Palestine This Week

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Tel Aviv is altering the shape of the region and occupation forces are gaining ground in Syria, but are these genuine strategic victories or merely temporary gains in an evolving regional landscape?

From Gaza's mass killing and starvation by Israel to Syria's transforming political landscape, this episode of Palestine This Week unpacks the latest developments reshaping the Middle East.

The discussion begins with a sobering update on Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 45,000 amidst what Amnesty International and others have now officially declared as genocide in a groundbreaking 290-page report.

The conversation then turns to Syria, offering fresh analysis on the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad's regime and its broader implications for regional politics. Host Nasim Ahmed and middle east analyst Mouin Rabbani delve into Syria's complex historic relationship with Western powers, challenging common narratives about the Assad regime.

Looking ahead, the episode examines Netanyahu's recent claims about Israel's changing role in the Middle East, particularly regarding settlement expansion in the Golan Heights. The analysis considers whether these developments represent genuine strategic victories or merely temporary gains in an evolving regional landscape.

Rebuilding Gaza, if that is ever allowed to happen, is expected to cost 1150% of the Palestinian economy, what is the future of the Strip and is Israel's continued police of ethnic cleansing and the use of new and internationally banned weapons damaging the ecosystem rendering the land uninhabitable?

Palestine This Week begins with an update on Gaza and revelations about Israel’s use of internationally banned weapons, with testimonies suggesting some bodies have 'vaporised', while the severe medicine shortage has left injured Palestinians dying in the streets.

In a startling development, former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon accused the Israeli occupation army of committing war crimes in northern Gaza, including ethnic cleansing and attempting to cover them up. The staggering economic impact of the genocide is also brought into focus, with Israeli experts estimating Gaza's reconstruction costs to stand at $100-200 billion - up to 1150% of the entire Palestinian economy. Meanwhile, concerning legislative developments in Israel threaten to further restrict Palestinian citizens' political participation in local elections.

With France announcing it has granted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from the ICC arrest warrant, the show examines the international fallout from the historic ruling. Will the UK and other signatory states also follow France in granting Netanyahu immunity? 

While current ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has faced efforts to discredit him, former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda revealed that she faced threats and intimidation while in the job. Could these tactics be in action behind the scene to stop states complying with the international tribunal?

On regional matters, host Nasim Ahmed and regular guest Mouin Rabbani discuss the faltering ceasefire in Lebanon and events in Syria. 

Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir admitted that Israel has failed to achieve its war aims in Lebanon, while anti-Assad forces have made significant territorial gains in northern Syria, capturing large parts of Aleppo and Hama. What are the implications of these new developments?

The end of Israeli exceptionalism? The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza. 

On Palestine This Week, we are discussing all things arrest warrants following the landmark decision by the International Criminal Court to issue indictments for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif. How will this legal bombshell fracture the western alliance and what does this mean for Palestine and the world? 

Next we move onto Israel's authoritarian turn after Haaretz newspaper was placed under sanction by Tel Aviv, Israel's new Defence Minister Katz has decided to exclude Jewish settlers from administrative detention - a move critics call apartheid enshrined into law. Katz's move comes as the West Bank has seen a stark rise in settler violence and we ask what message this will send to Israeli extremists. Our analysis then turns to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where only 6% of food needs are being met according to UNRWA. The show explores disturbing reports of Israel's alleged cooperation with ISIS-linked criminal gangs to sow chaos and prevent aid distribution, while Hamas forces attempt to maintain order - revealing a complex power struggle on the ground.

Netanyahu's political machinations take centre stage as Arab mediators accuse him of deliberately stalling ceasefire negotiations in hopes of a better deal under a potential Trump presidency. The show reveals shocking allegations that Netanyahu's government may have misled Trump about the status of Israeli hostages, suggesting they were dead when intelligence indicated they were alive.

The episode concludes with discussion of a potentially explosive geopolitical development - the mysterious death of a rabbi and former Israeli soldier in the UAE, as questions swirl about possible state involvement in his killing.

Don't miss this comprehensive analysis of the week's most critical developments.

Pope Francis calls for Israel to be investigated after the UN Special Committee found Tel Aviv's assault on Gaza was 'consistent with the characteristics of genocide'. 

Join us for our latest episode Palestine This Week as we delve into a number of major developments over the last 7 days. A new report by the United Nations Special Committee has concluded that Israel's assault on the besieged Gaza Strip is 'consistent with characteristics of genocide' and the gravity of this report prompted calls from the Vatican for Israel to be investigated for genocide. 

