Palestine This Week

 Israel has used sexual and reproductive violence in Gaza as a weapon of war in what the UN has declared is a 'genocidal act', how will the international community react to the latest damning reports of Tel Aviv's abuse of Palestinians? Will action finally be taken to hold Israel to account.This episode was recorded before Israel launched its intensified bombing campaign in Gaza on Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians. This week, we begin our analysis by looking into one of the most damning reports yet; a UN Human Rights Council investigation exposing Israel’s systematic use of sexual violence and genocidal acts in Gaza. From Israeli security forces using rape as a weapon of war to the destruction of reproductive health facilities, the findings are harrowing. What does this mean for international accountability?We also dissect US President Donald Trump’s denial that he is seeking to expel Palestinians from Gaza while reports surface that he is holding secret discussions to forcibly relocate Gazans to East Africa. Meanwhile, Hamas has reportedly agreed to release a US-Israeli soldier. Is Hamas trying to drive a wedge between the US and Israel?The US has once again bombed Yemen, marking yet another chapter in Washington’s long-standing pattern of attacking one of the poorest countries on Earth. With at least 53 dead, we ask: What triggered this latest round of strikes? And is this really about protecting shipping lanes, or is something else at play? Meanwhile, in Syria, Israel has facilitated the first Druze visit in 52 years, sparking outrage among Syrian Druze leaders who accuse Israel of manipulating religious visits to expand its influence.Finally, we analyse the growing crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in the US, from Columbia University facing federal funding cuts following the student movement calling for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza, to the White House labelling a Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil a 'threat' despite admitting he broke no laws. And in a surreal twist, Germany’s own anti-Semitism czar has pulled out of Israel’s anti-Semitism conference because Israel invited actual anti-Semites. Has the fight against anti-Semitism collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions? 

 The ceasefire in Gaza is teetering on the brink, as Israel continues to refuse to engage in negotiation on a second phase of the deal, while in Syria unrest has broken out in the between Allawite forces and the government's security personnel leading to fears that some actors are destabalising the region once again. In this week’s episode, we begin with reports that the US has engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas, bypassing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The discussion covers an analysis of a report by Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, which has suggested that Netanyahu’s own policies, including his approach to Hamas, helped pave the way for the events of 7 October 2023.Amit Yagur, a former senior Israeli intelligence official, has called for a strategic shift in Israel’s response to Hamas. He has argued that Netanyahu is misreading the intentions of Hamas and suggested leveraging Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” plan to undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian group. At the same time, Arab states have put forward a $53 billion alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan, seeking to counter his proposal for a US-led takeover of Gaza.The discussion also explores the role of AI in surveillance and repression, including Israel’s development of an AI-driven tool to monitor Palestinians and the US’s push to use AI to revoke visas of foreign nationals supporting Palestinian rights. This comes as public opinion is shifting in the US, with support for Israel at its lowest level since polling began, a trend that may have influenced the outcome of the 2024 election.Beyond Palestine, Qatar has called for Israel’s nuclear weapons to be placed under international safeguards, and Syria faces renewed violence with over 1,000 people killed in recent days. With the country’s transitional process underway, Qatar’s foreign minister has warned that in the region 'peace has many enemies', a phrase that resonates across multiple conflicts in the Middle East.The episode concludes with a discussion on the continued erosion of international legal frameworks, including the failure to convene a conference on the Geneva Convention in Switzerland over Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, amid reported pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv.

After witnessing US President Donald Trump's awkward meeting with Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy, does the Middle East - Gaza in particular - need to reconsider the options available with regards the future of the region and Palestinians within it?  The latest episode of Palestine This Week kicks off with the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire deal as Israel blocks all humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. Host Nasim Ahmed and Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani expose how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deliberately undermined the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, shifting blame to Hamas while blocking essential aid into Gaza. We’ll unpack the latest revelations from Israel’s own military inquiry into the 7 October attacks, including their implementation of the controversial 'Hannibal Directive' and their admission of ignoring crucial intelligence warnings.Our analysis extends beyond Gaza as we investigate Israel’s persistent violations of the November ceasefire with Lebanon and its increasingly aggressive posture towards Syria. We examine Netanyahu’s recent claim to 'defend' the Druze city of Jaramana near Damascus – widely seen as a manufactured pretext for further military action – alongside Israel’s desperate diplomatic efforts to maintain a weakened, fractured Syria. Is Israel seeking to fragment Syria?As Arab nations prepare for an emergency summit in Cairo to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction, we explore the staggering $50 billion price tag attached to rebuilding what Israel has destroyed. With Egypt and Jordan financially constrained and the US refusing to pressure Israel to pay for the devastation, can Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar present a reconstruction plan compelling enough to counter President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s ethnic cleansing agenda?The episode concludes with an analysis of Trump’s awkward meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House and its implications for Middle Eastern politics. Are Arab leaders worried about a similar humiliating treatment? With Trump’s 'America First' doctrine potentially threatening traditional alliances, what does this mean for Saudi Arabia’s long-sought security guarantees in exchange for normalisation with Israel? As Washington buzzes with talk of withdrawing from NATO and the UN, we examine whether meaningful American security commitments to Riyadh are becoming increasingly implausible, potentially reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the entire region.

