This Is Palestine

In this episode, we investigate Israel's deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. Through firsthand testimonies and expert insight, we trace how food became tools of siege—cut off from over two million Palestinians. As hunger spreads and desperation grows, we examine how this crisis is manufactured, and who bears responsibility.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In this episode, we commemorate Al Nakba for the 77th year. We trace the story of one Palestinian family displaced from the al-Baqa‘a neighborhood in West Jerusalem during the 1948 Nakba. From Victoria's memories of fleeing her rose-filled home to her grandson Majdi's search for what was lost, we explore how memory, loss, and resilience are passed down through generations. Through personal testimony and historical context, this episode reflects on what it means to reclaim narratives, and why Palestinians continue to remember, resist, and return.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In Palestine, journalism is not just a profession, t's an act of survival, resistance, and memory. This episode, released for World Press Freedom Day, explores the brutal reality Palestinian journalists face under Israeli occupation: targeted killings, censorship, and the erasure of their stories. Through the haunting last words of journalist Husam Shabat and testimony from journalist Dalia Hatuqa, we confront the question: what does press freedom mean when telling the truth can get you killed?Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Noor Abdalla, a Syrian-American dentist and the wife of Mr. Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian student activist and legal U.S. resident who has been illegally detained by ICE since March 8, 2025, for speaking out about Palestinian rights. Mr. Khalil was abducted by ICE while coming home from a Ramadan iftar with Dr. Abdalla, who was 8 months pregnant at the time. Mr. Khalil's chilling abduction has sent shockwaves through student and activist communities around the world. In her own words, Dr. Abdalla recounts the horrific moment her husband was taken in front of her and speaks with host Diana Buttu about the ongoing toll this separation has taken on their lives. On April 21, Dr. Abdalla gave birth to their first child without Mahmoud by her side. In a cruel decision, the Department of Homeland Security denied Mr. Khalil's request and permission to attend the birth of his first child, whom Mr. Khalil has only met over video. While speaking with Ms. Buttu, Dr. Abdalla not only delivers a powerful call for her husband's freedom, but she also states that this is not just about Mahmoud; this is about all of us, and we must refuse to be silent about Palestinian rights and continue to speak out during times of injustice. Mr. Khalil is one of the many students and scholars being targeted by the Trump administration for speaking out against Israel's genocide in Gaza and demanding that the US stop supplying weapons to Israel. From Columbia University to Tufts, ICE has orchestrated a wave of politically motivated unlawful detentions—often in public, and without warning or due process. Please see below the ways you can learn more about the call for Mr. Khalil's freedom and safe return home with his family: IG: @justice4mahmoud https://www.instagram.com/justice4mahmoud/?igsh=MXA5aXR0Zzh4a3k4dA%3D%3D# Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

On March 23, a convoy of Palestinian paramedics rushed to the site of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah. They were on a mission to save lives—but they never returned. In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Rafah paramedic massacre, where Israeli forces ambushed, executed, and buried 15 emergency responders in a mass grave alongside their ambulance. Through the haunting final video filmed by paramedic Refaat Radwan and the testimony of the sole survivor, Munther Abed, we dig into what happened that night. This is the story of the Rafah Paramedic Massacre—one of the clearest, most brutal examples yet of Israel's war on Gaza's humanitarian workers.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

Israel's brutal system controls Palestinians not only in life but also in death. In this episode, we examine the Israeli government's policy of withholding hundreds of Palestinian bodies, denying their families the right to a proper burial. Lawyer Isam Aruri sheds light on this long-standing practice, while Sanaa Daqqa shares her personal struggle to reclaim the body of her husband, Walid Daqqa, who remains withheld by Israel, turning mourning and grief into another battlefield.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a renowned and beloved Palestinian pediatrician and director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, has been illegally held captive and tortured by the Israeli army for more than 59 days. On December 27, 2024, the Israeli army kidnapped Dr. Abu Safyia while burning and besieging the Kamal Adwan Hospital. In this episode, we hear testimonies from the family of Dr. Abu Safiya, including his wife Ms. Albina Abu Safiya, and their son Elias Abu Safiya, who speak about the horrifying Israeli military attacks leading to Israel kidnapping the beloved doctor. We also hear from Khaled Mahajneh, a Palestinian human rights attorney who has represented Palestinians from Gaza held captive by Israel. Khaled speaks to us about Israel's rampant abuse and torture of Palestinians held captive by Israel in prisons such as Sde Teiman and Ofer, both where Dr. Abu Safiya has been held. Currently, there are hundreds of Palestinian medical workers being unjustly held captive by Israel along with Dr.Abu Safiya, including Dr. Ahmed Muhanna, a prominent doctor and director of the Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza. At least three Palestinian doctors have died while being held captive by Israel since September 2024, including prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh, who was tortured and died during his time held captive by the Israeli military in May 2024. Dr. Abu Safiya's family and leading human rights groups continue to call for Israel to immediately release Dr. Abu Safiya and all Palestinian medical workers held captive and subjected to Israel's abuse. Please note that the voices you will hear are not those of Albina, Elias and Khaled. Our interviews with them were conducted in Arabic. To make their powerful stories accessible to a wider audience, we have translated and rerecorded their words using English-speaking voice actors.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

