On today’s #SumudPodcast episode, we are joined by Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American attorney, activist, former U.S. Congress candidate, and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement.

Huwaida has spent her life advocating for justice, human rights, and the liberation of Palestine. Her extensive activism efforts include a leading role in the Free Gaza Movement and organizing the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

In this episode, Huwaida reflects on her family’s journey from Palestine to the U.S., her experiences with international solidarity, and the important role of grassroots activism. She also delves into the challenges of balancing motherhood with activism and the mental and emotional impact of witnessing ongoing atrocities in Gaza.

🎧 Watch the full episode to learn more: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod 

📲 Follow our hosts:

@DrEdHasan

@ZeinaAshrawi

📲 Follow our guest:

@huwaida.arraf | https://palsolidarity.org/join/ 

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Huwaida’s Background as a Palestinian-American

06:22 Choosing to Give Birth in Palestine Without Her Husband

09:58 Risking Her Life for Resistance

17:32 Building Momentum for Palestine’s Cause

44:13 Including Her Children in Activism

52:17 Arrested and Nearly Missing Her Wedding

57:13 Her Experience as a Palestinian with a Jewish Husband

01:01:14 Reflections on Her Experience with the Democratic Party

🎙️ Don’t forget to follow, like, and share to help amplify Palestinian voices and stories!

#HuwaidaArraf #Resistance #Activism

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✨Special thanks to our sponsors:

Palestine Drinks Shop: https://www.palestinedrinksshop.com/ | @palestinedrinks_shop on Instagram

Visualizing Palestine: https://visualizingpalestine.org/ | @visualizing_palestine on Instagram

In this episode, we are joined by Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian pastor, theologian, academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College, and author.

Reverend Dr. Munther reflects on his personal journey growing up in Palestine during the Intifadas, the challenges of faith under occupation, and the role of the church in the Palestinian liberation struggle.

He shares insights from his upcoming book, his impactful "Christ Under the Rubble" display during Christmas, his unwavering commitment to spread awareness on Gaza today, and the religious diversity in Palestine.

📲 Follow us for more:

Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac: @munther.isaac

Sumud Podcast: @SumudPod

Hosts: @DrEdHasan | @ZeinaAshrawi

👉 For all things Sumud: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod

🎧 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Inspiration behind Christ under the rubble

06:37 His journey growing up in Palestine during the Intifadas

12:47 Liberation theology: A Palestinian perspective

19:11 The mission of the church in Palestine and the impact of the Nakba on Christianity in Palestine 

28:19 Thanks to our sponsors 

30:37 The West’s idea of christians in Palestine 

35:06 The complicity of some Western churches in the genocide and the current changes

43:30 How Westerners can connect with churches in Palestine

44:16 Reverend Dr. Munther discusses his book The Other Side of the Wall

49:57 A Christmas message of Sumud and survival

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help amplify Palestinian voices and stories!

#SumudPodcast #ChristianityInPalestine #LiberationTheology #Christianity #Faith

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✨Special thanks to our sponsors: 

Palestine Drinks Shop: https://www.palestinedrinksshop.com/ | @palestinedrinks_shop on Instagram

Visualizing Palestine: https://visualizingpalestine.org/ | @visualizing_palestine on Instagram

On this episode of #SumudPodcast, we are honored to feature award-winning Palestinian author, social activist, policy analyst, and journalist Laila El-Haddad.

Laila’s work spans topics such as life in Gaza, the intersection of food and politics, contemporary Islam, and her experiences as a Palestinian mother and journalist. In 2014, she appeared on CNN's Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain, where she guided him through the Gaza Strip, offering a rare and humanizing portrayal of the region.

Born in Kuwait, raised in Saudi Arabia, and spending her summers in Gaza, Laila’s journey is a testament to the resilience of Palestinians in diaspora. A graduate of Duke University and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in the United States, Laila brings a unique perspective informed by her personal and professional experiences.

Join us as our hosts, @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi, explore Laila’s reflections on navigating borders, the challenges of motherhood under occupation, and how food becomes an act of storytelling and resistance.