Israel refused to release the 600 Palestinians who were set to be freed as part of last weekend's prisoner exchange citing Hamas’ delivery of a wrong body instead of detained Israeli Shiri Bibas on Thursday, but is this just an effort to give credence to its plans to relaunch its bombing campaign in Gaza?Is Israel manufacturing pretexts to derail the Gaza ceasefire agreement? What does the Arab world’s alternative vision for post-genocidal war Gaza look like? This episode of Palestine This Week brings you exclusive insights into these pressing questions as the first phase of the ceasefire deal reaches its critical final days. With negotiations hanging in the balance and regional leaders meeting in Riyadh, we explore the diplomatic manoeuvring that could determine Gaza’s future.Joining us this week is Muhammad Shehada, reporting directly from Cairo where he’s been closely monitoring the ongoing negotiations. As a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relation’s Middle East and North Africa programme and a Gazan researcher and human rights advocate, Shehada brings a unique perspective to the issue.We examine the significance of the summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where Arab leaders are presenting a united front against the forced displacement of Palestinians. Could we see a return of the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 and can the region remain united in rejection of US President Trump's Gaza “Riviera” proposal. Our analysis explores whether Arab states are prepared to use their considerable leverage - from normalisation agreements to strategic partnerships - to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the West Bank, where Israel has escalated its military aggression by deploying tanks and troops.We also investigate Israel’s controversial handling of the release of the Bibas family and how it might be used to undermine the ceasefire agreement and manufacture consent for continuing the genocide. We examine the far-reaching implications of the Trump administration’s decision to halt funding for Palestinian Authority security forces, while unpacking the glaring disparity between Israeli media’s candid admissions of genocidal intent and Western media’s reluctance to acknowledge this reality.

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.

US President Donald Trump has said he is committed to 'buying, owning Gaza' and forcibly displacing Palestinians, is this just a continuation of Israel's genocidal campaign against the enclave?Is Donald Trump's plan to 'take over Gaza' reckless posturing or a dangerous proposal for ethnic cleansing that could unite the world against the US and Israel? In this episode of Palestine This Week, host Nasim Ahmed and expert guest Mouin Rabbani tackle this question while examining the latest developments in the region. The show begins with the release of three Israeli captives, which has sparked an international row over the treatment of hostages.Also featured are damning legal and military revelations: former UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption described Israel’s military campaign as 'grossly disproportionate' with an arguable case for genocide, while former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant admitted to ordering the controversial Hannibal Directive on 7 October 2023, killing Israeli captives along with their captors and +972 magazine’s investigation into Israel’s use of toxic gases in Gaza indicates violations of multiple international conventions, including the Chemical Weapons Convention and Rome Statute.Recent proposals regarding Gaza’s future receive thorough examination, particularly focusing on regional responses such as Jordan’s apparent readiness to repel Israel’s expulsion of Palestinians into its territory at any cost and Saudi Arabia’s categorical rejection of Trump’s plan for ethnic cleansing . The show explores how these stances impact broader diplomatic relations and potential normalisation efforts in the Middle East.The episode concludes with an in-depth analysis of evolving US foreign policy positions regarding UN bodies, particularly the Human Rights Council and UNRWA and examines shifts in attitudes toward Middle East policy in the US, including changing perspectives on Iranian sanctions and international engagement. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was once overheard speaking about using war as an opportunity to 'get all the Arabs out' and 'clear the West Bank', with US President Donald Trump now in the White House, are Netanyahu's aspirations seeing fruition and will Palestinians be forcibly displaced once again?This week host Nasim Ahmed and regular guest Mouin Rabbani examine Israel’s expanding policy of forced displacement, from the deportation of Palestinian hostages to neighbouring countries to Washington’s reported plans for population transfers.  Israel has deported dozens of Palestinian hostages to Egypt where they remain effectively imprisoned. Are these deportations part of a broader strategy of permanent displacement, especially as Israel implements restrictive new policies at the Rafah crossing that allow Palestinians to exit the besieged enclave but prevents their return to Gaza? Over 150,000 Gazans remain stranded in Egypt since Israel's destruction of the crossing in May 2024, while Washington reportedly considers relocating portions of Gaza's population to Syria in addition to Jordan and Egypt. What do these developments, coupled with the presence of American military contractors manning checkpoints in Gaza, signal for Palestinians? The 'Gazafication' of the West Bank is also accelerating, with Israel conducting simultaneous explosions in Jenin refugee camp, destroying up to 20 homes in a single neighbourhood last week. In addition to that, the Israeli Knesset has approved a draft law permitting settlers to purchase Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, signalling moves towards permanent annexation. These developments align with previously revealed aspirations of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was once overheard by British journalist Max Hastings speaking about using war as an opportunity to 'get all the Arabs out' and 'clear the West Bank'. On the international front, major developments discussed include President Donald Trump’s reported plans to withdraw US forces from Syria, the extension of the Lebanon ceasefire until 18 February and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Particularly noteworthy is the scandal involving incoming ICJ President Julia Sebutinde, whose position may be compromised by allegations of plagiarism and concerns about her ideological commitment to Zionism. 

