Palestine This Week

As the region teeters on the edge of war, we look at how Israel's actions and targeted assassinations over the past week have pushed an already volitile situation even closer to the edge and discuss what options may be on the cards now. In Palestine This Week, join guest host Usman BUtt and regular guest Mouin Rabbani as we cover Israel's killing spree in Beirut, Gaza and Tehran. In response to an alleged Hezbollah rouge projectile striking a football field in the Syrian town of Majdal Shams killing 12 children, Israel launched a strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon and assassinated Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Much to everyone's surprise, another strike, this time in Iran, killed Hamas's leader Ismail Haniyeh. Though Israel has not claimed responsibility to Haniyeh's murder, it is believed to be behind the attack. The twin assassinations have the region on edge, with many fearing an Iranian retaliation could plunge the region into a wider war. We discuss what the fallout will be.Also in this week's episode, an Israeli strike killed Al Jazeera journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami Al-Refee, meaning Gaza has reached a grim milestone of 120 journalists killed since 7 October. We have also seen a rise in attacks on schools and hospitals in Gaza, why is this happening now? And lastly, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has updated their death toll number to over 39,600 Palestinians killed, but how are the dead being counted? 

Video footage emerging from Israel shows civilians storming the military base where at least 9 soldiers were being held for questioning over suspected torture of a Palestinian prisoner. The angry mob called authorities 'traitors', while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir tweeted 'take your hands off our reservists'. Is Israel now so divided that a civil war is unavoidable?In this episode of Palestine This Week we begin with the news about the Sde Teiman detention centre which the Israeli Military Police raided on Monday, detaining nine soldiers on suspicion of abusing a Palestinian detainee. This notorious prison has held hundreds of Palestinians in horrific conditions since 7 October, with allegations of sexual abuse, including rape and torture and has been ordered to be closed by the attorney general. The raid created a political storm in Israel, with many protesting against the detention of reservists.The conversation then moved on to the weekend’s deadly attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, setting Israel’s annexation of Syrian territory and its illegal occupation within a broader historical context. 

The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal and Israel must not only end its apartheid policies but also pay reparations to Palestinians. This isn't the first time the ICJ has ruled against Israel, but 20 years after its ruling on the Separation Wall, the structure remains standing and has been expanded. Does international law apply to the occupation state? Join us for MEMO's weekly review with Nasim Ahmed and special guest Mouin Rabbani, where we take a deep dive into the key events from over the past week. On this week's podcast we discuss the groundbreaking ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel's occupation and its far-reaching implications. From dissecting the many Israeli violations outlined in the judgment to exploring how this decision reshapes our understanding of the events of 7 October, this episode promises to challenge your perspective on international law and the Israel-Palestine conflict.Nasim and Mouin also tackle the burning question of whether Israel is effectively "gaming" the international system. They'll examine how Israel's approach to international law compares to that of other nations, and what this means for the future of global diplomacy. Plus, don't miss their insights on the recent Israeli attack on the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah, Yemen’s ability to target the occupation state directly and the spike in Israelis leaving the country. Plus, we ask if President Biden will be remembered for rescuing US democracy, as his supporters claim or as the president who worked hand in glove with Israel to execute a genocide?    Tune in for a riveting conversation that goes beyond the headlines. Whether you're a longtime follower of Middle East politics or just curious about the latest developments, this episode of Palestine This Week is sure to leave you with plenty to ponder. 

SUBHEAD: Do words have consequences and can speech pave the way to violence? Join us as we discuss how rhetoric in America is making acts of political violence and genocide more likely. As the world gets to grips with the attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump's life, political rhetoric within America deployed by some politicians plays on social tensions and exacerbates polarisation making acts of violence more likely. While inflammatory rhetoric is condemned by liberals, Israeli politicians and officials routinely apply the same blood-bating speech against Palestinians, but many of the same liberal will remain silent. Palestinians have been described as 'human animals', 'terrorists' and have been threatened with ethnic cleansing by Israeli officials, how does this rhetoric normalise violence against Palestinians? Join Mouin Rabbani and Nasim Ahmed as they delve into this question. Also on the show, we explore the latest updates on Israel's ongoing genocidal offensive in Gaza, the United Nations experts on famine and Tel Aviv's 'targeted starvation campaign' in Gaza, US President Joe Biden saying he has no ability to influence Israel, the US proposing to disable it's Gaza aid pier and we end with a discussion on Israel's alliance with the far right. 