🎧 For all things Sumud: 

Listen now: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod 

➡️ Follow our guest:

 Laila El-Haddad: @gazamom

➡️ Follow our hosts:

 Dr. Ed Hasan: @DrEdHasan

 Zeina Ashrawi: @ZeinaAshrawi

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction

02:01 Laila’s Background: Palestinian identity, displacement, and Israel’s discrtiminatory ID system.

12:28 Impact of the Gulf War: Growing up in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War.

15:02 Leaving Gaza: Her parents’ decision and pressures to stay silent before the First Intifada.

19:46 Food as Resistance: Connecting to Palestinian culture through cuisine.

37:41 Living in the U.S.: Facing the U.S.’s role in perpetuating genocide in Palestine.

44:04 Post-9/11 Parallels: Comparing the post-9/11 era to current challenges for Palestinians.

51:27 Sponsors: Special thanks to our sponsors.

54:08 Writing Gaza Kitchen: Discovering Gaza’s food traditions and working with Anthony Bourdain.

01:04:59 Colonialism and Cuisine: How occupation has changed Palestinian culinary traditions.

01:24:57 Anthony Bourdain’s Visit: Insights into Gaza’s realities.

01:28:22 The Biden Lawsuit: Discussing the landmark case against U.S. support for genocide.

01:50:16 Refusing Tokenization: Pushing back against political pressure from the Biden administration.

01:53:47 Her Books: Exploring the stories and motivations behind her works.

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✨Big thanks to our sponsors: 

Palestine Drinks Shop: https://www.palestinedrinksshop.com/ | @palestinedrinks_shop on Instagram

Visualizing Palestine: https://visualizingpalestine.org/ | @visualizing_palestine on Instagram

On this episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Dr. Lara Sheehi, an internationally recognized psychoanalytic therapist, author, and professor. 

Dr. Sheehi is the Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar, and a Research Fellow at the University of South Africa's Institute for Social and Health Sciences. She is also the Founding Faculty Director of the Psychoanalysis and the Arab World Lab.

In this episode, Dr. Sheehi shares her experiences growing up in Lebanon during the civil war, navigating the complexities of identity and mental health in the diaspora, and her influential work in psychoanalysis. She delves into the role of psychoanalysis in Palestine, the psychological warfare faced by Palestinians, and the profound concept of one’s soul or psyche as a form of resistance.

Join our hosts, @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi, as they explore Dr. Sheehi's unique insights on the intersection of psychology, politics, and justice.

Chapters: 

00:00 - Introduction

12:27 - Reflecting on the 2006 Evacuation from Lebanon 

17:20 - Rethinking Mental Health Stigma Beyond Cultural Determinism

25:08 - Breaking Barriers: Normalizing Mental Health in Arab Communities

29:19 - Institutional Limitations in Addressing Political Trauma in the U.S.

34:26 - Personal Experiences Shaping Her Professional Approach

40:16 - Our Sponsors

43:33 - Unique Approaches to Palestinian Trauma in Psychoanalysis

51:13 - The Physical and Psychological Violence of Zionism

59:05 - Exploring the Concepts of Soul, Resilience, and Sumud

01:02:41 - Palestinian Therapists’ Challenges Under Israeli Occupation

01:13:27 - State-Sponsored Psychological Warfare as a Tool of Oppression

01:14:44 - Understanding Zionist Supremacy Narratives

01:20:26 - Witnessing Violence from Afar: The Psychological Toll

01:26:48 - Navigating Backlash for Speaking Out on Palestine

01:41:20 - Final Reflections: Closing Words from Dr. Sheehi

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✨Big thanks to our sponsors: 

🎧On this episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.

As an international lawyer, researcher, and author, Francesca has emerged as a powerful voice advocating for human rights, inspiring a global audience to critically examine international systems of justice.

➡️ Francesca shares her personal experiences living in Palestine for 3 years, and offers insights into the UN's role, the systemic challenges she faces, and the immense pressures exerted by the U.S. and Israel on those who investigate Israel’s violations of international law.

🎙️ Join our hosts, @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi, for this insightful conversation.

🔗 Find out more about Sumud: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Ned Mansour

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

02:55 Growing up in Southern Italy: Gender roles and power dynamics

08:15 Francesca’s first encounter with Palestine

12:44 Her family’s connection to Palestine and her mother’s revealing visit

24:23 Israel's laws targeting international organizations

27:07 How Israel undermines the UN’s agency

33:39 The UN's role, challenges, and Francesca’s unique position. 

