Occupied Thoughts

I discovered this podcast recently and it’s thoughtful approach to a terrible topic gives me hope for humanity. Ahmed Moor is such a empathetic but also tough interviewer— it’s really unusual in the world of political podcasts. Although the podcast focuses on Palestinian issues there’s a broadening of the lens to include the human experience in a way that I find quite profound. It’s hard to describe but I really appreciate it.

I appreciate Occupied Thoughts very much - thanks for all of your clear-sighted and brave work. In the latest episode on killings of journalists Peter and the interviewee differed on their analysis of rape during the October 7th Hamas attack. I appreciated the willingness to challenge even those who broadly share one’s same perspective and goals. I just wanted to share a take on this issue I heard Mouin Rabbinni provide at a Busboys and Poets talk last October; he said that many military campaigns involve rape, and that there has not been evidence for rape as a systematic tactic in the attacks. (Having grown up in Asia I am familiar with the amount of rape that occurred in the surroundings of IS bases.) I looked up the UN statement that Peter referenced and it was quite unconvincing; no names of witness or sexual assault victims on that day - as was claimed in the MYT and is still claimed by many - the victims identified were assaulted once they were held hostage. Totally unforgivable. No question about that. The NYT retracted it’s infamous article not because they proved that sexual violence didn’t occur, but rather because the claims that they reported were not substantiated. Meanwhile, there has been documentation of anal rape of Palestinians in Israeli prison pre October 7th - and after, but none of that gets said with the same pathos and racialized framing of Israelis as ‘rapists of women and beheaders of babies.’ And it certainly does not get printed in the NYT without substantiation. IA possible response to the rape allegations on October 7, I think, could be to acknowledge that rape has a long history of use in warfare, and Rtonask why verified and confessed sexual assaults by IDF soldiers do not get prominent space in NYT as well as the mainstream media.

Thank you for everything you do! This makes it so much easier to learn about current and past situations. I am eternally grateful to the work you put into this. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Peter’s thoughtful discussions bring needed perspectives as we reflect on our country’s policies toward Israel and Palestine. I would be interested in an episode on the growing relationship between Israeli politicians and Evangelical leaders in the United States, many of whom are unconditional supporters of the Israeli government, regardless of its policies.