In this episode of Palestine This Week, Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani kick off with a startling report from the Lancet which forecasts that the death toll in Gaza could hit 186,000 - a staggering 7.9% of the population. The pair also look at claims that Israel is trying to derail a US-backed ceasefire plan and discuss the contentious 'Hannibal directive' used by the Israeli army on 7 October.Nasim and Mouin then turn their attention to Israel's plans for Gaza after the war, including the experimental 'Hamas-free bubbles' scheme, and what's been called the biggest land grab in the West Bank for decades. They mull over how these developments might affect the chances of a future Palestinian state and shake up the region's political landscape.The show also touches on recent diplomatic spats, like the ICC prosecutor's decision to issue arrest warrants over a Gaza visit, which has ruffled feathers in both the US and UK. They round off by discussing the Arab League's move to stop calling Hezbollah a terrorist organisation and how the UK Labour Party's position on Gaza might have swayed recent election results. This episode offers a thorough and eye-opening look at the complex and ever-changing situation in the Middle East. 

Israel approved 5 new settlement outposts last week and voted in favour of restrictions on the Palestinian Authority, with Tel Aviv already in control of the Palestinian banking system and tax revenues, is the occupation state now looking to take over complete control of the occupied Palestinian territories?This week's Palestine This Week with Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani tackle the worsening situation in the West Bank and Israel's tightening control over the occupied territory. The discussion kicks off with a look at Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's plan for permanent control of the West Bank, questioning whether this is another ploy by Israel to squeeze concessions from the international community. The talk then turns to the worrying rise in settler violence, as highlighted in a recent New York Times piece, which paints a bleak picture of the apartheid-like conditions Palestinians are enduring under occupation.The show also addresses the troubling reports of sexual abuse of Palestinians at Israel's Sde Teiman detention centre, dubbed by some as a "death camp" on par with Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. The conversation then moves to the Israeli military's struggles, including heavy damage to armoured vehicles in Gaza and growing unrest within its ranks, as shown by the Supreme Court's recent ruling to abolish the ultra-Orthodox Jewish military exemption and reports of low morale and soldiers refusing to serve.Finally, the show explores the West's continued backing of Israel, including unprecedented moves by US lawmakers to censor the Palestinian death toll and Germany's introduction of an Israel 'loyalty' test in its new citizenship law, and how such policies may be affected by the upcoming elections in light of of the large campaign donations from pro-Israel billionaires.

 A leaked document shows Israel knew about plans for 7 October attacks in advance, but did not act upon the information, leading to the events on that fateful day. Did the IDF know about Hamas' 7 October attack plans and did nothing to stop it? A document leaked to the Jerusalem Post seems to show the Israeli military had detailed intelligence about Hamas' plans to carryout 7 October attack, in which 1,143 Israeli were killed and 250 were taken hostage, but despite having this information, Tel Aviv decided not to act to stop the strike. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on Gaza's Al-Shati camp killed 50 Palestinian civilians and another Israeli attack near the International Red Cross (IRC) left 22 people dead. Despite Israel inflicting a high death toll on Gaza, a senior Israeli military official has said Hamas is stronger than ever and Tel Aviv will fail to crush them. His comments will add further pressure onto Benjamin Netanyahu's government, delving into all the latest developments from Gaza join MEMO's weekly review show with Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani. We also discuss reports of an Israeli plan to go to war with Lebanon and how Wikipedia has labelled the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a pro-Israel US advocacy group, an unreliable source of information that should not be trusted. MEMO weekly review also explores the transfer of power from the IDF to pro-settler civil groups in the West Bank. Catch the full episode here. 