As Israel pushes to dismantle UNRWA, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees face an uncertain future. In this episode, we visit Al Jalazon refugee camp to hear from Mahfouz Safi, whose family was forcibly expelled from Beit Nabala in 1948 by Zionist militias. Through his story—and the voices of his sister, Jihad, we uncover the far-reaching impact of Israel's crackdown on the agency that has provided education, healthcare, and aid to millions for over seven decades. As we explore the history of displacement and the role of UNRWA, two questions emerge: What's at stake if UNRWA disappears? And who will step in when an entire population is left without support? Please note that the voices you will hear are not those of Jihad and Safi. Our interviews with them were conducted in Arabic. To make their powerful stories accessible to a wider audience, we have translated and rerecorded their words using English-speaking voice actors.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

As the ceasefire in Gaza goes into effect, the Israeli army has launched widespread attacks against the West Bank. In this episode of “This is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu speaks with IMEU's Sarah Abu Alrob about the ceasefire agreement breaking down what is means for Palestinians. The episode also delves into the Trump's administration's actions giving Israel the green light to fully illegally annex the West Bank.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

As we approach 2025, Israel continues to bomb, attack, and occupy the birthplace of Christmas. This year, church officials have shared that Christmas services across Palestine will be somber and highlight the call to end Israel's genocide in Gaza.Experts are even warning that Israel's genocide against Palestinians could lead to the elimination of the Palestinian Christians in the Gaza Strip. Before the genocide, there were between 1,000 - 1,700 Palestinian Christians in Gaza. Following Israel's relentless attacks, less than 600 Palestinian Christians remain.  Over the past year, Israel has destroyed the homes of nearly every Palestinian Christian family in Gaza. The majority of the Palestinian Christians continue to take shelter in the Holy Family Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, both in Gaza City.  Israel has repeatedly bombed both churches.In this episode, Diana Buttu spoke with Rev. Dr. Isaac about Israel's increasing attacks on the Palestinian Christian community throughout all of Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza. They discussed how these attacks are a part of Israel's broader genocidal campaign and objective to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their land.In a recent interview, Rev. Isaac said Israel has created “completely unlivable” conditions for Palestinians in the West Bank. He also posted a photo of the Israeli army building an additional checkpoint cutting off the city of Bethlehem from other key Palestinian cities. He described the photo with the caption: “Another gate installed by the Israeli military at the entrance of our town (and on the way to my kids' school). Bethlehem - like the rest of the West Bank - has become a parcel of isolated fragmented areas. “Oh little town of Bethlehem” is “Oh little besieged Bethlehem.” Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org.Stay connected with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEUFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu

In this episode, we speak to Dr. Nimer Sultany, a law professor at SOAS. We discuss the ICC and the ICJ; what impact these cases will have and whether we should be optimistic about these legal developments. Dr. Sultany speaks with host Diana Buttu about the unprecedented number of legal actions taken before international courts, namely the International Court of Justice (also known as the World Court or the ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (known as the ICC). Dr. Sultany also expands on the international legal actions being taken to hold Israel to account within the context of the double standards that have historically existed within international justice mechanisms. Listen to this episode for the latest updates on international legal actions being taken to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing human rights violations and war crimes against Palestinians. Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In this episode of “This is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu speaks with Dalia Alahmad at IMEU's Palestine office about the incoming U.S. Trump administration and its impact on Palestinians. Ms. Buttu speaks with Ms. Alahmad about the concerns Palestinians have for the impending administration while also addressing the Biden administration's ongoing funding of Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza and human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. The episode dives into the topline concerns, including Israel's complete theft and illegal annexation of the West Bank along with the targeting of the vital international refugee aid agency UNRWA. Listen to this episode to stay up-to-date on important analysis from Palestine as the US approaches this pivotal electoral shift. Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In this two-episode special, host Diana Buttu speaks with award-winning Palestinian-American writers Fady Joudah and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, who are both finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards. Dr. Joudah and Ms. Tuffaha comprise two of the only five shortlisted writers for the 2024 National Book Award in Poetry, making this a foundational cultural honor for the Palestinian literary community and beyond. As Palestinians continue to endure Israel's genocide and defy cultural erasure, Joudah and Tuffaha discuss literature as a foundational tool of cultural resilience. The two notable writers also expand on the meaning of the Book Award nominations, not just for themselves but for all Palestinians and oppressed communities around the world. Dr. Joudah is nominated for his powerful collection of poetry, entitled, “ […].” published by Milkweed Press. Joudah's nominated work is described as an “urgent and essential collection of poems illuminating the visionary presence of Palestinians.” Joudah reminds us “Wonder belongs to all.” Fady Joudah is the recipient of multiple literary awards, including the 2024 Jackson Poetry Prize and more. New York Literary critics have said that Joudah's poetry “thrives on dramatic shifts in perspective, on continually challenging conceived notions.” Along with being a multi-award-winning writer, Joudah is an internal medicine doctor. Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In this two-episode special, host Diana Buttu speaks with award-winning Palestinian-American writers Fady Joudah and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, who are both finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards. Dr. Joudah and Ms. Tuffaha comprise two of the only five shortlisted writers for the 2024 National Book Award in Poetry, making this a foundational cultural honor for the Palestinian literary community and beyond. As Palestinians continue to endure Israel's genocide and defy cultural erasure, Joudah and Tuffaha discuss literature as a foundational tool of cultural resilience. The two notable writers also expand on the meaning of the Book Award nominations, not just for themselves but for all Palestinians and oppressed communities around the world. Ms. Tuffaha is nominated for her compelling book of poetry, “Something About Living,” published by the University Akron Press as part of the “Akron Series of Poetry.” The nominated text explores Palestinian life through the lens of the American language, revealing a legacy of obfuscation and erasure. Lena Khalaf Tuffaha is a multi-award-winning poet, essayist, and translator who has authored three acclaimed books of poetry, translated award-winning plays, and published a range of literary essays, chapters, and more. Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

