The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Episode: "Is peace any closer two years on from October 7?"
Date: October 7, 2025 | Host: Sky News
Overview
On the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, veteran correspondents Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel meet in Jerusalem to discuss the state of the Israel-Gaza conflict, the lives upended on both sides, and the surprising momentum behind a new 20-point peace plan, spearheaded by Donald Trump. With peace negotiations underway in Egypt and the Nobel Peace Prize on the horizon, the episode provides frontline perspectives, personal stories, and an unvarnished analysis of what's at stake and what might come next.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Remembering October 7th: The Personal and Political Shockwaves
- Richard and Yalda recall the horrors of the 2023 attack: more than 1,200 Israelis killed, 250+ hostages taken, and a still-raw sense of vulnerability and anger in Israel.
- Yalda highlights the ongoing trauma, especially for hostage families: "We know that 48 hostages remain, 20 or so still alive. And the families...want the remains of all of those other hostages to also be returned." (04:22)
- The scale of Palestinian suffering is brought into focus: "In the course of the last two years, 67,000 Palestinians killed." (04:50)
The Human Toll: Voices from Both Sides
- Richard recounts the devastation at Kibbutz Be'eri and features survivor Ohad Ben Ami:
- Ohad describes hiding during the attack, hearing neighbors’ houses burning, and the terror of waiting for help:
"We are going to die here. What we supposed to do? ...We asked, where is the army? It’s on the way...but no army. So we need to delete by ourselves." (08:02)
- Ohad describes hiding during the attack, hearing neighbors’ houses burning, and the terror of waiting for help:
- Yalda shares an interview with a hostage's father still hoping for word of his son after more than two years:
"We are collateral damage for politicians. Just, you know, let us have our peace and get to a place where there's no more killing." (12:34)
- Discussion of the persistent anger at Israeli leadership and the sense of abandonment among hostage families. Israeli officials' inaccessibility contrasted with ready access to American diplomats.
Psychological Survival in Captivity
- Richard describes Ohad’s 491-day ordeal in underground captivity—the deprivation, claustrophobia, leadership among hostages, and the parting:
"They said, just please don't forget us. Advocate for us. And he did." (17:53)
- Ohad’s message resonates: the importance of seizing even fleeting moments of good news for hope and psychological survival:
"If you have some good news, enjoy it, celebrate as if it's true. And then if you're disappointed tomorrow, you'll be disappointed tomorrow. But at least you had one good day." (22:03)
Rising Frustrations and Looking to Trump
- Growing Israeli frustration with Netanyahu’s government for failure to protect citizens and reluctance to engage with affected families.
- The shift to viewing Trump as a potential deliverer, highlighted by mass hostage rallies in Tel Aviv seeking Trump's attention. (18:36)
The 20-Point Trump Peace Plan: Overview and Challenges
- Negotiations in Egypt— urgency driven, in part, by Trump’s quest for the Nobel Peace Prize ("Trump now says Hamas has agreed to a lot of things, including...the release of hostages," 01:10).
- The plan is seen as two phases:
- Immediate issues: Hostage release, lasting ceasefire, aid delivery ("They've sort of somewhat agreed to about seven of the points...the 13 others, which is sort of the future of Gaza." (26:30))
- Long-term issues: Who will govern Gaza? Will Hamas disarm? Role of international peacekeepers?
- Major unresolved challenges:
- Lack of clarity on Gaza’s future governance ("Question mark, question mark, question mark, question mark." (29:41))
- Skepticism about Hamas's willingness or ability to truly give up arms.
- No clear international force ready to take over security.
International Dynamics and the Nobel Prize
- Trump’s personal investment is underlined—timing the deal to coincide with Nobel announcement (24:09).
- Other contenders for the Peace Prize are discussed, underscoring the political theater surrounding the process.