Reports from Gaza appear to show the US's humanitarian pier was used to assist in the massacre of Palestinians Israel carried out on Saturday in order to release hostages held in Nuseirat camp. Is this a victory for Tel Aviv or just further proof that Washington has blood on its hands? Join this week's discussion.Up to 275 Palestinian civilians were slaughtered by Israel during its raid on Nuseirat camp  Disguised as aid workers, Israeli Special Forces, led an onslaught on a refugee camp and secured the release of 4 Israeli hostages. The bloody move has further tarnished America's image and credibility in the region. Palestine This Week with Nasim Ahmed and Mouin Rabbani delves into what happened in Nuseirat camp and the implication of it. While Israel claims victory, the low number of hostages freed, 4 out of 120 in Gaza, pales in comparison to the number freed during the last ceasefire in November 2023, which came about through negotiations with Hamas. Allegations have also been made that the US pier, which was constructed to deliver humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, may have been the lynchpin for Israel's offensive.  In this episode, Ahmed and Rabbani also explore the irony of Israel being added to the UN's list of child rights abusers, which puts it alongside Boko Haram and Daesh. Other key topics include shocking revelations of torture and sexual abuse at Israel's Sde Teiman detention centre, the US House vote to sanction the ICC instead of Israel, the resignation of Israeli War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz, and the Flag March hate rally in Jerusalem, which saw mostly young Israelis chanting genocidal slogans. The episode concludes with an examination of Saudi Arabia's efforts to cultivate a more pro-Israel curriculum despite global public opinion increasingly turning against the apartheid state, as well as the US's role in enabling Israeli war crimes by urging Arab allies not to set deadlines for a post-war two-state solution.Tune in for an insightful and thought-provoking discussion of these critical issues and more in this week's MEMO review show with Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani. 

Time and again since October 2023, Israel has declared areas of Gaza to have been cleared of Al-Qassam fighters, but the Palestinian resistance has reappeared and struck back. Many in Tel Aviv's military intelligence services have warned that destroying the resistance's capabilities is impossible and Israel cannot continue to seek such an outcome from its war on Gaza. Israel, however, insists that the bombs will continue to fall until the resistance is beaten, but can this happen?Israel's military offensive in Gaza is failing. Israeli officials have acknowledged that Hamas has returned to large parts of northern Gaza, months after Tel Aviv claimed to have defeated it there. While the Israeli leadership has emphasised that Rafah is 'Hamas's last stronghold', the return of Hamas to areas in the besieged Strip when Israel withdraws its forces and the failure to secure the release of hostages through its military assault means Israel is staring down the barrel of a lost war. In this episode of MEMO's weekly review show, host Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani look at what this means for Palestinians in Gaza and the future of Israel's bombing campaign. Rabbani also disentangles the confusing reports around the proposed ceasefire deal and dissects the shocking allegations levelled against the US State Department for falsifying reports to absolve Israel of blocking aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Rabbani also unpacks the rise of extremist settler ideology in Israel and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the shocking details of Israel's High Court ruling in favour of Jewish residents, displacing Palestinian families in Silwan. Join us as we explore the implications of Israel's parliament moving to designate UNRWA as a 'terrorist organisation' and discuss the Guardian's exposé of Israel's decade-long war against the ICC through the intimidation of judges and politicians. You will not want to miss our new episode of MEMO's weekly review show.

Just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive, occupation forces targeted tents housing displaced Palestinians, killing at least 35, many of whom were trapped and left to burn to death. Scenes from the attack shook the world, with Israel's staunchest ally, Germany, condemning its actions. Following the ICC and ICJ rulings, are things changing for Israel on the international scene? Tune in to this week's episode to hear insights from our experts.Join Nasim Ahmed and regular guest Mouin Rabbani for this week’s episode of MEMO's weekly review show where we dive into the harrowing events unfolding in Gaza. In this episode, we discuss the recent attack on a UN-run "safe zone" in Rafah, where at least 45 displaced Palestinians were killed by 2000lb bombs dropped by Israel on tents sheltering displaced Palestinians. Nowhere is safe for Palestinians who, since 7 October, have watched their homes, schools, hospitals, mosques and churches razed to the ground.We'll also explore the intense fighting in northern Gaza, the alleged capture of Israeli soldiers by Hamas, and the international legal landscape following the ICJ and ICC's demands for Israel to halt its offensive and application for arrest warrants. With European countries now shifting their stance and Germany's strong response, the global reaction is intensifying.The podcast also explores the historical bias of the ICC and the image that it only seeks prosecution of African leaders and the challenges faced by its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, in changing the court's image. Lastly, we address Israel's decision to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority as a punitive measure.Tune in as we also discuss why the US and UK have doubled down on their unwavering support for Israel despite mounting pressure from international bodies and how we should interpret President’s Biden’s pier in Gaza being washed away.  Don't miss Rabbani's insights on the impact of these developments and the broader implications for international justice and accountability.