Deadly Attacks Continue in Gaza, West Bank

Amanpour (CNN Podcasts)

Episode: Deadly Attacks Continue in Gaza, West Bank
Date: November 20, 2025

Overview

This episode of Amanpour explores escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank following the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire. Christiane Amanpour hosts a series of probing discussions and reports:

An update on the mounting violence in Gaza and the West Bank with correspondent Nick Robertson.
An interview with Israeli comedian Noam Schuster Eliasi about the possibilities and limitations of coexistence through humor in Israel/Palestine.
A report on the devastating humanitarian consequences of U.S. and E.U. aid cuts in Mozambique amid a resurgence of ISIS.
A reflective conversation between Michelle Martin and Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, about race, democracy, and recent American history.
A closing note on author Omar El Akkad’s National Book Award for his response to the Gaza war.

Escalation in Gaza and the West Bank

Timestamps: 00:49 – 08:58

Main Points & Insights:

After a U.S.-brokered ceasefire six weeks ago, Israeli airstrikes have killed 32 more Palestinians in Gaza in one of the deadliest weeks since the ceasefire. The total Palestinian death count since then is 312.
12 children and 8 women were among the dead; 88 people were injured in the latest strikes (03:15).
Israeli officials state strikes targeted Hamas gunmen who "crossed the yellow line," the dividing line between IDF-controlled and Hamas-controlled areas in Gaza.
Disparity and confusion about the ceasefire terms:

“Perhaps this typifies the breakdown in information that is not clearly not being shared and the disparity of interpretation of what the ceasefire is about by both sides.” — Nick Robertson [03:15]
No "Board of Peace" or international stabilization force is currently in place as called for by the UN; diplomats say these critical peace-keeping structures are at least six months away (04:56).
Rising, systematic violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, where the UN recorded 264 attacks in October—its highest ever (06:12).
Some Israeli officials have labeled radical settlers as "Jewish terrorists" or "anarchists," but opposition groups and Palestinians accuse the Israeli government of enabling settler violence by failing to restrain them:

“Despite what they say, [the government] is enabling this.” — Nick Robertson [07:08]
Activists claim settler violence is shifting from rural attacks to efforts to force Palestinians into a few major cities, with the intent of further consolidating land control.

Interview: Noam Schuster Eliasi on "Coexistence My Ass"

Timestamps: 09:38 – 21:40

Main Points & Insights:

Noam Schuster Eliasi, Israeli Jewish comedian, discusses her documentary "Coexistence My Ass," which interrogates the ideal of peaceful Jewish-Arab coexistence under current realities.
Noam was raised in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the only intentional mixed Jewish-Palestinian community in Israel, by "woke progressive leftist" parents:

"They believe in the radical idea that Israelis and Palestinians deserve the same equal human rights. Crazy. So radical." — Noam [09:38]
She rejects the superficial use of terms like "coexistence" that ignore occupation and violence:

“How can Israelis and Palestinians coexist when we are denying the existence of Palestinians and when Palestinians are living under occupation and this ongoing genocide in Gaza?” — Noam [11:05]
Still, she asserts hope and responsibility for activism—highlighting her pregnancy as a sign of belief in the future and responsibility as an Israeli Jew to speak up.
On the state of comedy post-October 7th:

"A stage like this cannot happen today...in that same neighborhood where I’m performing actively, Israeli settlers are taking over Palestinian homes and it’s an ongoing process of ethnic cleansing." — Noam [16:29]
Expresses heartbreak over how some comedians use their platforms for propaganda rather than challenging power:

“We are seeing comedians using the tool of comedy… to entertain war, to become part of a war machine, to entertain propaganda…” — Noam [18:27]
Her hope:

“Demanding full and equal rights to Palestinians is not radical. Wanting ethnic cleansing to stop is not radical. Wanting the genocide to stop is not radical.” — Noam [20:58]

Notable Moments:

[15:32] Noam’s onstage opener at Palestine Comedy Festival:

“I’m only staying for seven minutes, not 70 years…God promised it to me.”

