The October 7 Hamas led-terrorist attacks on Israel and the subsequent siege of Gaza by the Israeli military upended the Middle East. Can the conflict be contained or will the tensions between Israel and its antagonists Hezbollah and Iran escalate and engulf the Middle East in a regional war?

In October 2024 Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, who has been covering the Middle East since 1989, came to Intelligence Squared to reflect and make sense of what is happening in the region. Bowen has reported on all the most significant events that have shaped the region’s recent history – the long and ultimately failed Middle East peace process, the tragic events of 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the rise of Mohammed bin Salman and most recently the Israel/Hamas war. His deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences of its peoples makes him uniquely placed to explain its complex past and troubled present.

Bowen sought to explain the historical context and political motivations behind today’s conflicts. He drew from his book The Making of the Modern Middle East and discussed his experiences reporting from countries as diverse as Netanyahu’s Israel, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Erdoğan’s Türkiye, recounting his meetings with ordinary people on the frontlines as well as their politicians and leaders. 

He also discussed the possible future scenarios facing the region and the ethical and practical challenges journalists face in reporting in conflict zones.