Amidst Israel's genocide unfolding in Gaza, its military is escalating a relentless campaign of aggression across the Palestinian West Bank, marked by a daily barrage of military operations. Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 760 Palestinians, including 165 children, and injured 6,300 others in both the West Bank and Jerusalem. Israel has also held thousands more Palestinians captive, underscoring an intense and sustained pattern of severe human rights violations. In this episode, we highlight Jenin in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian city that Israel has subjected to intense military campaigns in for two decades. Each one of Israel's invasions has left deep scars on the city's infrastructure and people. This episode offers a close, unfiltered look at life under military occupation. Israel's brutal attacks against Palestinian cities in the West Bank such as Jenin, have led local Palestinians to now refer to the area as “Little Gaza.” Palestinian human rights experts are urgently warning that Israel's genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza is quickly spreading to the West Bank. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

Since 1948, Israel has imposed policies and measures to control and hamper the Palestinian economy. In this episode of “This is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu speaks to Ali Hamdallah, a prominent Palestinian economist and analyst. Buttu and Hamdallah discuss the various ways Israel intentionally targets and controls the Palestinian economy to obstruct Palestinian sovereignty. In the episode, we hear how Israel's theft of Palestinian land and natural resources is directly related to blocking the Palestinian people's ability to have a self-sufficient economy. Buttu and Hamdallah break down the infamous Oslo Accords and discuss how in actuality the Oslo Accords provide Israel with the tools and infrastructure to control the Palestinian economy including trade and production forcing Palestinians to be dependent on Israel. Listen to this episode to get a deep dive into one of the most vital aspects of Israel's control of Palestinian life. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

Can you imagine being used as a human shield? In this episode of “This is Palestine,” we hear the horrifying testimony of “Walid,” a Palestinian doctor in Gaza who was kidnapped by the Israeli military and used as a human shield.Host Diana Buttu breaks down Israel's long-held policy of using Palestinians as human shields as she shares the terrifying testimony of Walid.You will hear Walid explain the frightening experience of being a doctor in Al-Shifa hospital and being taken by Israeli soldiers only to endure a nightmare. Ms. Buttu also describes how Israel has intensified its policy of human shields since its genocide against the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza.Recent reports even detail disturbing accounts of Israeli soldiers using entire Palestinian families with children and elderly as human shields and Israeli soldiers strapping a Palestinian man to a military jeep to use as a human shield.Listen to this episode to uplift  Walid's story and learn more about this urgent abuse Israel is subjecting Palestinians to. Be sure to also read Ms. Buttu's new article about Israel's abusive human shield policy in Zeteo, Israel Forced Him to Become a 'Human Shield'.This episode includes distressing content by some. Please listen with care. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'! Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=enFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEUFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/Visit our website: https://imeu.org

In this episode of This is Palestine, host Diana Buttu takes us to the heart of Gaza, where education—once the cornerstone of Palestinian resilience—is under siege. Meet Salma, a 12-year-old student who dreams of becoming a journalist, and Fatima, a university student who refuses to give up on her education despite Israel's relentless bombings, displacement, and the destruction of her university. Their stories of perseverance shine against the backdrop of Israel's deliberate targeting of schools, universities, and educators in Gaza, which has resulted in what can only be described as "scholasticide"—the calculated annihilation of Palestinian education. We also hear from Andera Abdullah, an educator from Birzeit University in the West Bank, who is providing remote learning to students in Gaza, and Dr. Sabri Saidam, former Palestinian Minister of Education, who shares his insights into Gaza's deep-rooted commitment to education despite decades of Israeli violence and attacks. This episode explores the intersection of education, resilience, and survival, spotlighting the immense challenges Palestinians face as they strive to keep the light of knowledge alive amid Israel's genocide. Tune in to learn how Palestinians are finding ways to continue their studies, and how educators around the world can support them.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