Mozambique: Impact of U.S. and EU Aid Cuts & The Rise of ISIS

Report by Nick Payton Walsh
Timestamps: 22:54 – 37:21

Main Points & Insights:

Over 22 million people, including many children, could die from preventable causes by 2030 due to Western aid cuts.
In Mozambique, U.S. aid formerly constituted about 3% of GDP, supporting food, medicine, and livelihood projects. Cuts have devastated local support systems, leaving a vacuum exploited by ISIS.
ISIS has resurged in northern Mozambique since aid withdrawal, carrying out beheadings, abductions, and mass displacement of Christian communities:

“We land in the flashpoint of Massimba, the Praya… with the first international journalists here in a year.” — Nick Payton Walsh [23:34]
About 93,000 fled in six weeks after ISIS attacks began in September.
USAID-funded initiatives for youth and fishermen—intended to limit ISIS recruitment—are now shuttered, increasing desperation and ISIS's appeal.
Current humanitarian aid is a fraction of what’s needed: the UN says $352 million is necessary; only $3.5 million has been provided by the US so far (32:13).
Simultaneously, enormous American and European investments in Mozambique’s liquified natural gas remain untapped due to ongoing insecurity.
The State Department claims all U.S. assistance is under review but did not address questions about the direct effects of their aid withdrawal on the ISIS resurgence.

Interview: Jelani Cobb on Race, Power, and American Democracy

With Michelle Martin
Timestamps: 39:04 – 55:04

Main Points & Insights:

Jelani Cobb’s new essay collection "Three or More Is a Riot" draws on a decade of reporting on American race relations, democracy, and power.
Title and theme come from historic legal codes defining a Black gathering of three or more as a riot, and explores the connection to contemporary politics (39:21).
Reflects on beginning his major journalistic work covering the Trayvon Martin shooting, choosing to start the book there to mark the true inflection point in modern American racial justice discourse (41:36).
On Trump’s ability to transform grievance into political capital:

“He has a background in television… the kind of politic we've seen him deploy has been… the fundamental, reality television… level of simplicity. And that has been compelling to people.” — Jelani Cobb [43:03]
“None of those people were running for president in the aftermath of a black man being elected president, which is another kind of point that bears mention.” — Jelani Cobb [44:46]
Discusses the connection between anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and nativist sentiments, observing these waves are tied to demographic anxiety (46:06).
Reflects on what he “got wrong”—underestimating the scope and speed of Trump's MAGA movement (47:47).
On why Trump's movement is multiracial and why the Democratic coalition fractured:

“Some of this is not about the increased appeal of Donald Trump. It's about the decreased appeal of the Democratic Party, which has two huge issues…lots of young voters who were turned off by Gaza simply didn't come out… resentment over how Harris received the nomination…” — Jelani Cobb [50:37]
On reviewing his own work:

“It made the patterns…much more legible and visible to me on the other side of it in retrospect.” — Jelani Cobb [54:20]

Final Note: Omar El Akkad’s National Book Award

Timestamps: 55:08 – 55:56

Main Points & Insights:

Omar El Akkad wins the National Book Award for nonfiction for his work on the global response to the Gaza war, “One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.”
El Akkad, reflecting on the book’s creation:

“I don’t know if this book is worth a damn… But I can tell you that had I not written it, I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to call myself a writer.” — Omar El Akkad [55:37]
At the ceremony, El Akkad remarked:

“It’s very difficult to think in celebratory terms about a book that was written in response to a genocide.”

Notable Quotes

Nick Robertson on the ceasefire:

“Israel did not seek anyone’s permission to strike. It decided to strike.” [03:15]
Noam Schuster Eliasi on hope and justice:

“Peace and coexistence will be a side effect when there will be justice, when we will be able to stop the occupation, when we will be able to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes… There is a lot of dehumanization of Palestinians in Israeli society...” [13:05]
Nick Payton Walsh on Mozambique’s devastation:

“The hole USAID left seems to suck everyone in and open space for ISIS to surge in the north.” [23:34]
Jelani Cobb on American political cycles:

“If you took all their speeches and threw the pages up in the air…you would have a hard time discerning who was saying what, because there is this big overlap…” [43:03]

Episode Structure and Key Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | Start | |---------|-------|------| | Intro | News headlines | 00:49 | | Gaza/West Bank escalation | Amanpour & Nick Robertson | 03:15 | | Settler violence & analysis | Amanpour & Nick Robertson | 06:12 | | Comedy, activism & coexistence | Amanpour & Noam Schuster Eliasi | 09:38 | | Coexistence, occupation, hope | Amanpour & Noam Schuster Eliasi | 13:05 | | Comedy as activism | Amanpour & Noam Schuster Eliasi | 16:29 | | Aid crisis in Mozambique | Nick Payton Walsh | 22:54 | | Jelani Cobb interview | Michelle Martin & Jelani Cobb | 39:04 | | Omar El Akkad/National Book Award | Amanpour | 55:08 |

Tone and Style

The tone is serious, reflective, and sometimes somber, punctuated by moments of wry humor (notably from Noam Schuster Eliasi) but underlying urgency and gravity regarding humanitarian crises and the state of democracy.

