of Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman and Iranian to win, and the extraordinary courage behind her fight for human rights. Air date: October 11th, 2025 Guests: Oliver Mcternan, Yossi Beilin, Hussein Agha,  Nir Hasson Wael al-Dahdouh

Oct 11, 2025

Despite the joy and celebration for people across the Middle East at the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the United Nations, once seen as the world's best hope for peace, is increasingly paralyzed. U Thant was its Secretary General and played a pivotal role in ending the many international crises of that time. His grandson, renowned historian Thant Myint U, joins the show to talk about his new book "Peacemaker" and what today's leaders can learn from his grandfather.   Also on today's show: Werner Herzog, Author, "The Future of Truth"; Arundhati Roy, Author, "Mother Mary Comes to Me"

Oct 10, 2025

Following the announcement of the ceasefire late last night, many are closely watching how Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan will be implemented in the coming days. While the details of the plan outline a framework for lasting peace, questions remain about how Hamas and Israel will move forward in negotiations and the extent to which international actors will support the process. Nic Robertson joins the program live from Cairo share insights into the global political response to this historic d...Show moreevelopment.  Also on today's show: Israeli artist Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were taken hostage by Hamas; MSF Communications Officer Nour Alsaqqa; Bushra Khalidi, West Bank Policy Lead, Oxfam; Yossi Beilin, Former Israeli Justice Minister; Oliver McTernan, Co-founder and Director, Forward Thinking; former Palestinian negotiator Hussein Agha; former French Ambassador to UK Sylvie Bermann

Oct 9, 2025

Talks continue in Egypt to end the war in Gaza. But more than two years after the horrendous Hamas attacks of October 7th, and Israel's brutal military response, if a ceasefire is reached, what will life be like for Israelis, and for Palestinians, after the bombs stop falling? Israeli journalist Nir Hasson writes about what he calls the "October 8th Surprise," Israel's brutal response to the October 7th massacre, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, Gaza in rubble, and he write...Show mores, "destroyed the foundations on which the state of Israel was built." He joins the program from Jerusalem.  Also on today's show: Venezuelan opposition leader David Smolansky; former NSC Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere Juan Sebastian Gonzalez; Business Insider investigative reporter Hannah Beckler

Oct 8, 2025

Two years on from October 7th, and for so many in Israel, the wounds are still as fresh as ever. This morning people gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to mark this grim anniversary, and to continue the push for their loved ones to finally be freed. Negotiators are in Egypt, attempting to make President Trump's ceasefire proposal a reality, even as bombs continue to fall on Gaza. Jeremy Diamond joins from Hostages Square with the latest.  Also on today's show: Haaretz journalist Amir Tibon, a survivor of the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023; Gaza-based UNICEF spokesperson James Elder; Palestinian peace activist Aziz Abu Sarah; author Taylor Harris ("This Boy We Made")

Oct 7, 2025

A push for peace is underway in Egypt, where key negotiators from Israel, Hamas and the United States are looking to reach an agreement on President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war. Trump says they're "very close" to reaching a deal, but huge obstacles remain such as the demand for Hamas to disarm and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's views on Palestinian statehood. Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea joins the show from Tel Aviv to discuss.  Also on today's show: Rachid El Khalfi, Spokesperson, Moroccan Ministry of Interior; Susan Glasser, Staff Writer, The New Yorker; Adam Serwer, Staff Writer, The Atlantic

Oct 6, 2025

From abroad, the chaos in Washington resonates far and wide, as the U.S. government shuts down, with Democrats going to the mat for American's healthcare. Just as the shutdown took place, Christiane spoke with Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen who has worked towards bipartisan consensus for more than thirty years but also believes it's time to mount an effective opposition to some of Trump's policies. Then, director Benny Safdie talks to Christiane about making his new film, "The Smashing Machin...Show moree," dealing with loss and transforming Dwayne Johnson, aka "The Rock," into a mixed martial artist. Plus, another blow for Afghanistan's women after the internet was shut down in the country for days. Amanda Davies has a special report on the exiled girls fighting for freedom through football. And, defying bombs and presidential warnings to break the news, former CNN chief, Tom Johnson speaks to Christian about his new book, "Driven," dealing with depression and how he led CNN through a golden age despite a nightmarish job interview with Ted Turner and Jane Fonda. Then, after a total and sudden internet blackout by the Taliban in Afghanistan this week, from her archives, shortly after 9/11, when the U.S. and its allies sent the Taliban and Al-Qaeda packing, Christiane's 2001 report about what it was like when TV and satellite were finally brought back. And finally, remembering the remarkable life of primatologist Jane Goodall,  Christiane revisits her conversation with the woman who changed our understanding of the world. Air date: October 4th, 2025 Guests: Jeanne Shaheen Benny Safdie  Tom Johnson

Oct 4, 2025

For years, Washington and Beijing have gone head-to-head for economic, military and technological superiority. At the United Nations General Assembly, China sent a clear message that it was ready to step in as the world's superpower - making pledges on everything from trade to climate. As US Ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns witnessed China's push for power up close - from cyber attacks on America to designs on Taiwan, and he joins the show from New York to explain what he saw and what's ahead.   Also on today's show: Benny Safdie, Director, "The Smashing Machine"; Trymaine Lee, Author, "A Thousand Ways to Die"

Oct 3, 2025

Ukraine President Zelensky is in Copenhagen meeting European leaders as they pledge to again boost support for his country's defense. Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who served twice as Ukraine's prime minister and was a leading figure during the pro-Western 2014 Maidan Revolution, joins Christiane in London.  Also on today's show: actor/activist Jane Fonda & SHINE Collab Director Mela Chiponda; Task Force on Nuclear Proliferation and US National Security co-chairs Meghan O'Sullivan and Ernest Moniz

Oct 2, 2025