Middle East

The Middle East Program heads CSIS’s work on the region, which analyzes a wide range of political, security, and socioeconomic issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, with special attention to the ways that changes in the Middle East and North Africa have effects beyond the region.

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Analysis: The Hostage Crisis in Gaza

Last week, the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza. According to Israeli authorities, more than 60 living hostages, and the bodies of approximately 35 others taken captive during the Hamas-led attack on October 7th, are still in Gaza. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program and executive director of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, about the tactics and implications of the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — September 10, 2024

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Jon B. Alterman

Jon B. Alterman

Senior Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and Director, Middle East Program
Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

Senior Vice President; Harold Brown Chair; and Director, International Security Program
Will Todman

Will Todman

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Daniel Byman

Daniel Byman

Senior Fellow, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program

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11 - 20 of 1822 results
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Michelle Nunn: The Challenges of Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Michelle Nunn, the president and CEO of CARE. Michelle leads more than 8,000 people working around the world in crisis response, health and education access, gender equality, and climate change. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of Gaza's humanitarian crisis by contextualizing it among other global crises. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how global attention on Gaza has affected the conflict and the humanitarian response, and whether sustained humanitarian engagement will translate into the “day after.”

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Leah Hickert — August 20, 2024

CSIS Babel

Gaza's Looming Polio Threat—Gaza: The Human Toll

CSIS welcomed Jean Gough, Special Representative for UNICEF in the State of Palestine; Hamid Jafari, WHO Director of Polio Eradication; and Richard (Rik) Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for Occupied Palestinian Territory, to discuss the threat of polio in Gaza.

Transcript — August 20, 2024

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Analysis: The Aftermath of Haniyeh's Assassination

Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how Ismail Haniyeh's assassination escalates regional tensions and impacts the Israel-Hamas war.  

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — August 13, 2024

CSIS Babel
The Truth of the Matter

Unknown Mideast Redlines

CSIS’ Norm Rule, who served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing significant programs relating to the Middle East, joins the podcast to discuss Iran and what it may do in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — August 9, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter
Audio Briefs

Why Iran Will Escalate

An audio version of “Why Iran Will Escalate,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Alexander Palmer. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Alexander Palmer — August 8, 2024

Audio Briefs

Why Iran Will Escalate

Iran has limited options to respond to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, making escalation likely, even if Tehran prefers a return to the status quo.

Commentary by Alexander Palmer — August 8, 2024

Audio Briefs

Ismail Haniyeh’s Assassination: Escalation or an Off-Ramp?

An audio version of “Ismail Haniyeh’s Assassination: Escalation or an Off-Ramp?,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Riley McCabe. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Riley McCabe — August 1, 2024

Audio Briefs

Ismail Haniyeh’s Assassination: Escalation or an Off-Ramp?

Ismail Haniyeh’s death represents a pivotal moment that could plunge the region into a broader and more destructive war or crack open the door for Netanyahu to claim victory against Hamas and eye a path to reduce Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Commentary by Riley McCabe — August 1, 2024