This detailed summary covers all the core segments and provides key takeaways, commentary, and memorable moments for listeners who missed the original broadcast.

Amanpour (CNN Podcasts)

Episode: Deadly Attacks Continue in Gaza, West Bank
Date: November 20, 2025

Overview

An update on the mounting violence in Gaza and the West Bank with correspondent Nick Robertson.
An interview with Israeli comedian Noam Schuster Eliasi about the possibilities and limitations of coexistence through humor in Israel/Palestine.
A report on the devastating humanitarian consequences of U.S. and E.U. aid cuts in Mozambique amid a resurgence of ISIS.
A reflective conversation between Michelle Martin and Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, about race, democracy, and recent American history.
A closing note on author Omar El Akkad’s National Book Award for his response to the Gaza war.

Escalation in Gaza and the West Bank

Timestamps: 00:49 – 08:58

Main Points & Insights:

After a U.S.-brokered ceasefire six weeks ago, Israeli airstrikes have killed 32 more Palestinians in Gaza in one of the deadliest weeks since the ceasefire. The total Palestinian death count since then is 312.
12 children and 8 women were among the dead; 88 people were injured in the latest strikes (03:15).
Israeli officials state strikes targeted Hamas gunmen who "crossed the yellow line," the dividing line between IDF-controlled and Hamas-controlled areas in Gaza.
Disparity and confusion about the ceasefire terms:

“Perhaps this typifies the breakdown in information that is not clearly not being shared and the disparity of interpretation of what the ceasefire is about by both sides.” — Nick Robertson [03:15]
No "Board of Peace" or international stabilization force is currently in place as called for by the UN; diplomats say these critical peace-keeping structures are at least six months away (04:56).
Rising, systematic violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, where the UN recorded 264 attacks in October—its highest ever (06:12).
Some Israeli officials have labeled radical settlers as "Jewish terrorists" or "anarchists," but opposition groups and Palestinians accuse the Israeli government of enabling settler violence by failing to restrain them:

“Despite what they say, [the government] is enabling this.” — Nick Robertson [07:08]
Activists claim settler violence is shifting from rural attacks to efforts to force Palestinians into a few major cities, with the intent of further consolidating land control.

Interview: Noam Schuster Eliasi on "Coexistence My Ass"

Timestamps: 09:38 – 21:40

Main Points & Insights:

Noam Schuster Eliasi, Israeli Jewish comedian, discusses her documentary "Coexistence My Ass," which interrogates the ideal of peaceful Jewish-Arab coexistence under current realities.
Noam was raised in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the only intentional mixed Jewish-Palestinian community in Israel, by "woke progressive leftist" parents:

"They believe in the radical idea that Israelis and Palestinians deserve the same equal human rights. Crazy. So radical." — Noam [09:38]
She rejects the superficial use of terms like "coexistence" that ignore occupation and violence:

“How can Israelis and Palestinians coexist when we are denying the existence of Palestinians and when Palestinians are living under occupation and this ongoing genocide in Gaza?” — Noam [11:05]
Still, she asserts hope and responsibility for activism—highlighting her pregnancy as a sign of belief in the future and responsibility as an Israeli Jew to speak up.
On the state of comedy post-October 7th:

"A stage like this cannot happen today...in that same neighborhood where I’m performing actively, Israeli settlers are taking over Palestinian homes and it’s an ongoing process of ethnic cleansing." — Noam [16:29]
Expresses heartbreak over how some comedians use their platforms for propaganda rather than challenging power:

“We are seeing comedians using the tool of comedy… to entertain war, to become part of a war machine, to entertain propaganda…” — Noam [18:27]
Her hope:

“Demanding full and equal rights to Palestinians is not radical. Wanting ethnic cleansing to stop is not radical. Wanting the genocide to stop is not radical.” — Noam [20:58]

Notable Moments:

[15:32] Noam’s onstage opener at Palestine Comedy Festival:

“I’m only staying for seven minutes, not 70 years…God promised it to me.”

