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The National
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Palestinian artists Alaa Shehada and Sami Abu Wardeh win awards at Edinburgh Fringe
Stories of Palestinian resistance and life under Israeli military occupation have won awards at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Palestinian artists Alaa Shehada and Sami Abu Wardeh were among the winners recognised for their solo productions at one of the world's largest arts festivals. Actor and writer Shehada won the Fringe First award, organised by Scottish newspaper The Scotsman, for his solo show The Horse of Jenin. Comedian Abu Wardeh received the Heart Award for Palestine: Peace de Resistance as part of the Besties – awards run by Scottish arts publications and theatre partners. Both shows are being staged at the Pleasance Dome, with the festival to end on August 25. In The Horse of Jenin, Shehada traces the story of a horse sculpture once found in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. The structure, built in 2003 using wreckage from an Israeli attack a year earlier, was a symbol of resistance for Palestinians, before Israeli forces used a bulldozer to remove it in 2023. Throughout the 70-minute set, Shehada weaves in personal stories, humour and tragedy to reflect on what became of the remains of the horse and the loss of his childhood friend Ahmed in the West Bank. In its review, The Scotsman praised Shehada's exuberant performance while hailing the show as 'a terrific tale of Palestinian life, laughter and tragedy under unimaginable pressure". Shehada welcomed the award on Instagram, saying the show's theme has never been more urgent. 'The show tells a story that has always mattered, and never more so," he said. "As the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank continues, and the occupation of Palestine persists, we must keep amplifying Palestinian voices, preserving culture and advocating for justice, freedom and an end to the violence." The critical acclaim, bolstered by the award, has led to additional performances being scheduled during the festival, including extra shows on August 22 and 23. Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh also received an accolade for Palestine: Peace de Resistance, a stand-up show weaving character sketches and physical theatre as it examines whether comedy is a viable form of resistance. Inspired by his life as a Palestinian born in exile, the show merges barbed political satire with absurdist elements such as hand puppetry and outlandish caricatures. In awarding the Heart Award at the Besties, Louis Cammell, deputy editor of Fest magazine, which co-runs the award, described the show as 'passionate, epic and very funny". Abu Wardeh took to social media to announce his victory: 'Winner! Bestie Award for Heart. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.' The Edinburgh Festival Fringe traditionally takes place every August across the Scottish capital and features more than 3,000 productions.
Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Telegraph
Map shows Australia's new place in the world after bold call on Palestine
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News. A striking map shows Australia's new place in the world after Anthony Albanese made the call to join nearly 150 countries in recognising Palestinian statehood. Australia will formally recognise Palestine when the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York next month. The move is seen as symbolic because Palestinians are living under military occupation and do not have control over their territory or settled borders. The country will join a majority of UN member states – 147 out of 193 – which already recognise Palestine, including most countries in Asia, South America and Africa. In all, those nations make up 75 per cent of the countries in the world. Historically, Western countries have held back from recognising Palestine – but reports of a new Israeli military push in Gaza and famine among Palestinians, coupled with domestic pressure on leaders like Mr Albanese, have resulted in a surge of support. It began when France announced it would recognise Palestine at the UN meeting – the first G7 country to do so. The UK, Canada, and now Australia have followed suit. But there remain some key holdouts. The United States, Israel's biggest ally, does not recognise Palestine and has vetoed past attempts by the Palestinian Authority to join the UN, arguing statehood should come about through negotiations with Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week blasted the gesture by Australia and other Western countries as 'largely meaningless'. 'It's symbolic, and they're doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics,' Mr Rubio said. 'The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution. 'It's not going to be decided by some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country. It's going to be decided on the ground.' Anthony Albanese's announcement on Monday was welcomed by some, but it has also received criticism from both sides of the current conflict. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman Mr Albanese's announcement on Monday was welcomed by some, but it has also received criticism from both sides of the current conflict. Jewish leaders argue it lends legitimacy to terrorist group Hamas, while pro-Palestinian voices claim it does not go far enough and Australia should cut all ties with Israel. Middle East analyst Professor Amin Saikal said the recognition of Palestine 'in itself is not necessarily going to make much of a difference on the ground, because the Palestinian territories are still occupied'. 'It is a symbolic act, basically to send a very, very strong message to the Israeli leadership,' Professor Saikal told 'There are ways of enforcing the recognition of the state of Palestine with some practical measures, otherwise it will remain hollow.' Disturbing reports from Gaza and domestic pressure have led to a surge in support for Palestine from Western countries. Picture: NewsWire/Valeriu Campan The practical steps might include boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Prof Saikal said public opinion was increasingly siding with Palestinians in the conflict. 