With Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel all under fire and a death count running into tens of thousands, the Middle East has never been in a more dangerous position. The United States has been a big diplomatic influence on attempts at peace negotiations in the Middle East. The last major attempt at peace negotiations was in the spring of 2024 when the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited the region to try and broker a ceasefire. But despite the efforts of not just the US, but Egypt, Qatar and Europe, there has been no agreement to cease hostilities. What would bring all the different parties to the negotiating table? And is there any country or organisation credible enough that will be listened to by all parties? This episode of The Inquiry asks: Can anyone broker peace in the Middle East? Contributors: Hugh Lovatt, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations Bilal Y Saab, Head of the US-Middle East Practice and an Advisor in the Scientific and Academic Council of TRENDS Research and Advisory Professor Christopher Phillips, Professor of International Relations at Queen Mary University of London Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Senior Research Fellow in Middle East security at The Royal United Services Institute Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda Producer: Louise Clarke Researcher: Matt Toulson Editor: Tara McDermott Technical producer: James Bradshaw Production support: Jacqui Johnson (Image: Getty/FADEL ITANI)
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Welcome to the Inquiry with me, Victoria Wong Hunda One question, four expert witnesses and an answer A year has gone by.
Twelve months since the worst atrocities and the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.
More than 1200 people were killed on that first day and hundreds taken as hostage.
Then Israel launched an attack in retaliation on Gaza in pursuit of Hamas.
Since then, Israel has lost 350 more soldiers in Gaza.
200,000 Israelis have been forced from their homes close to Gaza and along the volatile northern border with Lebanon.
Around 50 soldiers and civilians have been killed by Hezbollah rockets.
More than 41,000 Palestinians have died.
Two million Gazans have been displaced.
In the West bank another 600 Palestinians have been killed and in recent weeks In Lebanon another 1 million people are displaced and more than 2,000 dead.
There have also been Israeli airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthi fighters.
In retaliation and in support of its proxy groups, Iran struck back with its own missiles fired into Israel.
Attempts to bring about a permanent ceasefire in the Israel Gaza conflict haven't come anywhere close in the last year.
Could a new approach inject some energy into the decades long push for peace in the region?
On the inquiry this week we can anyone broker peace in the Middle East?
Path to Peace.