For the first time in 11 days, the skies over Israel and Gaza are quiet. But on the ground, the big thorny issues remain – indeed, hours after the ceasefire took effect, we saw new clashes at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. More than 200 people – mostly Palestinians – have been killed since fighting began last week, but both sides are claiming victory today. Now the world is holding its breath.

his conflict was just the latest chapter in the long running tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, but something about this time feels different, from the intercommunal violence to the reaction from Washington D.C. But has anything really changed? To discuss, journalist and author Yossi Klein Halevi joins the show.

Today, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel is “prepared and ready to expand the campaign… as long as it’s needed.”

We take a look at what life has really been like in Gaza during this crisis by speaking with 24 year old Sarah Al Ramlawi. She lives in Gaza City and leads workshops to help young people develop their own professional skills.

Former GOP Senator Jeff Flake says the “Big Lie” that Trump really won the election is eroding trust in American democracy.

The UN General Assembly gathered today to discuss this crisis, including Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, who took to the podium to demand aid be allowed into Gaza and called for an end to “Israeli aggression.” The Foreign Minister joins the show from the U.N. to explain his position.

School closures continue to impact millions of families, and the president of the American Federation of teachers is adamant that schools must fully reopen this fall. Randi Weingarten heads up the nation’s second largest teacher’s union, and speaks with Michel Martin about how she plans on making it happen.

Africa’s vaccine supply is in doubt after India’s Serum Institute – the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer – paused shipments until possibly October. What’s more, some African countries are discarding the vaccines they do have because the expiration date has passed. Dr. Ayoade Alakija is co-chair of the Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance and joins the show to discuss what can be done.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is in Europe this week ahead of the COP26 summit later this year, and he met with EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, who warns, "If we don’t fix this, our children will be waging wars over water and food.” Timmermans joins the show from Brussels.

Robert Ballard is the world’s most famous oceanographer, known for tracking down the wrecks of the German battleship Bismarck, JFK’s PT-109 and most famously, the Titanic in 1985. Not content to be known only for discovering “that rusty old boat,” as his mother called it, Ballard is ready to launch new expeditions. He joins the show to discuss what's next.

Ben Wedeman joins the show again to share an important update regarding the violence between Israel and Palestinians.

Palestinian groups today declared a general strike as the conflict between Israel and Hamas shows few signs of stopping, with thousands gathering in towns across the West Bank and beyond. Since the fighting began nine days ago, at least 213 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, and 12 Israelis have been killed.

To dig deeper into what’s going on in Israel and the violence between communities within the country, Bianna speaks with journalist Noa Landau. In her latest op-ed for Haaretz, Landau argues that “the violent upheaval we’re now experiencing is a critical historical junction in Jewish-Arab relations in Israel.”

The month of May in America is dedicated to honoring the contributions of our Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Yet a recent report shows an increase of 150% in anti-Asian hate crime for 2020. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is the first South Asian American woman in the House of Representatives, and she speaks with Aarti Shahani about political representation.

During the pandemic, many of us have had to wrestle with grief and anxiety surrounding health, finance and relationships. Anna Sale explores these difficult topics on her hit interview podcast “Death, Sex and Money.” Sale's new book, “Let’s Talk About Hard Things,” is based on what she has learned from these conversations. She shares these life lessons with Hari Sreenivasan.

Can anything stop the cycle of violence in the Middle East? Dennis Ross is a veteran U.S. diplomat who’s spent decades working to achieve peace in the region, while Khaled Elgindy is a former adviser to the PLO. They speak with Bianna Golodryga, who’s sitting in for Christiane.

The U.S. meantime moving forward on mask guidance, telling vaccinated Americans that they may refrain from wearing masks indoors. While many cheered the new guidance, others were puzzled by it. To discuss all this and other areas of COVID-19 concern, infectious disease specialist Dr. Céline Gounder joins the show.

The Associated Press, Al Jazeera and media advocacy groups are demanding answers after an Israeli airstrike destroyed a building that housed offices belonging to news outlets in Gaza on Saturday. Journalist Safwat al-Kahlout worked in that building and fled on Saturday after a warning went out that it would soon be hit. He joins the show from Gaza.

Jory Fleming first made headlines as the University of South Carolina student with near-perfect grades, and he’s just completed his Master’s at Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about his new book “How to Be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life” and the profound value in what some regard as a disability.

Unrest is happening outside of Gaza too, with clashes breaking out in the occupied West Bank, as well as violence erupting in some mixed cities inside Israel between Arab and Jewish neighbors. Reporter Ben Wedeman joins the program from Jerusalem with the latest.