This Is Palestine

In this two-episode special, host Diana Buttu speaks with award-winning Palestinian-American writers Fady Joudah and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, who are both finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards. Dr. Joudah and Ms. Tuffaha comprise two of the only five shortlisted writers for the 2024 National Book Award in Poetry, making this a foundational cultural honor for the Palestinian literary community and beyond. As Palestinians continue to endure Israel’s genocide and defy cultural erasure, Joudah and Tuffaha discuss literature as a foundational tool of cultural resilience. The two notable writers also expand on the meaning of the Book Award nominations, not just for themselves but for all Palestinians and oppressed communities around the world. Dr. Joudah is nominated for his powerful collection of poetry, entitled, “ […].” published by Milkweed Press. Joudah’s nominated work is described as an “urgent and essential collection of poems illuminating the visionary presence of Palestinians.” Joudah reminds us “Wonder belongs to all.” Fady Joudah is the recipient of multiple literary awards, including the 2024 Jackson Poetry Prize and more. New York Literary critics have said that Joudah’s poetry “thrives on dramatic shifts in perspective, on continually challenging conceived notions.” Along with being a multi-award-winning writer, Joudah is an internal medicine doctor. 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

In this two-episode special, host Diana Buttu speaks with award-winning Palestinian-American writers Fady Joudah and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, who are both finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards. Dr. Joudah and Ms. Tuffaha comprise two of the only five shortlisted writers for the 2024 National Book Award in Poetry, making this a foundational cultural honor for the Palestinian literary community and beyond. As Palestinians continue to endure Israel’s genocide and defy cultural erasure, Joudah and Tuffaha discuss literature as a foundational tool of cultural resilience. The two notable writers also expand on the meaning of the Book Award nominations, not just for themselves but for all Palestinians and oppressed communities around the world. Ms. Tuffaha is nominated for her compelling book of poetry, “Something About Living,” published by the University Akron Press as part of the “Akron Series of Poetry.” The nominated text explores Palestinian life through the lens of the American language, revealing a legacy of obfuscation and erasure. Lena Khalaf Tuffaha is a multi-award-winning poet, essayist, and translator who has authored three acclaimed books of poetry, translated award-winning plays, and published a range of literary essays, chapters, and more. 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

Amidst Israel’s catastrophic genocide unfolding in Gaza, its military is escalating a relentless campaign of aggression across the Palestinian West Bank, marked by a daily barrage of military operations. Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 760 Palestinians, including 165 children, and injured 6,300 others in both the West Bank and Jerusalem. Israel has also held thousands more Palestinians captive, underscoring an intense and sustained pattern of severe human rights violations. In this episode, we highlight Jenin in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian city that Israel has subjected to intense military campaigns in the West Bank for two decades. Each one of Israel’s invasions has left deep scars on the city’s infrastructure and people. This episode offers a close, unfiltered look at life under military occupation. We start with the story of Abu Mujahed, whose son was used as a human shield by the Israeli army, enduring torture under the harsh sun. Next, we hear from Khawla, a mother recounting the terror of being forcibly driven from her home under gunfire. Finally, we meet Om Mohammed, a mother mourning her 13-year-old son, who Israel killed as he tried to help deliver bread to the Jenin Refugee Camp’s residents living under full Israeli siege. Israel’s increasingly brutal attacks against Palestinian cities in the West Bank such as Jenin, have led local Palestinians to now refer to the area as “Little Gaza.” Palestinian human rights experts are urgently warning that Israel’s genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza is quickly spreading to the West Bank. These testimonies reveal the ongoing human cost of Israel’s occupation and remind us of the individuals behind the statistics. Through their voices, we witness the endurance and resilience of Palestinian families forced to confront the daily realities of displacement, destruction, and survival in what is now referred to as "Little Gaza." 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

Since 1948, Israel has imposed policies and measures to control and hamper the Palestinian economy. In this episode of “This is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu speaks to Ali Hamdallah, a prominent Palestinian economist and analyst. Buttu and Hamdallah discuss the various ways Israel intentionally targets and controls the Palestinian economy to obstruct Palestinian sovereignty. In the episode, we hear how Israel’s theft of Palestinian land and natural resources is directly related to blocking the Palestinian people's ability to have a self-sufficient economy. Buttu and Hamdallah break down the infamous Oslo Accords and discuss how in actuality the Oslo Accords provide Israel with the tools and infrastructure to control the Palestinian economy including trade and production forcing Palestinians to be dependent on Israel. Listen to this episode to get a deep dive into one of the most vital aspects of Israel’s control of Palestinian life. 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

