This Is Palestine

Latest Episodes:

Reverend Mitri Raheb: Why Christmas in Palestine is Canceled This Year Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

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 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

Hope Amidst Ruins: Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sitta’s Frontline Testimony in Gaza Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

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 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

A Palestinian Teenager’s Experience in an Israeli Prison Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

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. 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

Former Top UN Official Craig Mokhiber on Israel’s Genocide Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

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. 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

Palestine and Social Media Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

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. 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

Gaza's Catastrophic Medical Crisis Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

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. 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 Imprisoned and Tortured Thousands of Palestinian Workers from Gaza Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Nakba 2.0: Israel’s War on Palestinians Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

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 and explains the attacks Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and in Israel have been facing. 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

Voices From Gaza Part 2 Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

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. 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

Voices From Gaza Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

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. 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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected