What Is Life Like For Palestinians Under Occupation?

What Is Life Like For Palestinians Under Occupation?

From Empire: World History by Goalhanger

April 9, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

William interviews Raja Shehadeh about life for Palestinians under Israeli occupation, discussing daily challenges and hopes for coexistence.

William is joined by Raja Shehadeh, the leading Palestinian writer, lawyer and human rights activist, to discuss his experience of living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank. Raja describes how his daily life in Ramallah is shaped by segregation, travel restrictions and settler violence. He explains how segregated roads and settlements have physically reshaped the Palestinian landscape. And he discusses why he is hopeful that Palestinians and Israelis can co-exist peacefully in the future. Raja Shehadeh’s Forgotten: Searching for Palestine's Hidden Places and Lost Memorials is available to buy now. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Imogen Marriott Editor: Imogen Marriott Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: William

Guest: Raja Shehadeh

Topics covered

  • Palestinian experience
  • Israeli occupation
  • human rights
  • segregation
  • settler violence
  • coexistence

Keywords

  • Palestinians
  • Israeli occupation
  • human rights
  • segregation
  • settler violence
  • Ramallah
  • coexistence

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Goalhanger

Books & works: Forgotten: Searching for Palestine's Hidden Places and Lost Memorials

Places: Palestine, West Bank, Ramallah, Israel

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