Special

Who will pay for rebuilding Gaza?

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have made their way back to the north of Gaza.

But, many of them won’t have homes or businesses to return to.

Israel’s 15-month war on the strip has reduced entire neighbourhoods to rubble.

Healthcare, education, roads, agricultural land and most utilities like water, electricity, sewage and communications systems have been destroyed.

The destruction has hit the very fabric of Palestinian life in Gaza, setting back its development by 69 years, according to the UN.

Plus, Donald Trump demands the OPEC+ group reduce the price of oil; and inflation returns to Japan.

Palestinian prisoners released: Israeli forces open fire to disperse crowds along the route

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Israel has released 110 Palestinian prisoners, as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
 
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered Beitunia, in the occupied West Bank to welcome them home.
 
Around 30 children are among the prisoners released. At least 32 of them were serving life sentences.
 
And Israeli forces opened fire as the Red Cross convoy carrying the Palestinian prisoners travelled through the occupied West Bank.
 
Israeli soldiers used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds along the route of the heavily-protected convoy.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud is in Gaza City, Tareq Abu Azzoum in Khan Younis and Hamdah Salhut in Jordanian capital, Amman, because the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority have banned Al Jazeera from reporting inside Israel and in the occupied West Bank.

How Israel tests military tech on Palestinians? | The Palestine Laboratory E1 | Featured Documentary

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Uncovering how Israel profits from surveillance technologies using occupied Palestinian territories as a testing ground.

Israel punches way above its weight when it comes to arms sales. The 97th country by population, it is the ninth largest arms dealer in the world with a $13bn military-industrial complex.

"Plenty of countries sell weapons," says award-winning journalist Antony Loewenstein, "but what makes Israel's industry unique is the mix of weapons, surveillance technology and architectural techniques that combine to create a comprehensive system for controlling 'difficult' populations and are based on years of experience in Palestine."

In this two-part series, Loewenstein goes on a journey to investigate how these weapons and surveillance technologies are used to control and repress Palestinians in Palestine before being sold all over the world.

Antony Loewenstein is a Jewish, Australian journalist and author who for more than 20 years has written unflinchingly about Israel and its relationship with the Palestinians, even though it has often put him at odds with many in the Jewish diaspora and Israel.

In Episode 1, Loewenstein returns to Israel to investigate how cutting-edge military and surveillance technology is being used on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, before being marketed to international clients as "field-proven" and "battle-tested".

Hearing from Palestinians and Israelis, he uncovers how a pipeline of personnel and research from the Israeli army feeds into semi-private arms companies which form a crucial part of Israel's exports to the world. He also investigates the Israeli army's use of targeting systems that utilise artificial intelligence during the Gaza war after October 7, 2023.

Gaza ceasefire deal: Israeli female soldier released in Jabalia

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Israeli captive Agam Berger has been handed over to the Red Cross in the Jabalia refugee camp.

Dressed in a military uniform, she appeared walking, escorted by Palestinian fighters, through the rubble of a wrecked building in the camp.

She then appeared on a stage and waved to onlookers, before getting into a car belonging to the Red Cross.

Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif reports from Jabalia in northern Gaza.

US President Trump signs Laken Riley act, in Washington

Thursday, January 30, 2025
US President Donald Trump signs the Laken Riley Act, legislation requiring the detention of immigrants living in the US illegally who are accused of theft.

Al Jazeera's White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett joins live from Washington.

Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa named president for transitional period

Thursday, January 30, 2025 
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been named president for a transitional period, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) has reported. Sharaa was also authorised to form a temporary legislative council for the transitional phase which will carry out its task until a new constitution is adopted, SANA reported on Wednesday, citing commander Hassan Abdel Ghani.

Al Jazeera's Osama bin Javaid joins live from Damascus.

UNRWA ban removes two-state solution dream of Palestinians: Israeli political analyst

Wednesday, January 29, 2025  
The humanitarian aid entering Gaza is providing desperately needed relief to Palestinians after 15 months of Israel's war.

But the lifeline provided by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is at risk.

An Israeli ban on UNRWA is due to come into effect on Thursday.

Akiva Eldar is a Political analyst and the Author of "Lords of the Land: The War Over Israel's Settlements in the Occupied Territories". He says that the ban on UNRWA, therefore, satisfies Netanyahu’s far-right coalition’s desire to push Palestinians out from Gaza.

How will US tech firms react to DeepSeek?

Wednesday, January 29, 2025  
Investors have poured billions of dollars into artificial intelligence research and development over the past year, hoping to capitalise on this rapidly advancing technology.

Generative AI could automate countless tasks and change how many sectors do business.
 
The US has largely led this revolution but now a Chinese rival has emerged.

DeepSeek's models are faster, smaller and a lot cheaper.

Will investors still be willing to put up billions if a more cost-effective alternative exists?

And who is in the best position to benefit from AI's vast potential?

Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam

Guests:
R Ray" Wang -- CEO and principal analyst of Constellation Research, a technology research and advisory firm in Silicon Valley

Toby Walsh -- Professor of AI at the University of New South Wales and author of "Faking It: AI in a Human World".
 
Brian Wong - Independent geopolitical strategist and fellow at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World.

Does US-Colombia deportation row have wider implications?

Monday, January 27, 2025  
An explosive diplomatic row between the US and Colombia over the deportation of unauthorised immigrants on military planes.

It has been quickly defused for now, but threats of further action are being made.

What does this signal about the new Donald Trump presidency?

Presenter:

Elizabeth Puranam

Guests:

Niall Stanage - Political analyst and White House columnist for The Hill newspaper in Washington, DC.

Sergio Guzman - Director of Colombia Risk Analysis, a political consultancy in Bogota.

Rachel Schmidtke - Senior advocate for Latin America at Refugees International in the US.

As Trump exits the Paris Accords, what is at stake for the climate?

Monday, January 27, 2025  
‘Drill, baby, drill’ is the new refrain of President Donald Trump’s second term. As Trump pulls out of the Paris Accords – again – The Take speaks with activist Tori Tsui on getting back into the fight and managing climate anxiety.

In this episode:

    Tori Tsui, Climate Activist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Amy Walters, Hanah Shokeir, and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, and Amy Walters. Our editorial interns are Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh and Hanah Shokeir. Our guest host is Kevin Hirten. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Correction Jan. 27, 2025: A statement indicated that the Israeli military emitted more carbon through bombing Gaza in the first two months of 2023 than 33 countries combined. That figure is incorrect. Emissions exceeded those of more than 20 countries.