Following Hamas’ surprise attacks on October 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 people, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians — most of them civilians. Award-winning journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed offers a detailed account of the Biden administration’s interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during this period, as Washington failed to facilitate the release of Israeli hostages or shield Palestinian civilians amid growing protests nationwide and mounting international outcry.
Based on reporting with unparalleled access to insiders, Ahmed probes the Biden administration’s decision-making and analyzes how its choices set the stage for the current impasse. Crossing the Red Line is an urgent look at a period of conflict whose consequences will resonate globally for decades to come.
Featured Speakers
Akbar Shahid Ahmed, Diplomatic Correspondent, Washington Sun
Akbar Shahid Ahmed is the diplomatic correspondent at the Washington Sun. For his Gaza coverage, he has received a Writers Guild Award and a New York Press Club Award and has twice been named a finalist for the Livingston Award. Based in Washington, D.C., Ahmed previously covered foreign policy at HuffPost for twelve years. He is a Yale graduate who grew up in Karachi, Pakistan.
Randa Slim, Program Lead, Middle East Program, Stimson Center (Moderator)
