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