State of the World from NPR A U.S. proposal to disarm Hamas; we hear voices from Iran
Mar 19, 2026
Arzu Rezvani, an NPR reporter who gathered Iranians' voice memos about life under airstrikes and crackdowns. Daniel Estrin, NPR Jerusalem correspondent covering Gaza and regional diplomacy. They discuss a U.S. proposal for armed groups in Gaza to surrender weapons to enable reconstruction. They also share personal accounts of fear, repression, and polarization inside Iran during the conflict.
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U.S. Proposal Demands Total Disarmament Of Gaza Militias
- The U.S. quietly delivered a comprehensive proposal asking Hamas and all Gaza armed groups to hand over all weapons.
- Mediators handed the proposal in Cairo and it conditions large-scale Gaza reconstruction on full decommissioning, not phased surrender.
Hamas Has Leverage Despite War Damage
- Analysts say Hamas is unlikely to accept an immediate, complete disarmament because it remains the most powerful militia in Gaza.
- Hamas survived two years of war and any transitional leadership has not yet entered Gaza, leaving them with leverage.
Tehran Resident Describes Nightly Bombing And Phone Checks
- A 28-year-old man in Tehran says he sleeps terrified as explosions jolt the city and security forces stop people at checkpoints to check phones.
- He reports friends' phones being searched for apps that bypass the internet blackout and for text messages.