Israeli army says it is scaling down offensive in Gaza

Israeli army said it is scaling down its offensive in Gaza after US President Donald Trump told Israel it must stop bombing Gaza immediately after Hamas had announced it would agree to his peace plan in principle.

Also on the programme: the continuing mystery in Afghanistan as to why the Taliban shut the Internet off for two days this week; and a chess match between the United States and India today that the organisers hope may get rowdy.

Presenter Julian Worricker is joined by Melanie McDonagh, a UK-based journalist, columnist and arts critic and Seyi Rhodes, TV reporter, film producer and trainee teacher based in London in the studio.

(Photo: Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, as seen from an undisclosed location along the Israeli-Gaza border, Israel, 30 September 2025. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)