'Now I think it is very widely recognised what Israel is engaging in is a genocide – this is not just journalists or politicians saying it, it's been confirmed by two humanitarian organisations within Israel,' he said. '(Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu has remained completely defiant of calls for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid in Gaza.' He said as the conflict dragged on, pressure might build on Donald Trump to change his stance. 'Although Trump is absolutely committed to Israel and it's very unlikely he will cut off arms supply, at the same time public opinion is very much turning against Israel,' Prof Saikal said. 'With Trump his base is very important. If this sort of criticism increases, he may finally decide that look, it's no longer in the interests of the US to continue the level of support for Israel.' Professor Amin Saikal said the gesture would remain hollow if it wasn't backed by practical measures. Picture: Supplied Across the ditch, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said this week that the government would make a decision on Palestinian statehood next month. That places New Zealand in the diminishing group of countries that have yet to recognise Palestine, including G7 members Germany, Japan and Italy. 'This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all,' Mr Albanese said on Monday. He said the decision was made after he received assurances from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future state. The Palestinian Authority controls parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007. Originally published as Map shows Australia's new place in the world after bold call on Palestine
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Map shows Australia's new place in the world after bold call on Palestine
A striking map shows Australia's new place in the world after Anthony Albanese made the call to join nearly 150 countries in recognising Palestinian statehood. Australia will formally recognise Palestine when the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York next month. The move is seen as symbolic because Palestinians are living under military occupation and do not have control over their territory or settled borders. The country will join a majority of UN member states – 147 out of 193 – which already recognise Palestine, including most countries in Asia, South America and Africa. In all, those nations make up 75 per cent of the countries in the world. Historically, Western countries have held back from recognising Palestine – but reports of a new Israeli military push in Gaza and famine among Palestinians, coupled with domestic pressure on leaders like Mr Albanese, have resulted in a surge of support. It began when France announced it would recognise Palestine at the UN meeting – the first G7 country to do so. The UK, Canada, and now Australia have followed suit. But there remain some key holdouts. The United States, Israel's biggest ally, does not recognise Palestine and has vetoed past attempts by the Palestinian Authority to join the UN, arguing statehood should come about through negotiations with Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week blasted the gesture by Australia and other Western countries as 'largely meaningless'. 'It's symbolic, and they're doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics,' Mr Rubio said. 'The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution. 'It's not going to be decided by some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country. It's going to be decided on the ground.' Mr Albanese's announcement on Monday was welcomed by some, but it has also received criticism from both sides of the current conflict. Jewish leaders argue it lends legitimacy to terrorist group Hamas, while pro-Palestinian voices claim it does not go far enough and Australia should cut all ties with Israel. Middle East analyst Professor Amin Saikal said the recognition of Palestine 'in itself is not necessarily going to make much of a difference on the ground, because the Palestinian territories are still occupied'. 'It is a symbolic act, basically to send a very, very strong message to the Israeli leadership,' Professor Saikal told 'There are ways of enforcing the recognition of the state of Palestine with some practical measures, otherwise it will remain hollow.' The practical steps might include boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Prof Saikal said public opinion was increasingly siding with Palestinians in the conflict. 'Now I think it is very widely recognised what Israel is engaging in is a genocide – this is not just journalists or politicians saying it, it's been confirmed by two humanitarian organisations within Israel,' he said. '(Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu has remained completely defiant of calls for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid in Gaza.' He said as the conflict dragged on, pressure might build on Donald Trump to change his stance. 'Although Trump is absolutely committed to Israel and it's very unlikely he will cut off arms supply, at the same time public opinion is very much turning against Israel,' Prof Saikal said. 'With Trump his base is very important. If this sort of criticism increases, he may finally decide that look, it's no longer in the interests of the US to continue the level of support for Israel.' Across the ditch, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said this week that the government would make a decision on Palestinian statehood next month. That places New Zealand in the diminishing group of countries that have yet to recognise Palestine, including G7 members Germany, Japan and Italy. 'This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all,' Mr Albanese said on Monday. He said the decision was made after he received assurances from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future state. The Palestinian Authority controls parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007.
