Marco Werman

May 21, 2024 | podcasts.apple.com | Marco Werman

Investigators in Britain have recently released an explosive report detailing how more than 30,000 UK residents contracted HIV or hepatitis from tainted blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. Survivors of the contamination and their families have welcomed new pledges of compensation. And, security forces rescued 350 hostages from Boko Haram captivity in Nigeria on Monday. The hostages had been held in a forest enclave by the militants before they were rescued.

May 1, 2024 | theworld.org | Marco Werman

In the Israeli town of Tkuma, about 3 miles from the Gaza Strip, vehicles in various states of destruction sit in a giant lot. It resembles a graveyard for cars — many are just brown shells with the paint burned off from the attacks by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023. A lot of these cars belonged to people attending the Nova music festival. Many tried to escape in them, only to be chased down by Hamas and attacked. “I call it the largest murder scene of the modern era, if you want.

Apr 23, 2024 | theworld.org | Marco Werman

Mohammed Najjar, his wife Salam Najjar, and their young children live in the West Bank, in a home that overlooks an olive orchard. Their home is bordered by a highway built primarily as a convenience for Israeli settlers in the West Bank. “The settlers are always around, so I make my kids play inside the house,” Salam Najjar said. “It’s not big, but I have to let them play soccer indoors.”The Najjar house is surrounded by a heavy gauge steel fence.

Apr 17, 2024 | theworld.org | Marco Werman

This month marks six months since the deadly attacks on southern Israel, when Hamas militants entered the country on Oct. 7, leaving about 1,200 people dead and taking about 250 hostages. The attacks took place on the grounds of a music festival in the town of Sderot and the southern village of Aza, among other areas. About 100 hostages were released after negotiations with Hamas last November, leaving about 130 in captivity — Israel says about a quarter of those are dead.

Apr 12, 2024 | theworld.org | Marco Werman

The biggest issue in Israel today is the fate of the 133 hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Demonstrators in Israel have held sit-ins and rallies — almost daily — demanding the hostages’ return. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was one of the people taken hostage on Oct. 7 at the Nova Music Festival, and he is still being held. His parents Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin have been relentlessly lobbying to get their son home.