A CBC News broadcast on Thursday covered escalating tensions in the Middle East and a shifting political landscape in Canada. The broadcast focused on a fragile ceasefire involving the U.S. and Iran, and the impact of recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Middle East Ceasefire in Jeopardy

The ceasefire’s stability is threatened by disagreements over its scope and implementation. According to the broadcast, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire contingent on Iran ensuring the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iranian interpretations suggest safe passage will be coordinated with Iranian armed forces and subject to “technical limitations.”

Iran is reportedly charging some ships up to $2 million for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports initially suggested a potential profit-sharing arrangement between Iran and Oman, which controls the other side of the strait, but Oman has since rejected this idea. Trump reportedly suggested the U.S. should receive a cut of any fees collected for passage through the strait, describing it as a “beautiful thing.”

Fawaz Jurgis, chair of contemporary Middle Eastern studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, told CBC News that the ceasefire is “very fragile” and marked by “huge divide” between the U.S. and Iran. He added that Israel’s recent actions have “multiplied the risks to the ceasefire.”

Lebanon Attacks Raise Concerns

Israel unleashed a massive air assault on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in over 200 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries, according to Lebanese officials. The attacks have sparked a national day of mourning in Lebanon. While Iran asserts the ceasefire extends to Lebanon, the U.S. and Israel disagree.

More than 1 million people in southern Lebanon have fled the fighting. Shay Ayub, a Lebanese-Canadian resident of Beirut, described the situation as “absolute terror” to CBC News, stating that people are living in fear and facing a lack of shelter and food. Ayub is remaining in Lebanon to provide humanitarian aid and care for her grandmother.

Jurgis stated that Israel appears to be collectively punishing the Lebanese civilian population and that the Italian president and Pakistani prime minister have condemned Israel’s actions as violations of the ceasefire. He also suggested that without intervention from President Trump, talks between the U.S. and Iran may not take place.

Jurgis further claimed that there is growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in both Israel and the United States, with some accusing him of jeopardizing the U.S.-Israel relationship.