In this deeply moving episode, I have the honour of speaking with Antoine, a survivor of the 1948 Nakba, and his daughter, Yasmine. Recording on the anniversary of October 7th, we contextualise the current genocide in Gaza not as an isolated event, but as the continuation of an incremental process of erasure that has unfolded over the last 77 years.

Antoine shares his personal story of being exiled from his home in Haifa at age seven , and his father’s determination for his children to become "citizens of the world, not refugees". Yasmin speaks to the generational differences in activism, the profound impact of social media in shifting global consciousness, and how becoming a mother has fuelled her fierce advocacy for Palestine. 

This conversation is a powerful exploration of Palestinian history, identity, resilience, and the unwavering hope for a free and democratic future for all.

Key Takeaways

• The current genocide in Gaza is not a recent conflict but the culmination of a 77-year incremental process of displacement and erasure of the Palestinian people that began with the 1948 Nakba.
• Social media has been fundamental in exposing the reality of the Palestinian struggle to a global audience.
• There is a significant generational difference in experiencing and processing the struggle.
• The vision for a "one-state solution" from a Palestinian perspective is an inclusive, democratic state in historic Palestine where all 14 million inhabitants, including returning refugees, can live with equal rights.
  

Episode Highlights

• 01:08: Antoine contextualises the current genocide within the 77-year history since the 1948 Nakba, sharing harrowing statistics from the last two years
• 15:59: Antoine shares his personal story of being exiled from Haifa at age seven during the Nakba and his family’s journey north on the back of a truck
• 23:08: Yasmine recounts how her Palestinian heritage influenced her university dissertation, which challenged Golda Meir's claim that the Palestinian people never existed, and questions if such a project would be permitted today
• 01:01:04: Yasmine speaks powerfully about how motherhood has shaped her fierce advocacy and her sadness at the silence from the wider motherhood community in the face of atrocities against Palestinian children and families
  

About the Guest

This episode features Antoine, a Nakba survivor and retired architect, and his daughter Yasmin, a passionate advocate and activist for Palestine.

Antoine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antoineraffoul/?hl=en

Yasmin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sayfitnesspt

Episode Links

• Ilan Pappé (Israeli historian)
• Salman Abu Sitta (Historian and author)
• Ghassan Kanafani (Palestinian writer)
• Ta-Nehisi Coates (Author and journalist)
• Children Not Numbers
• Yasmin's YouTube interview with her father, Antoine
  

Connect with Megan:

Instagram: ⁠@‌HigherLove_withMegan⁠

Website: ⁠www.higher-love.com⁠

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk).

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