Facing the Middle East with Felice Friedson – Ep. 10: Gaza Hostages, Forgotten Refugees, and the Spirit of Maccabiah
From Jerusalem to Jordan, The Media Line explores pain, perseverance, and national identity
In Episode 10 of Facing the Middle East with Felice Friedson, The Media Line brings three powerful stories to the forefront—each reflecting different dimensions of endurance, identity, and national purpose in the region.
The program opens with an emotional interview featuring Ilan and Merav Gilboa-Dalal, whose son Guy remains a hostage in Gaza after more than 500 days. Speaking from a reception at the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, the couple describe their daily pain and unwavering determination to be Guy’s voice. Former Arkansas Governor and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee received the Friends of Zion Award during the event, voicing support for the hostages and declaring his deep-rooted connection to the Jewish people. Also present was former hostage Omer Shem-Tov, who movingly described how faith sustained him during his 505-day captivity. “Every day I was there, I woke up and thanked God,” he said.
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Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
From Jerusalem, the program shifts to the Baqaa refugee camp in Jordan, home to over 100,000 Palestinians. Correspondent Giorgia Valente investigates why the camp still exists more than five decades after its creation. Residents like Abu Ghaleb and Muhammad Shafut explain how statelessness and lack of legal rights continue to affect daily life. While most Palestinian refugees in Jordan eventually received citizenship, those from Gaza remain marginalized, unable to vote, own property, or access public-sector jobs. The camp reflects a broader regional tension: how Jordan balances national identity with its historic role in the Palestinian cause.
Finally, Friedson visits the organizers of the 2025 Maccabiah Games, the largest international sporting event hosted in Israel since the October 7 attacks. With over 10,000 athletes expected, Maccabiah World Union CEO Amir Gissin and event head Roy Hessing say the games will blend grief with celebration. “It’s going to be a combination between the sadness and the hope,” Hessing explains. The games, they stress, will continue as planned, honoring both unity and resilience in a time of war.
From personal stories of captivity to national questions of belonging, this episode offers a sweeping look at the region’s complex and human narratives.