In this episode of “This Is Palestine” host Diana Buttu speaks with award-winning Palestinian-American law professor George Bisharat about utilizing international justice mechanisms to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes. For over 10 months, Palestinians have been forced to endure Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza and attacks on the Palestinian people. As Israel continues to commit war crimes with impunity, the world has witnessed case after case brought before international courts in the pursuit of justice for Israel's atrocities. This episode addresses the questions you've sent to the IMEU's social media about the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Mr. Bisharat explains the pivotal recent decisions made by the ICJ and their impact on Palestinians today.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

In this episode, host Diana Buttu shares the horrifying details about one of Israel's secret torture camps or Israeli prisons, Sde Teiman, through the words of a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, Muhammad Arab. Muhammad's story is conveyed to Buttu through his lawyer, Khaled Mahajneh. Mahajneh is a Palestinian lawyer who has spent most of his legal career representing Palestinians who have been tried before Israeli military courts. Most famously, is the lawyer who represented the 6 Palestinians who escaped Gilboa prison near Jenin after they were picked up 5 days after their prison break. Mahajneh is the first and only attoney to visit the Israel Sde Teiman tourture camp. Currently, there are over 20,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza who are being held captive in Israeli prisons, some as young as 10 years old. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter https://twitter.com/dianabuttu  Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website https://imeu.org

In this episode of “This is Palestine”, we hear the heartwrenching story of baby Aylul, a baby born during Israel's genocide in Gaza. Aylul's story is one of tens of thousands of children born to Palestinian mothers who are being forced to experience pregnancy and childbirth as they try to survive Israel's genocide. It is estimated that there are 50,000 Palestinian women currently pregnant in Gaza and approximately 180 births a day. Aylul was born in the early morning hours of June 8. That same day, Israel, with US support, committed a horrific massacre in central Gaza, bombing and invading the Nuseirat refugee camp and the Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. In the span of just a few hours, Israel and the US killed nearly 300 Palestinians, including over 60 children. In the episode, we hear Aylul's story through the words of her father Ibrahim. He shares the gut-wrenching account of his wife, Riham having to give birth to their beloved baby on the floor without proper medical care due to Israel's brutal massacre. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter https://twitter.com/dianabuttu  Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website https://imeu.org

In this episode of “This Is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu speaks to Josh Ruebner, the director of IMEU's new 501C-4 organization, the IMEU Policy Project, about recent developments in the US Congress and Palestinian human rights. The episode unpacks the alarming rise in anti-Palestinian legislation and actions in Congress aiming to suppress Palestinian rights work amid Israel's genocide in Gaza. Just days after the ICC issued a statement it is seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for committing war crimes in Gaza, the US Congress invited the Israeli prime minister to deliver a speech to members. Netanyahu is slated to address Congress on July 24. From providing Israel with billions of U.S. tax dollars to commit genocide in Gaza to holding hearings intended to strike fear into the student movements calling for Palestinian freedom, and even introducing legislation aiming to sanction the International Criminal Court, the episode discusses the multitude of ways that the U.S. Congress provides Israel with a shield of impunity for its war crimes and brutality. Listen to learn more about the history of anti-Palestinian racism in Congress and the ways you can help uplift Palestinian freedom and support members of Congress who are champions of Palestinian rights today. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter https://twitter.com/dianabuttu  Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website https://imeu.org

Over the past eight months, Israel has kidnapped or unlawfully “arrested” hundreds of Palestinians. In Gaza, there are disturbing reports of Israeli soldiers kidnapping Palestinians from their homes being shackled, stripped, and forced to endure degrading and inhumane treatment. Currently, there are over 3,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel without charge or even a trial. Additionally, there are thousands of Palestinian political prisoners who are imprisoned by Israel with no end in sight. Rights groups estimate numbers to be even higher, but international aid groups have been denied the right to access Israeli prisons. Horrific reports continue to emerge of Israel's torture and abuse of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. In this episode of “This Is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu shares the horrific experiences of former Palestinian prisoners and the abuse they survived. * Warning: This episode contains graphic content Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter https://twitter.com/dianabuttu  Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website https://imeu.org

In this episode of “This is Palestine,” we speak with Palestinian American Columbia student Maryam Alwan about the rise in student-led protests across college campuses speaking out against Israel's genocide. She talks to us about the unified student demand calling on their universities to divest funds tied with Israel's genocide and war crimes. We discuss the alarming attacks that students are facing at the hands of professors and others who support Israel's genocide. Universities have even gone so far as to suspend leading student groups, like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), organizing against Israel's genocide in Gaza. Yet, students across the U.S. and the world have remained defiant and steadfast in their demands against their universities' complicity with Israel's genocide. Listen to learn more about this growing student movement in support of Palestinian freedom. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