Can you imagine being used as a human shield? In this episode of “This is Palestine,” we hear the horrifying testimony of “Walid,” a Palestinian doctor in Gaza who was kidnapped by the Israeli military and used as a human shield.Host Diana Buttu breaks down Israel’s long-held policy of using Palestinians as human shields as she shares the terrifying testimony of Walid.You will hear Walid explain the frightening experience of being a doctor in Al-Shifa hospital and being taken by Israeli soldiers only to endure a nightmare. Ms. Buttu also describes how Israel has intensified its policy of human shields since its genocide against the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza.Recent reports even detail disturbing accounts of Israeli soldiers using entire Palestinian families with children and elderly as human shields and Israeli soldiers strapping a Palestinian man to a military jeep to use as a human shield.Listen to this episode to uplift  Walid’s story and learn more about this urgent abuse Israel is subjecting Palestinians to. Be sure to also read Ms. Buttu’s new article about Israel’s abusive human shield policy in Zeteo, Israel Forced Him to Become a 'Human Shield'.This episode includes distressing content by some. Please listen with care. 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/theIMEUFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu    

In this episode of This is Palestine, host Diana Buttu takes us to the heart of Gaza, where education—once the cornerstone of Palestinian resilience—is under siege. Meet Salma, a 12-year-old student who dreams of becoming a journalist, and Fatima, a university student who refuses to give up on her education despite Israel’s relentless bombings, displacement, and the destruction of her university. Their stories of perseverance shine against the backdrop of Israel's deliberate targeting of schools, universities, and educators in Gaza, which has resulted in what can only be described as "scholasticide"—the calculated annihilation of Palestinian education. We also hear from Andera Abdullah, an educator from Birzeit University in the West Bank, who is providing remote learning to students in Gaza, and Dr. Sabri Saidam, former Palestinian Minister of Education, who shares his insights into Gaza’s deep-rooted commitment to education despite decades of Israeli violence and attacks. This episode explores the intersection of education, resilience, and survival, spotlighting the immense challenges Palestinians face as they strive to keep the light of knowledge alive amid Israel’s genocide. Tune in to learn how Palestinians are finding ways to continue their studies, and how educators around the world can support them.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

In this episode of “This Is Palestine” host Diana Buttu speaks with award-winning Palestinian-American law professor George Bisharat about utilizing international justice mechanisms to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes. For over 10 months, Palestinians have been forced to endure Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and attacks on the Palestinian people. As Israel continues to commit war crimes with impunity, the world has witnessed case after case brought before international courts in the pursuit of justice for Israel’s atrocities. This episode addresses the questions you've sent to the IMEU’s social media about the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Mr. Bisharat explains the pivotal recent decisions made by the ICJ and their impact on Palestinians today.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

In this episode, host Diana Buttu shares the horrifying details about one of Israel's secret torture camps or Israeli prisons, Sde Teiman, through the words of a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, Muhammad Arab. Muhammad's story is conveyed to Buttu through his lawyer, Khaled Mahajneh. Mahajneh is a Palestinian lawyer who has spent most of his legal career representing Palestinians who have been tried before Israeli military courts. Most famously, he is the lawyer who represented the 6 Palestinians, who escaped Gilboa prison near Jenin, after they were picked up 5 days after their prison break. Mahajneh is the first and only attorney to visit the Israel Sde Teiman torture camp. Currently, there are over 20,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza who are being held captive in Israeli prisons, some as young as 10 years old.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

In this episode of “This is Palestine”, we hear the heartwrenching story of baby Aylul, a baby born during Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Aylul’s story is one of tens of thousands of children born to Palestinian mothers who are being forced to experience pregnancy and childbirth as they try to survive Israel’s genocide. It is estimated that there are 50,000 Palestinian women currently pregnant in Gaza and approximately 180 births a day. Aylul was born in the early morning hours of June 8. That same day, Israel, with US support, committed a horrific massacre in central Gaza, bombing and invading the Nuseirat refugee camp and the Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. In the span of just a few hours, Israel and the US killed nearly 300 Palestinians, including over 60 children. In the episode, we hear Aylul’s story through the words of her father Ibrahim. He shares the gut-wrenching account of his wife, Riham having to give birth to their beloved baby on the floor without proper medical care due to Israel’s brutal massacre. 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

