Britain Palestine Project

What exactly is UNRWA? Why was it created and why, more than 75 years later, does it still exist?The Short Answer is a new bite-sized series from the Britain Palestine Project, bringing together experts, practitioners and experienced voices to explain the key terms, questions and issues you hear when discussing Palestine – clearly and accessibly.In this episode of The Short Answer, Britain Palestine Project Trustee and former UN official Andrew Whitley explains the origins and role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).Andrew spent almost nine years working for UNRWA, based primarily in Gaza as well as Jerusalem and New York. Drawing on that first-hand experience, he explains how an organisation originally envisaged as a temporary response to the Palestinian refugee crisis evolved into a major provider of education, healthcare, social welfare and other essential services.Why UNRWA was established after the 1948 war and Palestinian displacementWho UNRWA was created to supportHow a supposedly temporary agency came to exist for more than 75 yearsWhat UNRWA actually does across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and SyriaWhy education has become such an important part of its workWhy Palestine refugee status continues through generationsHow UNRWA is funded – and why it has repeatedly faced financial crisesThe controversies and misconceptions surrounding UNRWA and HamasIsrael’s efforts to restrict UNRWA's activitiesWhat could happen if UNRWA were unable to continue providing essential servicesHow individuals and governments can support its work.With thanks to Happy Stereo for supporting the Britain Palestine Project podcast. Find them on social media at Happy Stereo Media.

What does “Nakba” mean, and why is it central to understanding Palestine today?The Short Answer is a new bite-sized series from the Britain Palestine Project, bringing together experts, practitioners and experienced voices to explain the key terms, questions and issues you hear when discussing Palestine – clearly and accessibly.In this episode of The Short Answer, Diana Safieh is joined by historian Dr Anne Irfan to explore the Nakba, the “catastrophe” of Palestinian dispossession and displacement surrounding the establishment of Israel in 1948.Dr Anne Irfan is a historian and lecturer at University College London, researching the history and politics of Palestinian displacement. She is the author of Refuge and Resistance: Palestinians and the International Refugee System (Columbia University Press, 2023) and A Short History of the Gaza Strip (Simon & Schuster, 2025). What the Nakba means: its historical context and why displacement began before Israel’s declaration of statehood in May 1948.Forced migration: understanding both direct expulsion and flight through fear of violence.Dispossession and dispersal: the loss of homes, land and communities, alongside the fragmentation of Palestinian society.Gaza and Palestinian refugees: how the Nakba transformed Gaza and shaped the lives of successive generations.Identity in the diaspora: maintaining Palestinian identity across borders, generations and mixed family backgrounds.The prevention of return: why being unable to go home is central to understanding the Nakba’s enduring impact.The symbolic key: how the house keys kept by refugees became a symbol of home, memory and return.With thanks to Happy Stereo for supporting the Britain Palestine Project podcast. Find them on social media at Happy Stereo Media.

With Andrew Whitley and Sir Vincent Fean | 30 October 2026What does Israel's election mean for Palestinians, and can Britain help bring about meaningful change?Britain Palestine Project's Andrew Whitley and Sir Vincent Fean examine the aftermath of Israel's closely contested election, the possible political scenarios ahead, and what the outcome could mean for Palestinians living in Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza.With Benjamin Netanyahu's political future still uncertain, the pair discuss the possibility of a national unity government, fresh elections or an alternative coalition that includes the Arab parties, which together secured 19 seats in the Knesset.But would a change of government bring a genuine change in policy towards Palestinians, or merely a change in tone?Andrew and Vincent also explore the urgent need for international action, including Britain's responsibility to challenge illegal settlement expansion, protect the Palestinian economy and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.The Situation Report is a regular podcast from the Britain Palestine Project, featuring Andrew Whitley and Sir Vincent Fean.Drawing on their extensive diplomatic and international experience, they provide informed analysis of developments in Israel and Palestine, examine Britain's historical and contemporary responsibilities, and explore the political and diplomatic steps needed to secure a just and lasting peace.Listen, watch and subscribe to the Britain Palestine Project wherever you get your podcasts, or visit our website for more analysis, events and resources.Recognition is the beginning.

With Jack Munayer, Director of International Relations at Yesh DinIsraeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank is entering a dangerous new phase. Attacks that were once largely concentrated in Area C are increasingly spreading into Areas A and B – Palestinian towns and villages previously considered relatively sheltered from direct settler violence.In this episode of the Britain Palestine Project podcast, Diana Safieh speaks with Jack Munayer, Director of International Relations at Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din, about its latest report, The Next Frontier: Violence by Israeli Civilians Against Palestinians in Areas A and B.Drawing on Yesh Din's extensive documentation and legal work, Jack explains how settler violence is not simply the work of isolated extremists, but part of what the organisation identifies as a coordinated strategy of intimidation, displacement and territorial expansion, facilitated by Israeli state institutions.The figures are deeply troubling: Yesh Din reports that 93.6% of police investigation files concerning offences by Israeli civilians against Palestinians are closed without indictment, while only 3% of investigated cases result in full or partial convictions.Jack examines the rapid expansion of settlement outposts into Area B, the growing involvement of Israeli security forces in settler attacks, and the devastating consequences for Palestinian communities – from the theft of livestock and destruction of homes to organised raids, arson and forced displacement.The conversation also explores the escalating violence surrounding the 2026 olive harvest, the challenges facing Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations, and the role of the international community in confronting violations of international law.During an extensive audience Q&A, Jack addresses whether a change in Israeli government could reverse these developments, the prospects for Palestinians reclaiming confiscated land, and what meaningful international action might look like.Despite the gravity of the situation, the discussion concludes with a reflection on the importance of sustained international engagement, accountability and recognising opportunities for change.Further reading:The Next Frontier: Violence by Israeli Civilians Against Palestinians in Areas A and B – Yesh Din.Maximum Territory, Minimum Population – Yesh Din.Both reports are available through Yesh Din.

What is really happening on the ground in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank? And what responsibility does Britain bear for the deepening crisis facing Palestinians?In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster Peter Oborne joins the Britain Palestine Project's Diana Safieh following three weeks spent reporting from Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories.Drawing on firsthand observations and conversations with Palestinians, aid workers and human rights advocates, Peter describes a deeply troubling situation: escalating settler violence, increasing restrictions on Palestinian life, the displacement of communities and a looming economic and humanitarian catastrophe in the West Bank.He also examines the controversy surrounding Britain's Consulate General in East Jerusalem, questioning the British government's response to Israeli pressure and what it reveals about Britain's commitment to international law and Palestinian rights.The discussion explores the role of the British media in shaping public understanding of Palestine, the implications of the proscription of Palestine Action for civil liberties, and the prospects for holding governments accountable under international law.Peter reflects on the changing character of Jerusalem, the threatened displacement of Palestinian communities in neighbourhoods such as Al-Bustan, and the increasingly precarious future facing Palestinian Christians.Despite the gravity of the situation, the conversation concludes with a reflection on hope. Peter pays tribute to the extraordinary resilience of Palestinians, describing their sumud - steadfastness - in the face of unimaginable hardship. He also highlights the courage of Israeli human rights organisations and activists working to defend Palestinian communities.Peter Oborne is a former chief political commentator at The Daily Telegraph and the author of several acclaimed books, including Complicit: Britain's Role in the Destruction of Gaza. His journalism appears in publications including Middle East Eye, Declassified UK and openDemocracy.