Over the past six months, Israel has internationally destroyed Gaza's healthcare system as part of its genocidal campaign. By November 2023, Israel had repeatedly bombed more than 36 hospitals in Gaza. As of publishing, the Israeli military has besieged and attacked Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza for over 11 days. Horrifying reports continue to emerge of Israeli soldiers killing Palestinians sheltering inside and abducting medical workers. Additionally, Israel has blocked the entry of food, water, and medical supplies into Gaza, creating an unprecedented public health crisis and famine. At least 27 Palestinians in Gaza have died of malnutrition, 23 of them children. In this episode, host Diana Buttu speaks with Palestinian neurologist Dr. Karameh Hawash-Kuemmerle, about Israel's deliberate destruction of public health in Gaza and its devastating consequences on Palestinians. In 2023, before Israel's current genocide, Dr. Hawash-Kuemmerle co-founded the organization “Doctors Against Genocide,” to address Israel's sharp increase in attacks on Palestinian cities and refugee camps in the West Bank. Once Israel began its brutal campaign in Gaza, it became clear the organization and her work were needed more than ever. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

In this episode, host Diana Buttu speaks with Palestinian human rights lawyer Ahmed Abofoul about South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging Israel with the crime of genocide in Gaza. Mr. Abofoul is a Legal Researcher and Advocacy Officer with Al-Haq, one of the oldest Palestinian human rights organizations. On January 26th, the ICJ ruled that Israel is plausibly committing the crime of genocide in Gaza and must take all measures to prevent acts of genocide. Since the ruling, Israel has repeatedly violated the ICJ-mandated measures, including blocking the entry of life-saving food, aid, and water into Gaza. Numerous humanitarian groups have raised alarm about Israel using starvation as a weapon in Gaza, stating that famine in Gaza is imminent due to Israel's illegal blockade. Additionally, since the ICJ ruling, Israel has killed more than 3,500 Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the number of Palestinians Israel has killed in Gaza to more than 31,000. This includes Israel killing more than 13,000 children in Gaza since October. Mr. Abofoul, who is based in the Hague, discusses the significance of the ICJ's case and why it is a critical step towards ending ongoing impunity for Israel's horrific war crimes against the Palestinian people. In the episode, Mr. Abofoul and Ms. Buttu provide an in-depth discussion about Israel's inherent and long history of ethnic cleansing and genocidal intent in Palestine, within the context of the ICJ. Mr. Abofoul also discusses the long history of U.S. and Western hypocrisy in applying international law and how the Israel-genocide ICJ case is a testament to the international legal system. Listen to the episode for everything you need to know about the ICJ case and why it is critical for holding Israel accountable. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

In this episode, we take a deeper look into Israel's deliberate targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Killing journalists is a war crime. According to the UN, Gaza is the deadliest place in the world for journalists right now. Additionally, the International Journalist Federation has issued a statement describing Israel's killing of Palestinian journalists over the past four months as “deliberate and systematic.” Host Diana Buttu speaks with Anan Quzmar, a representative from the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate (PJS). They discuss the critical role of Palestinian journalists, who are not only reporting the news about Israel's genocide but are also living it. Over the past four months, Israel has killed at least 120 Palestinian journalists. The PJS has described the conditions of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, saying, “They lost their families and they continue their work…They are without houses and they continue their work... Without food, without the security for them, without their families.” Listen to learn more about the stories of Palestinian journalists and why they continue to remain absolute in their reporting and expose Israel's war crimes to the world. Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

In the aftermath of October 7, Palestinian students at Israeli higher education institutions quickly faced attacks for their social media posts. These attacks, coordinated between Israeli government officials, Israeli institutions, and far-right groups, targeted students who expressed dissent against Israel's attacks on Gaza. This led to the expulsion or suspension of students for alleged violations of university codes of conduct. In other cases, students faced criminal charges, while others were physically attacked in their dorms. It's important to note that these measures were taken while the universities were out of session, in fact, before the semester had begun, and were based solely on social media posts, unrelated to any campus activities. Some of the so-called offensive posts involved students liking or sharing a post, sometimes providing context to the October 7 events or expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In some instances, students posted calls to end Israel's attacks, while others were unrelated, such as posting verses from the Quran. In most cases, fellow students reported these posts, and the repressive measures extended beyond just these actions. Host Diana Buttu speaks with Adi Mansour, a lawyer at Adalah, a civil rights organization for Palestinians in Israel. Adalah has represented more than 120 students facing disciplinary measures, yet there are hundreds more affected. Adi discusses with us the measures imposed on these students, the coordinated campaign against them, and the reasons behind it. We also explore the actions, or rather the inactions, of universities in addressing genocidal speech against Palestinians.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

On October the 27th, Israel cut off all phone and internet communications to the Gaza Strip, further plunging the area into darkness. The cutting of internet and phone communications meant that vital life-saving systems such as ambulances, rescuers, and hospitals could not be reached to treat the injured or to rescue those trapped under the rubble. Cutting off the internet also meant that Israel's crimes would be carried out in the dark. But in the midst of this, the volunteer initiative 'Connecting Gaza' was formed, led by Mirna El Helbawi an author and activist, who decided to set up a system for donors around the world to purchase E-SIMs or virtual SIM cards. This was to help Palestinians skirt telecommunications blackouts amid Israeli bombing across the Gaza Strip.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

The case in which South Africa accuses Israel of violating the genocide convention at the International Court of Justice began this week with oral arguments presented by South Africa and Israel. The court will base its decisions on whether to order several provisional measures, including instructing Israel to suspend all military operations in Gaza, solely based on these hearings. Our regular host, Diana Buttu, who was part of the team that assisted in the successful litigation against Israel's Apartheid Wall before the International Court of Justice in 2004, breaks down the events of this week.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