In this episode of “This Is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu speaks to Josh Ruebner, the director of IMEU’s new 501C-4 organization, the IMEU Policy Project, about recent developments in the US Congress and Palestinian human rights. The episode unpacks the alarming rise in anti-Palestinian legislation and actions in Congress aiming to suppress Palestinian rights work amid Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Just days after the ICC issued a statement it is seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for committing war crimes in Gaza, the US Congress invited the Israeli prime minister to deliver a speech to members. Netanyahu is slated to address Congress on July 24. From providing Israel with billions of U.S. tax dollars to commit genocide in Gaza to holding hearings intended to strike fear into the student movements calling for Palestinian freedom, and even introducing legislation aiming to sanction the International Criminal Court, the episode discusses the multitude of ways that the U.S. Congress provides Israel with a shield of impunity for its war crimes and brutality. Listen to learn more about the history of anti-Palestinian racism in Congress and the ways you can help uplift Palestinian freedom and support members of Congress who are champions of Palestinian rights today. 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

Over the past eight months, Israel has kidnapped or unlawfully “arrested” hundreds of Palestinians. In Gaza, there are disturbing reports of Israeli soldiers kidnapping Palestinians from their homes being shackled, stripped, and forced to endure degrading and inhumane treatment. Currently, there are over 3,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel without charge or even a trial. Additionally, there are thousands of Palestinian political prisoners who are imprisoned by Israel with no end in sight. Rights groups estimate numbers to be even higher, but international aid groups have been denied the right to access Israeli prisons. Horrific reports continue to emerge of Israel’s torture and abuse of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. In this episode of “This Is Palestine,” host Diana Buttu shares the horrific experiences of former Palestinian prisoners and the abuse they survived. * Warning: This episode contains graphic content 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

In this episode of “This is Palestine,” we speak with Palestinian American Columbia student Maryam Alwan about the rise in student-led protests across college campuses speaking out against Israel’s genocide. She talks to us about the unified student demand calling on their universities to divest funds tied with Israel’s genocide and war crimes. We discuss the alarming attacks that students are facing at the hands of professors and others who support Israel’s genocide. Universities have even gone so far as to suspend leading student groups, like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), organizing against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Yet, students across the U.S. and the world have remained defiant and steadfast in their demands against their universities' complicity with Israel’s genocide. Listen to learn more about this growing student movement in support of Palestinian freedom. 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

Over the past six months, Israel has internationally destroyed Gaza’s healthcare system as part of its genocidal campaign. By November 2023, Israel had repeatedly bombed more than 36 hospitals in Gaza. As of publishing, the Israeli military has besieged and attacked Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza for over 11 days. Horrifying reports continue to emerge of Israeli soldiers killing Palestinians sheltering inside and abducting medical workers. Additionally, Israel has blocked the entry of food, water, and medical supplies into Gaza, creating an unprecedented public health crisis and famine. At least 27 Palestinians in Gaza have died of malnutrition, 23 of them children. In this episode, host Diana Buttu speaks with Palestinian neurologist Dr. Karameh Hawash-Kuemmerle, about Israel’s deliberate destruction of public health in Gaza and its devastating consequences on Palestinians. In 2023, before Israel’s current genocide, Dr. Hawash-Kuemmerle co-founded the organization “Doctors Against Genocide,” to address Israel’s sharp increase in attacks on Palestinian cities and refugee camps in the West Bank. Once Israel began its brutal campaign in Gaza, it became clear the organization and her work were needed more than ever. 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

