Hello everyone and welcome to Amunpur. Here's what's coming up. On the ground in Gaza I

speak to the woman leading the UN humanitarian efforts there about the ever worsening situation.

Then, a turning point for democracy in 2024, my conversation with Yale historian Timothy

Snyder, author of On Tyranny, tells me about his hopes and fears

for the year ahead.

Also, it ain't over till it's over.

Rock star Lenny Kravitz on being shortlisted for an Oscar, having a new album and turning 60.

Finally, a groundbreaking treatment.

Nobel Laureate Jennifer Dowdner tells Walter Isaxacom how CRISPR is revolutionizing the treatment of diseases

like sickle cell anemia. Oh, Welcome to the program everyone. I'm Christina Montpur in London. Fears of a wider

war are growing in the Middle East. Today a US strike in Baghdad

on a pro-Iranian militia leader. Yesterday, two blasts in Iran killed at least 80

people and injured nearly 300 others near the grave

of the military commander, Assam Soleimani. And the day before a senior Hamas

figure was killed in an airstrike on a building in Beirut.

These fears have been growing ever since October 7th,

when the brutal attack by Hamas inside Israel triggered Israel's massive counter-offensive inside Gaza.

More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, according to the health ministry

in Gaza.

And right now, both the IDF and Hamas say

the current fighting is in the slum city of Khan Yunus,

a place my next guest has literally just left.

...