This week, South Africa is accusing Israel of committing genocide in front of the International Court of Justice or the ICJ. Hearings are set to begin on January 11 and 12, when South Africa and Israel respectively will give their first oral arguments. To help us understand what this means and what we can expect as the case unfolds, we're joined by our usual host, Diana Buttu, who happens to be a Palestinian lawyer and expert on international human rights law.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

Last month, the Bethlehem municipality announced the cancellation of Christmas celebrations in the city of Christ's birth, as a gesture of mourning and in honor of the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israel. Palestinian churches and local leaders emphasize that canceling Christmas in Palestine aims to send a message to the world and to those celebrating, highlighting that Israel is bombing the very birthplace of Christmas. They assert that if Jesus were alive today, 'he would be buried under the rubble.' Host Diana Buttu speaks with the renowned Palestinian Reverend and Professor, Dr. Mitri Raheb. A prominent Palestinian Christian leader and co-founder of the Dar Kalima University College of Arts and Culture in Bethlehem, Dr. Raheb is one of the most widely published Palestinian reverends and intellectuals. He also leads programs supporting artists and intellectuals in Gaza, some of whom have been killed by Israel during these past 10 weeks. Dr. Raheb shares insights on the deeply rooted Christmas traditions in Palestine, including those in Gaza, and discusses how Israel, with the support of the Biden administration, is brutally bombing the very people and land that brought Christmas to the world.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

For our 100th episode, Diana Buttu speaks with Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a renowned British-Palestinian doctor. Just two days into Israel's brutal bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip, he decided to head to Gaza to provide life-saving medical treatment to Palestinians. He remained in Gaza for 43 days, giving the world a glimpse into the impact on Palestinians and the healthcare system in Gaza through his social media accounts and interviews, highlighting the effects of Israel's siege and bombings. As we record this, today marks the 70th day of Israel's bombing campaign, during which more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, with thousands more still under the rubble. Israeli bombs have injured an estimated 50,000 Palestinians. The UN has announced that the health system has collapsed, with infectious diseases spreading. Dr. Abu Sitta and his colleagues have had to conduct surgeries without disinfectants, sometimes in the dark, using only the light from a cellphone. Many doctors are forced to amputate limbs without anesthesia. Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sitta is a multi-award-winning Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, renowned as one of the world's leading specialists in craniofacial surgery, facial aesthetics, cleft lip and palate surgery, and trauma-related injuries. His pioneering research and innovation have transformed the faces and lives of patients across the globe. Le Monde has dubbed him 'the man who fixes broken faces.' In Gaza, he and other doctors and medical workers are heroes.Thank you for listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter here  Follow us on Instagram here Follow us on Twitter here Follow us on Facebook here Visit our website here

As of the time of this recording, Israel has temporarily halted its brutal bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip. As part of the agreement to “pause” the bombing, Israel is releasing Palestinian kids and women held in Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of Israelis held in Gaza. The vast majority of those released have never been convicted. In this episode, we highlight the story of a young Palestinian teenager who was released by Israel, how and why he ended up in Israeli prisons and the treatment of the prisoners before and after the start of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip.

It has been more than 46 days since Israel began its brutal bombing campaign against Palestinians in Gaza. During this period, Israel has killed more than 14,000 Palestinians, including more than 5,500 children in Gaza alone. Thousands of Palestinians remain trapped under the rubble. The Israeli military has deliberately bombed hospitals, mosques, churches, homes, ambulances, and vital infrastructure throughout Gaza. On top of the ruthless bombing campaign, Israel has intensified its blockade on Gaza, blocking the entry of food, water, and fuel and cutting off the electricity supply. Israel has destroyed more than half of the housing units in Gaza, and two-thirds of Palestinians have now fled their homes. In this episode, host Diana Buttu speaks with the former Director of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Craig Mokhiber. Mr. Mokhiber breaks down for us how Israel's military attack against Palestinians in Gaza constitutes the crime of genocide. On October 28, 2023, Mr. Mokhiber took the bold decision to publicly resign from his position at the U.N. for its failure to once again stop the crime of genocide. In this episode, he talks to us about how Israel's actions clearly meet the conditions for the crime of genocide, including proving intent, which is considered the most difficult to prove. We also discuss the role of countries like the U.S. and how they are directly complicit in Israel's war crimes, including genocide. We delve into why it is critical for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its repeated war crimes as a necessary step to stop its 75-year ethnic cleansing campaign against the Palestinian people. As of publishing, a temporary pause has been brokered, which stipulates a temporary halt in Israel's bombing of Gaza for up to four days and a 6-hour pause in the north of Gaza. The specifics of the agreement state that Israel will release over 150 unjustly imprisoned Palestinian women and children in exchange for the release of 50 Israeli captives.