In this episode, host Diana Buttu speaks with Palestinian human rights lawyer Ahmed Abofoul about South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging Israel with the crime of genocide in Gaza. Mr. Abofoul is a Legal Researcher and Advocacy Officer with Al-Haq, one of the oldest Palestinian human rights organizations. On January 26th, the ICJ ruled that Israel is plausibly committing the crime of genocide in Gaza and must take all measures to prevent acts of genocide. Since the ruling, Israel has repeatedly violated the ICJ-mandated measures, including blocking the entry of life-saving food, aid, and water into Gaza. Numerous humanitarian groups have raised alarm about Israel using starvation as a weapon in Gaza, stating that famine in Gaza is imminent due to Israel’s illegal blockade. Additionally, since the ICJ ruling, Israel has killed more than 3,500 Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the number of Palestinians Israel has killed in Gaza to more than 31,000. This includes Israel killing more than 13,000 children in Gaza since October. Mr. Abofoul, who is based in the Hague, discusses the significance of the ICJ’s case and why it is a critical step towards ending ongoing impunity for Israel’s horrific war crimes against the Palestinian people. In the episode, Mr. Abofoul and Ms. Buttu provide an in-depth discussion about Israel’s inherent and long history of ethnic cleansing and genocidal intent in Palestine, within the context of the ICJ. Mr. Abofoul also discusses the long history of U.S. and Western hypocrisy in applying international law and how the Israel-genocide ICJ case is a testament to the international legal system. Listen to the episode for everything you need to know about the ICJ case and why it is critical for holding Israel accountable. 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

In this episode, we take a deeper look into Israel’s deliberate targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Killing journalists is a war crime. According to the UN, Gaza is the deadliest place in the world for journalists right now. Additionally, the International Journalist Federation has issued a statement describing Israel’s killing of Palestinian journalists over the past four months as “deliberate and systematic.” Host Diana Buttu speaks with Anan Quzmar, a representative from the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate (PJS). They discuss the critical role of Palestinian journalists, who are not only reporting the news about Israel’s genocide but are also living it. Over the past four months, Israel has killed at least 120 Palestinian journalists. The PJS has described the conditions of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, saying, “They lost their families and they continue their work…They are without houses and they continue their work... Without food, without the security for them, without their families.” Listen to learn more about the stories of Palestinian journalists and why they continue to remain absolute in their reporting and expose Israel’s war crimes 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

In the aftermath of October 7, Palestinian students at Israeli higher education institutions quickly faced attacks for their social media posts. These attacks, coordinated between Israeli government officials, Israeli institutions, and far-right groups, targeted students who expressed dissent against Israel's attacks on Gaza. This led to the expulsion or suspension of students for alleged violations of university codes of conduct. In other cases, students faced criminal charges, while others were physically attacked in their dorms. It's important to note that these measures were taken while the universities were out of session, in fact, before the semester had begun, and were based solely on social media posts, unrelated to any campus activities. Some of the so-called offensive posts involved students liking or sharing a post, sometimes providing context to the October 7 events or expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In some instances, students posted calls to end Israel's attacks, while others were unrelated, such as posting verses from the Quran. In most cases, fellow students reported these posts, and the repressive measures extended beyond just these actions. Host Diana Buttu speaks with Adi Mansour, a lawyer at Adalah, a civil rights organization for Palestinians in Israel. Adalah has represented more than 120 students facing disciplinary measures, yet there are hundreds more affected. Adi discusses with us the measures imposed on these students, the coordinated campaign against them, and the reasons behind it. We also explore the actions, or rather the inactions, of universities in addressing genocidal speech against Palestinians.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

On October the 27th, Israel cut off all phone and internet communications to the Gaza Strip, further plunging the area into darkness. The cutting of internet and phone communications meant that vital life-saving systems such as ambulances, rescuers, and hospitals could not be reached to treat the injured or to rescue those trapped under the rubble. Cutting off the internet also meant that Israel's crimes would be carried out in the dark. But in the midst of this, the volunteer initiative 'Connecting Gaza' was formed, led by Mirna El Helbawi an author and activist, who decided to set up a system for donors around the world to purchase E-SIMs or virtual SIM cards. This was to help Palestinians skirt telecommunications blackouts amid Israeli bombing across 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

The case in which South Africa accuses Israel of violating the genocide convention at the International Court of Justice began this week with oral arguments presented by South Africa and Israel. The court will base its decisions on whether to order several provisional measures, including instructing Israel to suspend all military operations in Gaza, solely based on these hearings. Our regular host, Diana Buttu, who was part of the team that assisted in the successful litigation against Israel's Apartheid Wall before the International Court of Justice in 2004, breaks down the events of this week.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

This week, South Africa is accusing Israel of committing genocide in front of the International Court of Justice or the ICJ. Hearings are set to begin on January 11 and 12, when South Africa and Israel respectively will give their first oral arguments. To help us understand what this means and what we can expect as the case unfolds, we’re joined by our usual host, Diana Buttu, who happens to be a Palestinian lawyer and expert on international human rights law.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

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