In this Episode, we unpack what it truly means to decolonize Palestine—legally, historically, and psychologically.

We explore how Zionism functions as a settler-colonial ideology, how international law has been manipulated to legitimize dispossession, and why the Palestinian struggle is fundamentally a human rights and decolonization struggle, not a religious or ethnic conflict.

We discuss:

– a bit about her personal background as a Palestinian.

– her work as a human rights lawyer.

– her work in decolonization and how we can take steps for decolonization of Palestine, both in terms of language and on the land.

-- The Islamic angle of the Palestinian struggle.

– Discussing the current cease-fire in Gaza and the situation that is still very very bad.

– Discussing hopes for the future of Palestine and how we can try to get there collectively.Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

04:30 - Her Palestinian background

11:05 - Liberation as a decolonization effort

15:43 - South Africa comparison

18:10 - The importance of language

26:05 - The Islamic connection with Palestine

28:55 - Our Moral Obligation

35:33 - Practical steps to take

37:50 - Conclusion

Guest Intro:

Tasnim Theodora Al-Rifai is a human rights lawyer with a professional focus on indigenous rights and the prevention of violence against women. Throughout her legal career she has worked at the intersection of law, power and lived reality where human rights are not theoretical but urgently contested.

She's presently working on her first book, a Handbook on Debating Zionism, which aims to provide clear, principled and historically grounded tools for critical debate in an increasingly polarized public sphere. Tasnim lives with her family in Vienna Austria.

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Former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan discusses Palestinian advocacy within Pakistan and the growing global resistance to Israeli apartheid and the Gaza genocide.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Senator Mushtaq's history of support for Palestine.
• How Pakistan views the Palestinian struggle.
• The role of Pakistani politicians and parliaments in standing up for Gaza.
• Why international law has failed Palestinians.
• The importance of Global South solidarity.
• How Palestine has become the moral compass of our time.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan offers a rare and critical perspective on why Palestine is not just a regional issue, but a global human rights cause.

Guest Intro:

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is a Pakistani politician and political activist. He served as a member of the Senate of Pakistan from March 2018 to March 2024. He serves as the current Patron of the Pak-Palestine Forum.

He is known for his pro-Palestine protests and human rights activism within Pakistan. He participated in the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla to extend aid to Gaza as a representative of Pakistan and even spent 5 days in an Israeli prison when he was arrested by the IDF. He is an incredibly important voice for the people of Gaza from Pakistan.

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In our interconnected world, the fight for human rights is a pressing concern that transcends borders. In this episode of the Save the Olive Tree podcast, Omar Akhter speaks with Suad Abdul Aziz, a Sudanese-American human rights lawyer, who sheds light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. This discussion not only highlights the plight of Sudan but also draws parallels with the Palestinian struggle, emphasizing the need for global solidarity in the face of oppression

Understanding the Human Rights Landscape in Sudan: Suad Abdul Aziz begins by sharing her personal journey as a refugee from Sudan, arriving in the United States in the early 2000s. Her experiences reveal the complexities of human rights advocacy, particularly the challenges faced by communities that are often overlooked. Suad emphasizes the necessity of empowering local voices in the human rights discourse, stating, "My mission in life is to challenge the institutions that leave us out of what human rights is"

Historical Context: To truly understand the current situation in Sudan, Suad provides a primer on the country’s colonial past. Sudan was the largest country in Africa until the split with South Sudan in 2011. The British colonization of Sudan, beginning in 1899, implemented a divide-and-conquer strategy that marginalized the southern regions and exacerbated ethnic tensions. This colonial legacy led to a series of military regimes that have ruled Sudan since gaining independence in 1956, often at the expense of civilian governance and human rights

Current Crisis: The ongoing conflict in Sudan is marked by power struggles between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As Suad explains, these military factions have deep roots in the country’s turbulent history. The protests that erupted in 2018, fueled by economic hardship and governmental corruption under Omar al-Bashir, highlight the people's yearning for democracy and justice. "We want a strong military, but that military must be a fighting force only, and it cannot be part of executive governance," Suad asserts, reflecting the widespread desire for a civilian-led government

Parallels with Palestine: Throughout the conversation, the intersection of the struggles in Sudan and Palestine becomes apparent. Suad shares her personal connection to Palestine, being married to a Palestinian, and underscores the shared experiences of oppression faced by both nations. "The very actors involved in the genocide in Palestine and Sudan are the same," she points out, urging listeners to recognize the broader implications of these conflicts

Conclusion: The podcast episode serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by marginalized communities around the world. Suad’s insights provide a valuable perspective on the urgent need for advocacy and solidarity in the fight for human rights. Key takeaways include the importance of local leadership in human rights discourse, the historical context of Sudan's challenges, and the necessity of recognizing the interconnectedness of global struggles for justice

01:53 Introduction

04:49 Understanding Sudan's Historical Context

08:07 The Impact of Colonialism on Sudan

10:57 Current Political Landscape in Sudan

13:43 The Role of Military and Armed Forces

16:54 The Civilian Struggle for Democracy

19:53 The Role of Foreign Powers in Sudan's Crisis

22:43 The Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

25:41 Call to Action and Advocacy

28:57 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Suad Abdel Aziz is a Sudanese American human rights lawyer and founder of advocacy organization, Decolonize Sudan. At Decolonize Sudan, she documents abuses, files human rights complaints on behalf of victims, creates educational materials and leads advocacy trainings throughout the U.S

Suad has worked to support human rights defenders in the global South, advising on issues surrounding free speech, mass incarceration, and corporate obligations under international human rights law

Dr. Nour Sharaf, an emergency physician from Dallas, Texas shares her experience volunteering on a medical mission to Gaza in the summer of 2025. Dr. Sharaf shares her firsthand experience of the ongoing genocide, describing the deliberate targeting of civilians and humanitarian workers at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites. She recounts what it was like treating injured children, famine victims, and displaced families under siege — with scarce medical supplies and constant drone attacks overhead. Through her eyes, we witness the human cost of the genocide, the resilience of Palestinian doctors and nurses, and the moral urgency of bearing witness to crimes that much of the world ignores.