- Yalda expresses skepticism about the “victory” narrative: despite Hamas losses, Israel's international standing has eroded, with key European allies now recognizing Palestinian statehood ("For Israelis, that has felt like a slap in the face." (30:59))
Why Is Netanyahu Agreeing Now? (Listener Question)
- Richard attributes Netanyahu's shift to intense U.S. (Trump) pressure, especially after Israel's controversial strike on Hamas HQ in Qatar, risking U.S. and Arab relations:
"He was given an offer he couldn't refuse." (33:30)
- Yalda suggests some Israeli officials believe the pressure is orchestrated, providing Netanyahu political cover to cut a deal his coalition wouldn’t otherwise accept.
Ongoing Suffering and the Shadow of More Casualties
- Yalda underscores the daily reality for Gazans amid ongoing bombings, even as negotiations unfold:
"Just in 48 hours after Donald Trump said stop the bombs, something like 50 children were killed in Gaza." (37:58)
- She warns the true death toll will only be known once full access to Gaza is restored.
- Richard notes the slow lifting of media restrictions means more stories—both Israeli and Palestinian—are beginning to emerge.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On psychological survival:
"If you have some good news, enjoy it, celebrate as if it's true. And then if you're disappointed tomorrow, you'll be disappointed tomorrow. But at least you had one good day."
—Richard Engel, summarizing Ohad's outlook (22:03) - On political disillusionment:
"We are collateral damage for politicians. Just, you know, let us have our peace and get to a place where there's no more killing."
—Hostage's Father (12:34) - On competing national objectives:
"The Israelis want the hostages out, the Palestinians want an end to decades long occupation. These are two very different things. And so winning at the end of all of this, what does victory look like?"
—Yalda Hakim (30:59) - On Netanyahu's motivations:
"He was given an offer he couldn't refuse."
—Richard Engel on Trump’s pressure (33:30) - On learning from conflict:
"Wars and terrible circumstances can be so revealing."
—Richard Engel (21:00)
Important Segment Timestamps
- 01:10 – Introduction of Trump’s 20-point peace plan and the new hope for hostage release
- 04:04 – Recap of October 7th and the scale of loss on both sides
- 08:02 – Ohad Ben Ami recounts surviving the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri
- 12:34 – Interview with the father of a missing hostage, on pain and lack of government accountability
- 17:53 – Ohad’s experience as a hostage: survival, solidarity, psychological burdens
- 21:00 – The challenge of optimism for hostage families
- 22:03 – The philosophy of embracing fleeting joy in dire times
- 26:30 – Deep dive into Trump’s 20-point peace plan: achievable steps vs. impasses
- 30:59 – The split in objectives and prospects for real “victory”
- 33:30 – Why Netanyahu is negotiating now: Trump’s pressure and political needs
- 37:58 – Ongoing violence and the impending revelation of Gaza’s true toll
Tone and Language
The episode is sober but not hopeless, balancing empathetic storytelling with hard-headed political analysis. The hosts are forthright, skeptical of easy narratives, and bring in voices from diverse sides to reveal the profound complexity and ongoing pain in both Israeli and Palestinian societies.
Summary Table of Key Players and Motives
| Player | Motive/Role | Current Stance | |-------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Donald Trump | Seeks Nobel Peace Prize, legacy | Driving the pace of negotiations | | Benjamin Netanyahu | Political survival, “total victory” | Under U.S. pressure, shifting reluctantly| | Hamas | Ending siege, Palestinian authority | Open to hostages/ceasefire, unclear on disarmament | | Hostage Families | Closure, accountability, peace | Frustrated with govt, appealing to U.S. | | Gaza Civilians/NGOs | End violence, humanitarian aid | Enduring severe bombardment |
Conclusion
Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim offer a moving, meticulous account of a conflict at yet another crossroads. As the promise of peace remains held hostage to politics, personal suffering, and the legacy ambitions of world leaders, the episode stands as both a dissection of news and a tribute to resilience—on all sides.
This summary covers all key content and discussions of the episode, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a comprehensive understanding of where peace efforts now stand and the immense human costs behind the headlines.