Is Israel shifting its genocide to the West Bank? Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

As the Gaza ceasefire took effect, Israeli occupation forces began destroying vital infrastructure in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes. One week on and Israel's actions have continued unabated. Is the West Bank facing the same fate as Gaza?



This week’s Palestine This Week opens with the latest developments from Gaza, where Israel has opened fire on Palestinians attempting to return to the north, leaving tens of thousands stranded in the Netzarim Corridor. Regular guest Mouin Rabbani and host Nasim Ahmed, examine Israel’s violation of the ceasefire agreement which came into effect last week and the humanitarian crisis deepening as displaced Gazans are prevented from returning home. The discussion includes a revealing analysis of the hostage exchanges, examining the stark contrast between the condition of released Israeli soldiers and earlier claims about their treatment.

Shifting our focus to the occupied West Bank, we unpack Israel’s launch of 'Operation Iron Wall' in Jenin, provocatively named after Ze'ev Jabotinsky’s 1923 essay which laid the ideological foundation for right-wing Israeli politics. This operation, launched on President Donald Trump’s second day in office, coincides with Israel’s imminent ban on UNRWA operations in the occupied West Bank.

On the international front, we explore the seismic shifts in US policy following Trump’s return to office. His executive order suspending foreign aid while maintaining support for Israel, coupled with his controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, signalling his support for another round of ethnic cleansing. His appointment of Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador, who claims Israel has a biblical right to the West Bank, further underscores this shift.

The episode also examines the concerning developments in academic freedom, with Harvard’s adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism effectively restricting criticism of Israeli policy. While Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed that “paid actors” might be behind some anti-Semitic attacks.