Is Gaza being held hostage to Netanyahu’s violations? Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

US President Donald Trump continues to ignore Israel's violations of the Gaza ceasefire while mounting pressure on Palestinians, is the truce now on the brink of collapse?

Palestine This Week looks at repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement with Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s shifting position which has dominated headlines. With US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu issuing threats, the negotiations have teetered on the brink of collapse, raising questions about who truly holds the upper hand in these talks.

Attention then turns to the horrific reports of Palestinian detainees subjected to torture in Israeli prisons. The case of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, has highlighted the brutal treatment of prisoners, with many released detainees displaying clear signs of abuse. Yet, Western media has largely ignored these reports, reinforcing the stark contrast between how Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are portrayed.

The episode then exposes another war crime committed by Israeli occupation forces: the use of Palestinians as human shields. An 80-year-old Palestinian man was found with an explosive cord tied around his neck, used as a shield by Israeli troops. Further reports suggest that Palestinians have been forced to wear an Israeli army uniform, effectively turning them into bait to draw fire.
Shocking new studies also take centre stage. A recent Lancet report reveals that life expectancy in Gaza has nearly halved over the past year, dropping from 75.5 years to just 40.6. An unprecedented decline which underscores the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, Alex de Waal’s extensive 'London Review of Books' analysis meticulously documents how Israel has weaponised starvation, restricting food access and humanitarian aid to control the Palestinian population.
As the conversation moves forward, the episode delves into Trump’s ongoing efforts to push for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. With the next phase of the prisoner exchange deal approaching, Netanyahu faces pressure from all sides. Meanwhile, regional dynamics are shifting. The UAE has reportedly pushed for a softening of Arab League language on displacement, signalling possible support for Trump’s agenda.

We also look at how events in Gaza have led to the arrest of a Zionist in America who attempted to kill two men he thought were Palestinians only to discover his victims were Israelis. The victims bizarrely claimed it was an anti-Semitic attack, despite the shooter’s clear intent to target Palestinians. Adding to the irony, both victims later took to social media to call for “Death to Arabs.”

The UK government’s refusal to grant asylum to Gazans also comes under scrutiny. Authorities are now working to close a loophole that had allowed a Palestinian family to enter under a scheme originally designed for Ukrainians. This blatant double standard raises serious questions about Britain’s moral and historical obligations, especially given its direct role in the creation of Israel and its ongoing complicity in the occupation and genocide of Palestinians.