But that is not all, more damning evidence was unveiled in Human Rights Watch's latest report titled "Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged," which accused Israel of deliberately forcing the displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The report meticulously documents how Israeli authorities have created conditions preventing Palestinians' return to their homes, amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. 

The review also examined explosive revelations about Israeli misinformation around the 7 October Hamas attack. Picking up on the New York Times reported that Israeli officials had obtained Hamas's battle plan more than a year before it happened, host Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani discussing new revelations around Netanyahu's office allegedly receiving warnings about the impending attack at least four hours in advance but chose not to act. These revelations have been compounded by an investigation into Netanyahu's aide for allegedly altering documents related to the events of October 7.

Beyond the legal and political developments, the review discusses disturbing reports about human rights violations by Israelis, including the death of Gaza's top medical doctor Adnan al-Bursh in Israeli custody; Israel’s struggling to recruit soldiers for its military ongoing aggression and growing concerns over interference at the International Criminal Court. The show ends with a discussion on the implications of Trump's return to the White House and his choice for the top jobs in his cabinet. 

As the world watched to see who would be crowned America's 47th president of the US, Israel announced that Palestinians who had been forced to leave northern Gaza would not be allowed to return. A new Nakba is unfolding in Gaza, but will the new president help smooth Israel's path to annex more Palestinian land? 

This episode of Palestine This Week opens with a stark analysis of the emerging humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians face 'a second Nakba' following Israel’s announcement last week that it will not allow residents to return to northern Gaza. Host Nasim Ahmed and regular guest Mouin Rabbani discuss how this crucial story has been overshadowed by US election coverage, while offering insights into the systematic challenges facing Gaza's civilian population.
Reports of organised looting of aid trucks in Gaza, occurring in areas controlled by the Israeli occupation army are also discussed. This segment provides a detailed examination of the humanitarian aid crisis and its implications for Gaza's besieged population.

As a Dutch Palestinian, Rabbani offers his thoughts on last week’s riots in Amsterdam and the fall-out from the mainstream media’s false coverage.
The show also covers major political upheaval in Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dramatic dismissal of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Qatar's withdrawal from its mediator role in truce negotiations. The discussion features an in-depth analysis of the recent Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, where Saudi oficials made several powerful statements regarding the Palestinian cause, and called Israel’s campaign in norther Gaza a genocide against the Palestinian people.

The review examines Netanyahu's appointment of Yechiel Leiter as Israel's ambassador to the US - a former member of a US-designated terrorist group - and its diplomatic implications. The episode concludes with an examination of the impact of Gaza genocide on US elections and takes a look into what US policy in the Middle East under Donald Trump's second term would look like.

While the world watches on as Americans take to the polls, Palestinians in Gaza fear any new administration will bring no change in policy or effort to stop the genocide being carried out in Gaza. From official policy to media coverage, erasure of Palestine has been ongoing for decades, but after a year of global activism could there be a shift in direction? 

Palestine This Week begins by marking the anniversary of the infamous Balfour Declaration. Host Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani explore how this single document from 1917 fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Middle East. Their discussion examines how, without this fateful British promise, the region might have evolved very differently - without the creation of millions of Palestinian refugees, without newly formed Arab states being forced to manage an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and without the establishment of what became a garrison state whose dominance of the region would be prioritised by Western powers above the interests of local populations.

The show features an in-depth analysis of Israel's military campaign in northern Gaza, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and others have condemned as ethnic cleansing, pointing to the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and deliberate prevention of humanitarian aid. Highlighting new data from Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) that reveals that at least 74 per cent of the fatalities in Gaza are civilians, challenging the official Israeli narrative about the nature and impact of the occupation's military operations; Israeli officials claim that half of those killed are Hamas fighters.

Explosive developments within Israel are also discussed, including a major scandal involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office allegedly fabricating documents to undermine ceasefire negotiations and hostage release talks, and Israel's controversial legislation to shutter UNRWA's operations, which has sparked an international outcry and calls for accountability at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The programme concludes with an analysis of how Israel's bombing campaign is being portrayed in Western media, including accusations of bias at the BBC from more than 100 of its own staff members and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy coming under fire for his ignorant and dangerous stance on the Gaza genocide. Looking ahead, our experts discuss the potential impact of US elections on Palestine and the wider region.

As Israel destroys vast neighbourhoods in Lebanon and accuses healthcare facilities in the country of providing a cover for Hezbollah storage facilities, South Africa has presented new evidence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of Israel's intent to commit genocide in Gaza. But will these legal measures stop the occupation state's military manoeuvres?

