Holy War: Strange Bedfellows, Ep. 18

The Israel-Hamas war is the deadliest of five #Gaza wars for both sides. The #Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that 4,137 #Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,000 others wounded.

More than 1,400 people in #Israel have been killed. In addition, 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into #Palestine, the Israeli military has said.

The release of two American hostages on Friday is “hopefully the start of more to come,” a diplomatic source with knowledge of the arrangements told CNN.

A number of foreign nationals were among those kidnapped by Hamas, including people from the US, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Thailand.

Information about the status, location and identity of all the hostages remains scarce. Some have been identified by families who recognize them from online videos, sparking desperate pleas for their return.

As this war swiftly escalates, and Israel prepares for a full-scale ground invasion, the tragic human toll continues to mount.

Tonight on this special edition of "Strange Bedfellows" we endeavor to understand both sides of this complex and emotional issue through the eyes of our two esteemed guests:

The Palestinean perspective is explained by Don DeBar, journalist and political commentator based in New York. He covers international relations and US government, law, and politics for Pacifica Radio, #Russia's RT, #Iran's Press TV, and the Maverick News channel.

Israel's point of view is represented by Arkady Itkin, a civil litigation attorney in California who grew up in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces between 1994 and 1997.  Arkady can be seen as a weekly commentator on Scott Ritter's US Tour of Duty channel and also on Kevin Michelizzi's American in Crimea channel, a member of our Maverick News Network.

Please join us tonight at 9 PM Eastern for this very important episode of "Strange Bedfellows," where we believe that respectful dialogue is the only path to #peace.