Education Under Genocide: Palestinian Initiatives to Maintain Education in Gaza

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'! Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=enFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEUFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org

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 listening to 'This is Palestine'!  Follow our host Diana Buttu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu%C2%A0 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/?hl=en Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ Visit our website: https://imeu.org