In this this episode of Palestine This Week, we being with the latest news from South Africa's genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where the legal team has presented compelling new evidence of intent by Israel to commit genocide, alongside dramatic developments at the International Criminal Court (ICC) with Judge Iulia Motoc's unexpected request to be excused from proceedings.

As the UN issues its starkest warning yet that the entire population of northern Gaza is at risk of dying from Israel’s eradication plan, we examine proposals to establish 'gated communities' with biometric screening systems for Palestinians. We also analyse Israel's controversial bill to shut down the operations of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), while exploring the significance of newly surfaced documents allegedly containing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's last written orders regarding the treatment of hostages.

We also discuss Israel's recent strikes on Iran, examining their relatively limited scope and what this suggests about regional escalation and Israel's contentious claims about Hezbollah's alleged bunker under Beirut's Al-Sahel Hospital, drawing parallels with similar unfounded allegations about Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital.
Our analysis concludes with crucial developments in US politics, including the surprising endorsement of Trump by a Muslim mayor in Michigan, Vice President Harris's reported refusal to meet with Muslim groups, and a letter from Department of Justice lawyers to Attorney General Merrick Garland concerning potential violations of US law by Israel. 

The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, has lost two leaders in 3 months. How will Yahya Sinwar's death in battle change events on the ground in Gaza?

Palestine This Week delves into the assassination of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, exploring the contradictory reports surrounding his death and its potential impact on Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The discussion shifts to the alarming situation in northern Gaza, where Israel is implementing what critics describe as a blueprint for an eradication plan. The show also addresses the widening rifts among Israel's European allies, with France taking a stance against Israeli arms companies and the UK imposing sanctions on organisations supporting illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, Germany's position remains contentious, with its foreign minister defending Israel's targeting of civilians in northern Gaza.

The episode covers the broader regional implications of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, including Saudi Arabia's media regulator opening an investigation into the Arab world’s largest media agency, MBC, for describing Sinwar as the “new face of terrorism.”  The incident serves as a springboard to explore the limits of state control over public opinion, even in autocratic regimes, in the face of overwhelming Arab solidarity with Palestinians.

The discussion is underpinned by recent polls revealing a staggering 94 per cent of Arabs view the US position on Palestine negatively and 92 per cent stand in solidarity with Gazans, raising questions about the potential for popular sentiment to influence state policies across the region including autocracies in the region.
Lastly, the show explores the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, analysing Benjamin Netanyahu's claims of an assassination attempt against the Israeli prime minister and the leaked US documents assessing Israel's plans to attack Tehran and concludes with a discussion on recent developments at the International Criminal Court, including allegations against the chief prosecutor and Israel's reported tactics of intimidation against ICC officials investigating potential war crimes.

Israel has called on UN peacekeeping forces to vacate their positions in southern Lebanon or risk coming under attack as it extends its ground invasion into the area. They have refused. Will occupation forces now set their sites on the international task force sent to maintain peace in the area?  

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity rises following his attacks on Lebanon, Yemen and Syria, is he expanding the war to stay in power or is the Zionist dream of Greater Israel becoming a reality?

In the latest episode of Palestine This Week, host Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani provide a detailed analysis of the first anniversary of Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza. The pair examine the humanitarian crisis, exploring its historical context within Israel's long-standing policies towards Palestinians and its implications for regional stability.
Rabbani offers expert insights into the staggering human cost of the campaign, including the estimated 118,908 casualties – a shocking 5.4% of Gaza's population – and the creation of 18,000 orphans.
The conversation then broadens to explore wider geopolitical ramifications, including Iran's recent demonstration of precision strike capabilities, and the role of the US in supporting Israel despite early warnings that it is potentially committing war crimes. After a year of intense military operations, the apartheid state is yet to find peace and security. Why is that the case? And will the continuation of this campaign bring Israel closer to its objectives?
The episode concludes with an examination of recent political developments, focusing on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's improved standing in Israeli polls. This surge in popularity follows his decision to escalate the conflict beyond Gaza into Yemen, Syria and Lebanon – actions that have resulted in the displacement of over 1.2 million people due to Israeli bombings.

Nasim and Mouin challenge the prevailing Western narrative that attributes regional instability primarily to Netanyahu's leadership, posing the critical question: Is the root cause of the ongoing conflict the Israeli prime minister himself, or does it lie deeper within the foundational tenets of Zionism?