Mozambique: Impact of U.S. and EU Aid Cuts & The Rise of ISIS

Report by Nick Payton Walsh
Timestamps: 22:54 – 37:21

Main Points & Insights:

Over 22 million people, including many children, could die from preventable causes by 2030 due to Western aid cuts.
In Mozambique, U.S. aid formerly constituted about 3% of GDP, supporting food, medicine, and livelihood projects. Cuts have devastated local support systems, leaving a vacuum exploited by ISIS.
ISIS has resurged in northern Mozambique since aid withdrawal, carrying out beheadings, abductions, and mass displacement of Christian communities:

“We land in the flashpoint of Massimba, the Praya… with the first international journalists here in a year.” — Nick Payton Walsh [23:34]
About 93,000 fled in six weeks after ISIS attacks began in September.
USAID-funded initiatives for youth and fishermen—intended to limit ISIS recruitment—are now shuttered, increasing desperation and ISIS's appeal.
Current humanitarian aid is a fraction of what’s needed: the UN says $352 million is necessary; only $3.5 million has been provided by the US so far (32:13).
Simultaneously, enormous American and European investments in Mozambique’s liquified natural gas remain untapped due to ongoing insecurity.
The State Department claims all U.S. assistance is under review but did not address questions about the direct effects of their aid withdrawal on the ISIS resurgence.

Interview: Jelani Cobb on Race, Power, and American Democracy

With Michelle Martin
Timestamps: 39:04 – 55:04

Main Points & Insights:

Jelani Cobb’s new essay collection "Three or More Is a Riot" draws on a decade of reporting on American race relations, democracy, and power.
Title and theme come from historic legal codes defining a Black gathering of three or more as a riot, and explores the connection to contemporary politics (39:21).
Reflects on beginning his major journalistic work covering the Trayvon Martin shooting, choosing to start the book there to mark the true inflection point in modern American racial justice discourse (41:36).
On Trump’s ability to transform grievance into political capital:

“He has a background in television… the kind of politic we've seen him deploy has been… the fundamental, reality television… level of simplicity. And that has been compelling to people.” — Jelani Cobb [43:03]
“None of those people were running for president in the aftermath of a black man being elected president, which is another kind of point that bears mention.” — Jelani Cobb [44:46]
Discusses the connection between anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and nativist sentiments, observing these waves are tied to demographic anxiety (46:06).
Reflects on what he “got wrong”—underestimating the scope and speed of Trump's MAGA movement (47:47).
On why Trump's movement is multiracial and why the Democratic coalition fractured:

“Some of this is not about the increased appeal of Donald Trump. It's about the decreased appeal of the Democratic Party, which has two huge issues…lots of young voters who were turned off by Gaza simply didn't come out… resentment over how Harris received the nomination…” — Jelani Cobb [50:37]
On reviewing his own work:

“It made the patterns…much more legible and visible to me on the other side of it in retrospect.” — Jelani Cobb [54:20]

Final Note: Omar El Akkad’s National Book Award

Timestamps: 55:08 – 55:56

Main Points & Insights:

Omar El Akkad wins the National Book Award for nonfiction for his work on the global response to the Gaza war, “One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.”
El Akkad, reflecting on the book’s creation:

“I don’t know if this book is worth a damn… But I can tell you that had I not written it, I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to call myself a writer.” — Omar El Akkad [55:37]
At the ceremony, El Akkad remarked:

“It’s very difficult to think in celebratory terms about a book that was written in response to a genocide.”

Notable Quotes

Nick Robertson on the ceasefire:

“Israel did not seek anyone’s permission to strike. It decided to strike.” [03:15]
Noam Schuster Eliasi on hope and justice:

“Peace and coexistence will be a side effect when there will be justice, when we will be able to stop the occupation, when we will be able to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes… There is a lot of dehumanization of Palestinians in Israeli society...” [13:05]
Nick Payton Walsh on Mozambique’s devastation:

“The hole USAID left seems to suck everyone in and open space for ISIS to surge in the north.” [23:34]
Jelani Cobb on American political cycles:

“If you took all their speeches and threw the pages up in the air…you would have a hard time discerning who was saying what, because there is this big overlap…” [43:03]

Episode Structure and Key Timestamps

Tone and Style

This detailed summary covers all the core segments and provides key takeaways, commentary, and memorable moments for listeners who missed the original broadcast.

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Summary

Amanpour (CNN Podcasts)

Overview

Escalation in Gaza and the West Bank

Interview: Noam Schuster Eliasi on "Coexistence My Ass"

Mozambique: Impact of U.S. and EU Aid Cuts & The Rise of ISIS

Interview: Jelani Cobb on Race, Power, and American Democracy

Final Note: Omar El Akkad’s National Book Award

Notable Quotes

Episode Structure and Key Timestamps

Tone and Style

Summary

Amanpour (CNN Podcasts)

Overview

Escalation in Gaza and the West Bank

Interview: Noam Schuster Eliasi on "Coexistence My Ass"

Mozambique: Impact of U.S. and EU Aid Cuts & The Rise of ISIS

Interview: Jelani Cobb on Race, Power, and American Democracy

Final Note: Omar El Akkad’s National Book Award

Notable Quotes

Episode Structure and Key Timestamps

Tone and Style