Israel denies Gaza famine

Israel has vehemently rejected the declaration of a famine in Gaza City by the United Nations on Friday. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who is an envoy for the Israeli Foreign Ministry told the BBC that the declaration was just the latest in a series of false claims made by the UN about the situation in Gaza. Ofer Cassif, a member of the Israeli Knesset or parliament for the left-wing, Arab-majority Hadash-Ta’al party joins us.

Also in the programme: Allergy researchers in France are advocating for more foods to be added to the list of foods that commonly cause allergic reactions; and, in today's digital age dominated by streaming services, can a series of single TV dramas of about an hour to ninety minutes each still hope to capture the imagination of a wide, national audience? Gareth McLean, a screenwriter, dramatist and a television critic talks to us now.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Patricia Cumper, writer, playwright and UK-based theatre director and Ben Bland, Director of the Asia-Pacific Programme at the Chatham House think tank here in London.

(Photo: Palestiinian child Sham Qudeih amid spreading famine in Gaza - 10 Aug 2025/ Haitham Imad, Reuters)