Time and time again, we've witnessed the familiar cycle: Israel launches a brutal bombing campaign on Gaza, putting Palestine into the global spotlight. Palestinian voices are often sidelined in mainstream discourse. So, Palestinians turn to the only available tool they have: social media. It becomes their primary means to share their stories and amplify their voices. However, this very tool is frequently subjected to censorship. Since October 7, we've seen this censorship take on new heights. For example, WhatsApp's AI image generator created emojis of gun-wielding children when prompted with ‘Palestinian,' and Instagram's AI-translation model replaced “Palestinianالحمد الله” with “Palestinian Terrorist”. Palestinian accounts are being shadowbanned and posts are throttled. But the problem, of course, is deeper than that. Palestinian voices, especially those of journalists and human rights defenders, face significant and disproportionate censorship and limited reachability in times of crisis. Host Diana Buttu speaks with Mona Shtaya to help make sense of it all. Mona is the Campaigns and Partnerships Manager and Corporate Engagement Lead at Digital Actions. She also holds the position of a non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), where her focus lies on surveillance and digital rights in the MENA region. She also serves as a non-resident scholar for the Middle East Institute (MEI) in the Cyber Security and Emerging Technology Program and the Palestine-Israel program. Prior to her current role, she worked as the Advocacy and Communications Manager at 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media.

Israel has been bombing the besieged Gaza Strip nonstop. Israel has cut off water supplies, fuel supplies, electricity supplies and even food and has prevented virtually all supplies from countries around the world from reaching the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel has killed over 10,000 Palestinians, including more than 4,100 children. Additionally, thousands remain trapped beneath the rubble, desperate for help. We shed light on the situation at al-Shifa, Gaza Strip's largest hospital, which has become both a medical center for treating the wounded and a refuge for over 40,000 Palestinians. Israel is threatening to bomb it. Our guest, Dr. Tarek Loubani, an emergency room physician and associate professor at the University of Western Ontario, shares his firsthand experiences, including being shot by the Israeli army while treating victims during the Great Return March. Please be advised that some of the descriptions in this episode are graphic.

Note the conversation of this podcast was recorded before the developments of November 3rd. The term '48'  refers to the Palestinian territories before the creation of Israel, specifically the areas that became part of Israel following the Nakba in 1948. 

Today marks the 25th day of Israel's ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza. The death toll has tragically risen to over 8,525 Palestinians, including more than 3,542 children at the time of this recording. These numbers, however, don't capture the full extent of the human tragedy, such as the people killed today by Israel's bombing in the Jabilya refugee camp in northern Gaza. In recent days, a 10-page document dated October 13, 2023, has come to light, prominently featuring the logo of Israel's Intelligence Ministry. The document presents a comprehensive assessment of three potential courses of action concerning the future of Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip, all within the context of the ongoing conflict. Notably, it advocates for a full-scale population transfer as the preferred strategy. Furthermore, the document calls upon Israel to seek international support for this proposed initiative. It is worth noting that the authenticity of this document has been officially confirmed by the Intelligence Ministry itself. Additionally, the document has been made available in its entirety in English on the +972 platform for further examination. This plan has evoked comparisons to the 1948 Nakba when 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes. Diana Buttu breaks it all down.

This podcast was recorded on October 22nd. Since then, the number of Palestinians killed has increased, with Israel now having killed over 6,547 Palestinians, including at least 2,704 children. We hear from several Palestinians in Gaza and the horrific experience they are enduring.

Israel gave the UN 24 hours to evacuate 1.1 million Palestinians from northern Gaza. That is impossible. Roads have been completely destroyed. Experts have warned that an Israeli ground invasion expected to follow would result in horrific mass violence against Palestinian civilians, including mass displacement. Palestinians are being told to leave, but they are completely trapped with nowhere to turn for safety. At the time of this recording, Israel has already killed more than 2000 Palestinians, and more than 700 children since Saturday. In that time, Israel has also killed at least 12 UN workers. We hear from several Palestinians in Gaza and the horrific experience they are enduring. Our first story comes from a mother, Both her family and her husband's family are refugees, a harsh reality that nearly 80% of residents in the Gaza Strip face. Now, they find themselves reliving the ordeal their grandparents endured 75 years ago during the Palestinian Nakba or catastrophe. We now turn to Bisan, a content creator from the Gaza Strip. On a normal day, her Instagram would be filled with videos showing the beauty of Gaza and its people. However, now, her feed is documenting the daily atrocities she and the people of Gaza are facing from Israel's attacks. Lastly, we hear from Afaf, who made the harrowing decision to flee with her family to the southern part of Gaza after the Israeli army dropped leaflets in neighborhoods, instructing Palestinians to evacuate their homes and head south in only 24 hours. Israel's 24-hour evacuation order for 1.1+ million Palestinians in north Gaza isn't just impossible—it's a war crime.

Israel continues to rain bombs on Gaza, home to more than 2 million Palestinians—half of them children—who have been trapped there under a suffocating Israeli siege for over 16 years. With no route to safety, Palestinians in Gaza face each day with the dread of a potential airstrike on their community, unsure if their homes will remain standing by nightfall. Host Diana Buttu welcomes her former co-host, Omar Baddar, to discuss the current violence, the US response, and what's to come.

