The situation in the Middle East is being described as uncharted territory following strikes involving Iran and Israel. This is framed around the war between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month.

In this edition, three people in Israel share their experiences with host James Reynolds. Avi, Lianne and Liah describe what it was like when Iran launched drones and missiles at their country and how the Hamas-led attack of 7 October continues to impact every moment of their lives.

“I have two boys that are the same age as the two boys held by Hamas,” Lianne tells us. “Whenever I go to sleep at night – if I get some sleep – all I think about is those two boys. Everything has changed, that’s all we think about, we’re a traumatised nation.”

Liah also shares her feelings about how Israelis are perceived and, because of their Jewish faith, how they feel threatened.

“I now know what every generation of Jews has been through,” she tells us. “All the libels that the world has put out about us now are the same libels that we have had for generations, and they lived through it, so we live through it or we don’t. And that’s the reality for Jews.”

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the OS team.

(Photo: People walk past an Israeli flag, after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 14, 2024. Credit: Hannah McKay/Reuters) Show less