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.  

As the ceasefire in Gaza comes into effect and captives are released by both sides, reports are emerging that the deal was first put on the table in December 2023, bringing into question what Israel has achieved in the  12 months since, with one Israeli newspaper commenting that this is 'the first time Israel lost a war'. The dramatic hostage deal between Hamas and Israel takes centre stage in the latest episode of Palestine This Week. Host Nasim Ahmed and Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani discuss revelations that the captives were kept alive in northern Gaza, right under the Israeli occupation forces' noses, challenging Israel’s narrative about its military campaign and intelligence capabilities.The timing of the deal draws particular scrutiny, with insights into Trump’s influence in securing the agreement - reportedly achieving more in one meeting with Netanyahu than Biden managed in a year. The discussion explores the Qatari foreign minister’s striking admission that this deal mirrors the framework proposed in December 2023, suggesting 13 months of unnecessary devastation in Gaza.The show examines the Times of Israel’s remarkable acknowledgment that “For the first time, Israel just lost a war,” breaking down 14 reasons why Palestinians might be considered the victors and not Israel. The conversation also explores the potential release of Marwan Barghouti and its implications for Palestinian politics, while questioning whether Israel will honour the agreement given internal opposition and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s resignation.The impact on US politics features prominently in the analysis, with recent polling data revealing how Gaza has significantly affected Biden’s voter base. The figures show 29 per cent of Biden’s 2020 voters switched their support citing Gaza as their primary concern - above both the economy and immigration. 

Poland has given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from arrest under the ICC warrant, while the Lancet has revealed that the death toll in Gaza has been underreported by 41%. Will the new Trump administration bring a change to the realities Palestinians in Gaza have faced for the last 15 months?Palestine This Week tackles the shocking findings of a new Lancet report suggesting the Palestinian death toll in Gaza has been underreported by 41 per cent. At a time when academic institutions are taking unprecedented steps to condemn Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s educational system and talks of a potential ceasefire for hostage deal gain momentum, this week’s show examines these developments and their implications on the region.The conversation navigates through a series of interconnected developments, from the American Historical Association’s landmark vote condemning Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s educational system to Poland’s controversial decision to grant Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from ICC arrest warrants. A particularly revealing segment examines Israel’s growing territorial ambitions, with discussion of calls for settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and concerning rhetoric about occupying the Sinai Peninsula and Mount Hermon in Syria.Nasim Ahmed and Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani bring their analytical expertise to these complex issues, concluding with a critical examination of President Joe Biden’s legacy, US foreign policy through the lens of Donald Trump’s sharing of Professor Jeffrey Sachs’ comments accusing America of fighting Israel’s wars and a former Biden official’s criticism of US failure to curb the occupation state’s military onslaught in Gaza.