It's been 28 years since the #OsloAccords, and Palestinians have received nothing but fewer rights, increased settler land theft, and more Israeli violence. The "peace process" was a sham. Host Diana Buttu breaks down the Oslo Accords and the legacy they left behind. Listen to part 2 of our Oslo Accords episode.

It's been 28 years since the Oslo Accords, and Palestinians have received nothing but fewer rights, increased settler land theft, and more Israeli violence. The "peace process" was a sham. Host Diana Buttu breaks down the Oslo Accords and the legacy they left behind.

Listen to host Diana Buttu as she delves deep into a chapter of Palestinian history. Journey back to 1973, when under the cloak of night, Israeli soldiers seized a scenic hilltop near the town of Burqa, Nablus. Once a serene haven of apple orchards and mesmerizing terraces, this 173 dunam (approximately 43 acres) land, owned by Palestinians, was transformed overnight. Families who once flocked here to immerse themselves in nature's embrace suddenly found their beloved land overtaken to establish a military base, subsequently morphing into the Israeli settlement of Homesh. This episode sheds light on the resulting geopolitical divisions and the devastating impact of settler terrorism on the residents of Burqa. Join Diana for a gripping narration of how landscapes and lives can change, leaving legacies of lost connections and longing.

In part one of this two-part special, host Diana Buttu dives deep into the stories of two West Bank towns with identical names: Burqa. Beyond their names, these towns are united by an overwhelming challenge — the presence of Israeli settlers, soldiers, and a legal system that often appears to favor land acquisition. Our journey begins in Burqa near Ramallah. Just a few weeks ago, a tragic event took place as Israeli settlers took the life of an 18-year-old Palestinian, Qusai Mitan. Listen as Diana speaks to Qusai's grieving family, delving into the harrowing narrative of how settlers, often backed by violence and a biased legal framework, perpetuate land seizures. But to even reach Burqa, Diana had to navigate numerous Israeli-imposed roadblocks, which have isolated Burqa from its neighboring towns. Tune in to hear firsthand accounts, raw emotions, and stories from the ground.

In this episode, host @dianabuttu speaks with Hassan Jabareen, the founder and General Director of Adalah, a human rights organization based in Haifa that focuses on the rights of Palestinians. For more than 25 years, Hassan has litigated scores of landmark cases regarding Palestinians before the Israeli Supreme Court. Hassan explains to us how Israel's judicial overhaul impacts Palestinians living under Israel's rule - whether as so-called citizens or those in the occupied territory. Follow @adalah.legal.center for more information on their work.

Last week, the Israeli military began a two-day invasion in the Palestinian city of Jenin. Israeli soldiers killed 12 Palestinians—including at least 4 children—left over 100 Palestinians injured, and destroyed dozens of homes. Most Palestinian families living in Jenin's refugee camp were forced out of their homes by violent militias in 1948 in order to steal their land and create Israel. Their stories are ones of survival under relentless violence at the hands of Israeli occupation and apartheid. Host Diana Buttu breaks down the recent Israeli attacks on Jenin and what it all means.

Diana Buttu breaks down the escalating Israeli violence in Palestine. We've seen hundreds of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian towns, setting homes and cars on fire. This comes on the heels of a violent invasion by the Israeli military into the Palestinian city of Jenin, which resulted in the loss of six Palestinian lives, including two children, and wounded at least 90 more. For the first time in 2 decades, Israel attacked Palestinians using a helicopter. The helicopter shot a rocket at a Palestinian refugee camp. Additionally, Israel announced plans last week to build over 4,000 illegal settlements on Palestinian land, signaling an unsettling intensification of the occupation. Together, these events paint a concerning picture of a far-right government escalating its daily violence against Palestinians, encouraging its citizens to participate, and stealing more Palestinian land.

Join Diana Buttu as she engages in a captivating conversation with the renowned Palestinian political cartoonist and author, Mohammad Sabaaneh. Delve into the world of Sabaaneh's mesmerizing black-and-white illustrations that powerfully depict the daily oppression endured by Palestinians under Israeli occupation. In this episode, we explore the depths of Sabaaneh's award-winning graphic novel, "Power Born of Dreams: My Story Is Palestine," which chronicles his personal journey of enduring five months of imprisonment by Israel. Gain insight into Sabaaneh's life in Ramallah and his role as a professor at the esteemed Arab American University of Palestine. Prepare to be inspired by the boundless hope that resonates through Sabaaneh's art, touching hearts across the globe.

In today's episode, we hear from Palestinian American writer, podcaster, rock climber, and now filmmaker Andrew Bisharat. Bisharat stars in the new Reel Rock 17 film, “Resistance Climbing.”The new film follows the journey of a group of Palestinian and US climbers as Bishrat explores his Palestinian identity through the world of climbing. Bisharat spoke to us about co-narrating the new documentary and what led him to join the unique project. He tells us about his emotional trip returning to his family's home in Jerusalem and what it was like to film the experience. You can watch the new film online at watch.reelrocktour.com/videos/rr17-resistanceclimbing