Palestine This Week

Middle East Monitor

Palestine This Week with Nasim Ahmed is a weekly analytical review of the biggest stories coming out of Palestine.

read less
NewsNews

Episodes

Palestine This Week: Committing national suicide to support a genocide
Apr 30 2024
Palestine This Week: Committing national suicide to support a genocide
The US has pushed to end college protests calling for an end to the war on Gaza, while delaying plans to sanction Israeli soldiers who are accused of human rights violations against Palestinians. Is America undermining its own freedoms to support Israel's genocide? This episode of MEMO's review show dives into the crucial events that have shaped the last week, beginning with the latest updates on the International Court of Justice's genocide case against Israel. Remarks by the former head of the ICJ Joan Donoghue sparked debate, with some suggesting that the ICJ did not find sufficient evidence to support claims of genocide. Is that really the case?Host Nasim Ahmed and guest Mouin Rabbani share their views on an important intervention by Amos Goldberg, a Holocaust and genocide researcher at the Hebrew University, who said “Yes, it is genocide,” before sharing a ground-breaking report that sheds light on Israel's bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital. According to the report, this bombing was not only a tragic event but also served as a test case for Israel to gauge the response of the West before launching its campaign to dismantle Gaza's entire health system.We also explore the implications of US troops beginning construction on President Biden's long-awaited pier in Gaza, while discussing efforts by the West to prevent the International Crimincal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior figures in his war cabinet. Events in the US also take centre stage, as riot police have been sent to dismantle anti-war solidarity encampments on university campuses and the Biden Administration delays imposing sanctions on an extremist Israeli battalion which is widely accused of human rights violations in the occupied West Bank. We ask, Is America undermining its own freedoms and democracy to support a genocide?
Palestine This Week: The bodies Israel didn't want you to see
Apr 23 2024
Palestine This Week: The bodies Israel didn't want you to see
The bodies of more than 280 Palestinians have been found in a mass grave in the grounds of Nasser Hospital in Gaza, most too decomposed  to be identified. With proof of Israel's war crimes once again coming to light, will the US use its powers to protect the occupation state at the ICC? Watch this week's episode as host Nasim Ahmed discusses what measures America can take to help Israel get away with its abuses. This week’s podcast sheds light on the horrifying discovery of mass graves in Gaza, containing more than 280 bodies at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Beginning with news of Israel’s failure to provide any evidence linking 12 UNRWA staff to the 7 October attack, the discussion explores the potential impact of arrest warrants being issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the occupation army by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Host Nasim Ahmed and regular guest Mouin Rabbani discuss the "emergency meeting" held at the Prime Minister's Office to fend off these warrants and the implications of the American Service-Members' Protection Act, a US law that authorises the president to use all means necessary to secure the release of any person from the ICC. Could the US use its leverage yet again to shield Israel from accountability?Other topics covered in this thought-provoking episode include Hamas's readiness to dissolve its military wing if a Palestinian state is established on the 1967 borders, the recent US veto at the UN, Israel's response to Iran's rocket attack, the US imposing sanctions on Israeli military units, and the intense protests at Columbia University. Tune in to MEMO's weekly review for an in-depth analysis of these critical issues and their impact on the region and the world.
Palestine This Week: The Middle East on a precipice
Apr 16 2024
Palestine This Week: The Middle East on a precipice
How has Iran's retaliatory strike on Israel changed dynamics in the Middle East and has it done more to help Tel Aviv's standing on an international stage than show Tehran's military might? This week's episode looks at the implications of the manoeuvre and Jordan's defence of Israel.In this week's MEMO review show Nasim Ahmed and his regular guest Mouin Rabbani delve into the latest developments in the Middle East, focusing on Iran's retaliatory attack against Israel and its far-reaching implications. This episode offers a thought-provoking analysis of the complex geopolitical situation, exploring the motives behind Iran's decision to strike directly from its territory and the potential consequences of this move.As the discussion unfolds, Ahmed and Rabbani examine the international community's response to the escalating tensions, questioning the wisdom behind the US, UK and France in opposing a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel's attack on Iran's consular building in Damascus earlier this month. They also consider the possibility that Iran's retaliation may have played into Israel's hands, shifting focus away from the atrocities in Gaza and providing Benjamin Netanyahu with the confrontation he has long sought.With the looming threat of a wider regional conflict, this episode explores the delicate balance of power in the Middle East and the potential for further escalation. Ahmed and Rabbani assess the positions of key players such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China and Russia, while also examining Jordan's involvement in Israel's defence. Tune in for an insightful and engaging discussion that sheds light on the complexities of the current crisis and its potential impact on the future of the Middle East.
Israel's AI war machine and the targeting of civilians
Apr 9 2024
Israel's AI war machine and the targeting of civilians
The use of the 'Lavender' system to identify alleged Hamas targets in Gaza has led to tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians being killed in air strikes. Is Israel's military technology fit for purpose? Or does accuracy not matter when its real intention is the ethnic cleansing of Gaza? Join Palestine this Week host Nasim Ahmed as he discusses this and over events unfolding in Palestine.In the latest episode of MEMO's weekly review, we speak with our guest Mouin Rabbani about Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, which has now reached its sixth month. With over 33,000 Palestinians killed and more than 70 per cent of Gaza's infrastructure destroyed, we discussed the genocidal nature of Israel's assault and the factors contributing to its prolonged duration. We also delved into the recent killing of seven - mainly foreign - aid workers and its fallout, the Israeli occupation army's withdrawal from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and the speculation surrounding this decision.The episode examines the terrifying world of military AI, specifically the "Lavender" system used by Israel to generate targets for assassination. We discussed the potential implications of this technology and its likely appeal to brutal regimes around the world. Additionally, we touched upon the bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the US opposition to recognising a Palestinian state within the UN framework, and the unprecedented backlash amongst Israel's key allies following the killing of the foreign aid workers. Lastly, we analysed President Biden's ultimatum to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and whether the apparent disagreement between the two leaders is merely a difference in tactics rather than overall strategy.