Guest Intro:

Dr. Nour Sharaf is an emergency medicine physician who attended medical school at Pacific Northwest University and residency at UT Southwestern. She currently works at White Rock Medical Center in Dallas as an ER physician and medical director. She volunteered in Gaza for a medical mission in July 2025.

Links:

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This is a 4+ hour compilation of Zachary Foster expertly discussing the history of Zionism and Palestine starting from the late 19th century all the way up to the current time. This compilation combines all 4 episodes of the Save The Olive Tree Podcast that Zach appeared on.

Guest Intro:

Zachary Foster is a Jewish Historian and has a PhD in Near Eastern studies from Princeton University. He is a fellow at the Rutgers Study for security race and rights. He runs a digital archive called Palestine Nexus. He writes a newsletter called "Palestine in your inbox" and he teaches courses on the history of Palestine and Zionism at palestinenexus.com. His PhD was titled "The Invention of Palestine”.

Links:

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Jewish historian Zachary Foster discusses the details of Gaza in the early 2000s after the second intifada when Israel withdrew its settlers and imposed a complete siege on Gaza surrounding it from land, air and sea like a closed prison where the key is thrown out. We discuss Operation Cast Lead, Operation Protective Edge, The Mavi Marmara incident, The March of Return, the War of 2021, and what happened on October 7th 2023. This is a detailed discussion with an expert on the facts on the ground in Gaza over the last two decades. Understanding this history is vital to understanding what is going on currently.

Guest Intro:

Zach is a Jewish Historian and has a PhD in Near Eastern studies from Princeton University. He is a fellow at the Rutgers Study for security race and rights. He runs a digital archive called Palestine Nexus. He writes a newsletter called "Palestine in your inbox" and he teaches courses on the history of Palestine and Zionism at palestinenexus.com. His PhD was titled "The Invention of Palestine”.

🌿 Save The Olive Tree Podcast amplifies Palestinian voices and stories that challenge oppression and demand freedom. Subscribe to join a growing community standing with Palestine.

📺 Watch, share, and help spread awareness — this is how Palestine will be free!

Links:

Subscribe to the channel: @savetheolivetree

Website: www.savetheolivetree.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savetheolivetree/

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#palestine #gaza #occupation #1948 #nakba #zionism #genocide #genocideingaza #palestinianoccupation #palestinianresistance #israelpalestineconflict #ethniccleansing #operationcastled #operationprotectiveedge #mavimarmara #marchofreturn #oct7

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In this episode of Save The Olive Tree Podcast, host Omar Akhter sits down with Dr. Hatem Bazian, renowned Palestinian professor at UC Berkeley, activist, and co-founder of Zaytuna College and American Muslims for Palestine. Together, they explore the deep historical, political, and spiritual roots of the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

Dr. Bazian shares his insights on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the global movement for Palestine solidarity, and how education and awareness are powerful tools in the fight against colonialism and occupation. This conversation dives into the meaning of decolonization, resistance, and the importance of preserving Palestinian identity and heritage in the face of systemic erasure.

🎧 Listen if you care about:

- Understanding the history of Palestine and Zionism’s colonial project.

- The role of American academia and activism in the

Palestinian cause.

- Building global solidarity movements rooted in justice and liberation.

- The power of narrative, culture, and education in resistance.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

01:42 - Thoughts on current ceasefire

10:30 - Dr. Bazian roots in Palestine

12:48 - Palestinian faith

20:55 - Islamophobia and Palestinian dehumanization

26:40 - Judeo-Christian myth

30:55 - Decolonization

36:00 - Path towards liberation

Guest Intro:

Hatem Bazian is a co-founder and Professor of Islamic Law and Theology at Zaytuna College, the 1st Accredited Muslim Liberal Arts College in the United States. In addition, Prof. Bazian is a lecturer in the Departments of Near Eastern and Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

In Spring 2009, Prof. Bazian founded at Berkeley the Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project at the Center for Race and Gender, a research unit dedicated to the systematic study of Othering Islam and Muslims. Prof. Bazian in Spring 2012 launched the Islamophobia Studies Journal, which is published bi-annually through a collaborative effort between the Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project of the Center for Race and Gender at the University of California at Berkeley, the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative for the School of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University; the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia, and Zaytuna College.

In addition to academic work, Dr. Bazian is founder and national Chair of American Muslims for Palestine, board member of the Islamic Scholarship Fund, Muslim Legal Fund of America, President of Dollar for Deen Charity, and Chair of Northern California Islamic Council.

🌿 Save The Olive Tree Podcast amplifies Palestinian voices and stories that challenge oppression and demand freedom. Subscribe to join a growing community standing with Palestine.

📺 Watch, share, and help spread awareness — because Palestine will be free.

Links:

Subscribe to the channel: @savetheolivetree

Website: www.savetheolivetree.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savetheolivetree/

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Support us: patreon.com/SaveTheOliveTree