41:51 Barriers to gathering information for reports

46:00 U.S. and Israeli pressures on international officials

53:47 Her book: Reflections and updates she would make today

01:01:03 Western feminism and intersectionality amidst genocide

01:06:06 The UN’s definition of genocide

01:12:31 Scholasticide in Gaza: The destruction of education systems

01:20:14 The ICJ’s provisional measures and enforcement challenges

01:28:30 Closing statements

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🎙️ On today’s episode of #SumudPodcast, we’re honored to amplify Palestinian-American Tariq Habash, a former policy advisor at the Department of Education.

Tariq was the first political appointee in the Biden administration to publicly resign in protest over the U.S. response to the genocide in Gaza.

Join our hosts @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi as they delve into:

✅ Tariq’s efforts to reform a broken student loan system.

✅ The challenges of navigating his Palestinian identity in the U.S.

✅ What led to his resignation and the reactions that ensued.

✅ The foundation of A New Policy, an organization advocating for a U.S. foreign policy aligned with liberty, democracy, and human rights toward Palestine and Israel.

📲 Stay connected for more transformative voices:

👉 Follow our hosts: @DrEdHasan | @ZeinaAshrawi

👉 All podcast updates: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod 

👉 Follow Tariq's work: @tariqhabash_ | @anewpolicy

👉 Check out A New Policy: https://anewpolicy.org/ 

🌟 Join the conversation in the comments!

📍 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Tariq’s Background and Family History in Palestine

06:40 Facing Discrimination in the U.S.

09:10 Embracing His Palestinian Identity Post 9/11

12:47 Censoring His Politics for Career Opportunities

14:25 Tariq’s Work in Biden’s Administration Pre- and Post-October 7

25:55 Progress on Student Loan Forgiveness vs. Funding Genocide

39:19 Tokenization of Palestinians in U.S. Politics

43:55 Working in the Department of Education Post-October 7

50:05 Resigning from the Biden Administration and the Aftermath

1:12:26 Advocating for Change with A New Policy

1:19:56 Accountability and Future Goals of A New Policy

#Palestine #Gaza #HumanRights #Activism #ForeignPolicy #PalestinianRights #StudentLoan #StudentLoanForgiveness #StudentLoanReform

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On today's episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Palestinian-American Zeina Azzam. Zeina is a poet, writer, editor, community activist, and currently the selected Poet Laureate of the City of Alexandria, Virginia. 

Having published a variety of books, essays, and poems, Zeina’s work reflects her bicultural identity, resonating with the experiences of many Palestinians in the diaspora.

Join us as our hosts, Dr. Ed Hasan and Zeina Ashrawi, discuss Azzam’s views on writing as an act of resistance, the complexities of Palestinian-American identity, and persisting to spread awareness amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza. 

Zeina highlights how her heritage shapes her work and how her bond with Palestinian youth as a mentor at We Are Not Numbers empowers her activism. 

Stay tuned for all things Sumud on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod  

Follow our hosts on Instagram:

@dredhasan | @zeinaashrawi

Follow Zeina Azzam on X: @zeina3azzam

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Meet Zeina and Her Journey

02:01 Zeina Discusses Her Family's History and Immigration to the U.S.

07:08 Reflections on College Years and Early Career Challenges

18:21 Recounting Childhood Memories of Displacement and Loss

21:30 An Outsider Arriving in the U.S.

24:40 Her Bi-Cultural Identity and Its Influence on Her Literary Work

34:17 Using Poetry as an Act of Resistance Against Oppression

48:00 Zeina's Writing Process: Crafting Words with Purpose

54:55 Mentoring Youth in Gaza: The Impact of We Are Not Numbers

56:00 Identity Dissonance: A Palestinian-American Amid the Genocide

01:09:00 Zeina's Experience as a Poet Laureate

01:20:55 Building Community Through Protest and Activism

01:26:08 What's Next for Zeina: Future Goals and Projects

 #PalestineStories #VoicesOfChange #WeAreNotNumbers #PalestinianIdentity #WritingForChange #Inspiration #Poetry

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On today's episode of the Sumud Podcast, we empower, uplift, and amplify the voice of Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour.

