A new UN Commission of Inquiry report examines the impact of Israel's war on Palestinian children since 7 October 2023. Titled The Essence of Childhood Has Been Destroyed, the report says more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed and at least 44,000 injured. The Commission says its investigation builds on its September 2025 findings, which concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, and finds that the targeting and killing of children forms part of that broader campaign. It also documents the destruction of schools, hospitals, water systems, food distribution networks, and maternal healthcare, along with allegations of violence, arbitrary detention, and abuse of Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Joining us today on this episode of Arab Talk is Chris Sidoti, human rights lawyer and Commissioner on the UN Human Rights Council's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

A new UN commission report accuses Israeli authorities of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, alleging actions that may constitute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Meanwhile, recent Democratic primaries, especially in New York City, have renewed debate over AIPAC's political influence and whether criticism of Israeli government policies is reshaping the Democratic Party's stance on Israel and Palestine. To discuss the report's legal significance and the political implications of these elections, we're joined by human rights lawyer and political activist Stanley Cohen.

This episode examines the Jewish Anti-Zionist Congress, taking place in Dublin from June 26–28. Building on last year’s inaugural gathering in Vienna, the Congress brings together Jewish activists and allies committed to equality, justice, and Palestinian rights. Under the theme “From Words into Action,” participants will focus on turning shared principles into practical strategies for change. Our guest is Ronnie Barkan, Israeli Jewish activist, educator, co-founder of Boycott from Within, and one of the Congress’s founders and organizers. He joins us to discuss the goals of this year’s event and the future of Jewish anti-Zionist organizing.

Jess & Jamal examine a development that raises difficult questions about intelligence, alliances, and the future of U.S. foreign policy. The Pentagon has reportedly elevated its counterintelligence threat assessment regarding Israel, citing concerns about espionage and intelligence security. At the same time, lawmakers in Congress are advancing proposals aimed at deepening military integration between the United States and Israel. How can Washington reconcile growing counterintelligence concerns with efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation, and who will end up paying for them?

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international aid mission to Gaza, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, with activists detained and ships redirected to Israeli ports. Human rights groups allege detainees faced abuse, including beatings, humiliation, denial of medical care, and sexual violence. During the latest interception, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir filmed himself taunting zip-tied detainees at the Port of Ashdod, prompting international condemnation. Joining us today on Arab Talk is environmental activist Violet Coco, one of eleven Australians aboard the flotilla. She says detainees suffered serious injuries and were denied essential medications while in custody.

A recent shooting attack targeting a mosque complex in San Diego, where two gunmen killed three people, has renewed concerns about the rising climate of Islamophobia in the United States. Many advocates say anti-Muslim hate has been fueled by the normalization of inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders and other high-profile public figures. In this episode, we speak with Jenin Younes, National Legal Director and Interim President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, about the broader climate of Islamophobia in America, the disparities in how hate crimes are investigated and prosecuted, and the legal and political measures needed to protect the civil rights and safety of Muslim Americans.

Gaza’s healthcare system is nearing collapse. Hospitals are damaged, supplies are blocked, and many doctors have been killed or detained. Now, Physicians for Human Rights Israel has petitioned Israel’s High Court, demanding the release of 14 Palestinian doctors held without charge. These detainees include senior surgeons and hospital leaders—some taken while on duty. Among them is Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, whose detention was recently extended indefinitely. Today, we’re joined by Naji Abbas from PHRI to discuss what this means for Gaza’s already fragile medical system.

The reported death toll in Gaza, now approaching 73,000, continues to rise. Even during the ceasefire, people are still being killed or dying from starvation and lack of medical care. Thousands more remain missing, detained, or buried under rubble, with families still searching for answers amid limited transparency and restricted access to forensic resources. On today’s episode of Arab Talk, we’re joined by Mahmoud Mushtaha, Palestinian journalist and researcher from Gaza, now based in the UK. In a recent Wired investigation, he explores one family’s search for a missing loved one, offering a personal lens on a much wider crisis.

After initially refusing, the U.S. agreed to include Lebanon in ceasefire talks with Iran, backing a separate 10-day Israel–Lebanon truce that took effect April 17 at midnight. The deal follows Israel’s renewed invasion of southern Lebanon in March amid its broader conflict with Iran. Under the agreement, Israel retains control of occupied southern areas and reserves the right to respond to threats; Hezbollah says it will comply if Israel does. Some view the deal as a necessary pause, while others see it as a risky concession. To unpack these developments, we’re joined on Arab Talk by Dr. Rania Masri, board member of the Environmental Justice Network and former Associate Director at the American University of Beirut’s Asfari Institute.

On March 31, the Knesset passed a controversial law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians, including both West Bank residents and Israeli citizens, while excluding Jewish settlers. The law makes execution the default sentence, to be carried out within 90 days with no option for appeal or pardon. Hanging is the designated method, and some lawmakers signaled support by wearing noose-shaped pins. To discuss its implications and the legal context, we’re joined by Sawsan Zaher, a Palestinian human rights lawyer and former Deputy General Director and Senior Lawyer at Adalah, where she worked for 16 years on constitutional cases involving Palestinian rights.