This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard talks with Crisis Group experts Michael Hanna, Max Rodenbeck, Amjad Iraqi and Mairav Zonszein about Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, who might benefit from it, the many uncertainties it raises, and what it could mean for Gaza’s future.

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group experts Michael Hanna, Max Rodenbeck, Amjad Iraqi and Mairav Zonszein about President Donald Trump’s new 20-point proposal to end the war in Gaza. They unpack how the plan emerged and the external pressure surrounding it, against the backdrop of Israel’s 9 September strike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, its ongoing ground offensive in Gaza City, and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the strip. They discuss what the proposal entails, who might benefit, the key uncertainties around its provisions and timeline, how Palestinians are reacting, and what it could mean for future governance in Gaza and for easing the humanitarian crisis. They also discuss responses inside Israel, including among Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, and how Arab and European capitals, having already thrown their support behind the plan, should move forward. The episode was recorded before Hamas responded to the plan.

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

For more, check out our recent Q&A “Can the World Make Recognition of Palestine’s Statehood Matter?” and our Israel/Palestine page.

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This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group experts Lucian Kim, Olga Oliker, and Stephen Pomper about battlefield developments in Ukraine, the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts to end the war, and what might lie ahead.

In this episode of Hold Your Fire, Richard is joined by Crisis Group’s Ukraine expert Lucian Kim, Europe director Olga Oliker and chief of policy Stephen Pomper. They unpack recent developments along Ukraine’s frontlines and the role of drones. They discuss President Trump’s August meeting with President Putin in Alaska, the Trump team’s mixed messages on what kind of deal Russia and Ukraine might be willing to accept, and what to make of Trump’s rhetoric at the UN General Assembly. They also look at the mood in Ukraine and the recent controversy over a bill that would have curbed anti-corruption agencies. Finally, they touch on Russian incursions into the airspace of NATO countries, whether Moscow might further test NATO’s resolve and the future of European security.

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For more, check out our commentary Beyond the Ukraine Summits: Five Realities after Three Years of War and our Ukraine country page.

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In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood speaks with Richard Gowan about what to expect from this year’s UN General Assembly High-Level Week. They discuss the mood at the UN as the second Trump administration both finds its feet at the world body and makes drastic funding cuts, forcing the UN to scale back humanitarian operations and lay off thousands of staff in New York and agencies. They examine the conflicts likely to dominate the agenda, including mounting global fury at Israel’s assault on Gaza, shifting global views on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the conflict in Sudan, and the challenges of Syria’s new government in its dealings with the UN. Finally, they consider the future of UN peacekeeping and whether the organisation can endure as much of the post-1945 multilateral order unravels.

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For More, check out our latest briefing Ten Challenges for the UN in 2025-2026, our Updates from the UN General Assembly 2025 and our Multilateral Diplomacy page.

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