Linda is widely known for her role as co-chair of the 2017 Women's March, where she championed social justice, Palestinian rights, and racial equality. She uses her platform to fight Islamophobia and white supremacy, standing firm for marginalized communities.

A prominent figure in grassroots organizing, Linda has been instrumental in advocating for Muslim and immigrant rights. Despite facing significant backlash, her ongoing commitment to Palestinian rights and systemic change continues to inspire activism and solidarity worldwide.

🎧 Listen to the full episode via the link in our bio.

Follow our hosts:

@dredhasan | @zeinashrawi

Connect with Linda Sarsour:

Instagram & X: @lsarsour

Facebook: @linda.sarsour

TikTok: @lindasarsour

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

1:38 Linda Sarsour responds to a hate tweet about Gaza by a democratic fan

4:16 Linda Sarsour talks about her Delta flight experience

12:08 Linda Sarsour gives guidance to Arab and Muslim communities on their future political route

17:23 Linda Sarsour explains her relationship with the democratic party

27:09 Linda Sarsour gives a short background on her growing up in America

43:42 Linda talks about her approach to teaching her children about their homeland, Palestine

01:01:02 Linda talks about Women's March and how Zionist influence broke up the movement

01:10:13 Linda Sarsour talks about how Arab and Muslim communities can join spaces to rally for their causes

01:21:01 Linda talks about the late Basma Atwa, an influential figure in her life

01:31:53 Linda sends her younger self a message

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In today’s episode of the Sumud Podcast, we are honored to feature Dr. @abdulhadirabab, a distinguished Palestinian scholar, activist, and educator, as we highlight her powerful work advocating for Palestinian and Arab diasporas, particularly in the areas of race, gender, and colonialism.

Dr. Abdulhadi is the founding director of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies program at San Francisco State University, where she also holds the position of Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies.

An influential voice in both academia and activism, Dr. Abdulhadi has authored numerous publications and is a strong critic of U.S. foreign policy and its effects on the Middle East, while actively working to decolonize academic spaces.

Stay connected with Sumud Podcast on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod

Follow the hosts of Sumud Podcast on social media: @dredhasan and @zeinasharawi

Connect with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi on Instagram and X: @abdulhadirabab

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

01:40 - Dr. Rabab reflects on her experiences living under Israeli occupation in Palestine

16:39 - Dr. Rabab discusses why she believes King Abdullah of Jordan betrayed the Palestinian cause

20:25 - A historical overview of Egypt's late president, Jamal Abdel Nasser

36:48 - Dr. Rabab talks about the profound influence of her aunt on her life

49:17 - Dr. Rabab critiques Kamala Harris' 'colonial feminism' and her unfulfilled promises

59:39 - Dr. Rabab shares her personal experiences with attacks and cancellations over her pro-Palestinian work

01:15:18 - Dr. Rabab discusses the role of religion in the Palestinian struggle

01:19:36 - Dr. Rabab’s message to the Palestinian diaspora

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We've got exciting news for you today! Zeina Ashrawi is joining #sumudpodcast as a cohost.

As many of our listeners know from her episode a few months ago, Zeina is a Palestinian American rights activist, political analyst, writer, and mother of two. She actively leads public dialogues through webinars, debates, and discussions and has written extensively on topics such as racial justice reform, housing, and foreign policy—especially in relation to Palestine, while also giving numerous interviews on these issues.

As we continue to raise our voices against oppression and document our narrative through the eyes and voices of Palestinians and allies, we are incredibly grateful to welcome Zeina to the Sumud Podcast team. As a co-host, Zeina aims not only to contribute to our mission of uplifting, empowering, and amplifying the voices of those who stand for justice and liberty for the Palestinian people but also to create a space for healing, vulnerability, and opportunities for women.

#StayTuned for this week's episode to hear @dredhasan and @zeinaashrawi's interview with Dr. Rabab Abdelhadi.

00:00 Introduction

1:45 Zeina on why she agreed to co-host the Sumud podcast

13:15 Zeina on how motherhood influenced her activism

16:20 Zeina on her experience as a co-host

#Podcast #Sumud #DrEdHasan #GazaGenocide #ZeinaAshrawi

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