News.com.au
04-08-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Israel to push to reoccupy all of Gaza in ‘updated' war plan
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to update Israel's Gaza war plan, a day before a UN Security Council meeting on the fate of hostages still held in the Palestinian territory. Addressing a cabinet meeting with the war well into its 22nd month, the Israeli leader told ministers on Monday that later in the week he would instruct the military on how 'to achieve the three war objectives we have set'. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted officials in Mr Netanyahu's office saying that the 'updated strategy' would be to reoccupy all of Gaza, including areas in Gaza City where the military believes hostages are being held. The cabinet would meet on Tuesday to endorse the plan, the reports said. There was no immediate official confirmation, but the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry denounced what it called a 'leaked' plan and urged the international community to intervene to quash any new military occupation. Mr Netanyahu is facing mounting domestic and international pressure to bring the remaining hostages in Gaza home and allow much more aid into the starving territory. Israel – backed by the United States and Panama – is preparing to convene a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday to highlight the fate of the hostages. Mr Netanyahu on Monday reiterated that Israel's three war goals remained 'the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel'. His statement came after hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to convince Mr Netanyahu to end the war. 'Immediate mortal danger' Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said ahead of the UN meeting that 'the world must put an end to the phenomenon of kidnapping civilians. It must be front and centre on the world stage'. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. The UN session was called after Palestinian militant groups last week published three videos showing hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David appearing weak and emaciated, causing shock and distress in Israel. Mr Netanyahu said he had asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide food and medical treatment to the Israeli captives. Hamas's armed wing said it was willing to allow access to the hostages in exchange for opening aid corridors into all of Gaza, where UN-mandated experts have warned famine is unfolding. Mr Netanyahu's government has faced repeated accusations by relatives of hostages and other critics that it has not done enough to rescue the captives. 'Netanyahu is leading Israel and the hostages to ruin,' said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group. 'For 22 months, the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will bring the hostages back. 'The truth must be said: expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages, who are already in immediate mortal danger.' 'Only through a deal' Mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to secure a truce. Hundreds of retired Israeli security officials including former heads of intelligence agencies have urged US President Donald Trump to pressure their own government to end the war. 'It is our professional Judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,' the former officials wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday. The war 'is leading the State of Israel to lose its security and identity', said Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet security service, in a video released to accompany the letter. The letter argued that the Israeli military 'has long accomplished the two objectives that could be achieved by force: dismantling Hamas's military formations and governance'. 'The third, and most important, can only be achieved through a deal: bringing all the hostages home,' it added. 'We are starving' The October 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally of official figures. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,933 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which are deemed reliable by the UN. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli fire on Monday killed at least 19 Palestinians, including nine who were waiting to collect food aid from a site in central Gaza. In Gaza City, Umm Osama Imad was mourning a relative she said was killed while trying to reach an aid distribution point. 'We are starving … He went to bring flour for his family,' she said. 'The flour is stained with blood. We don't want the flour anymore. Enough!' UN rights chief Volker Turk on Monday said 'the images of people starving in Gaza are heart-rending and intolerable. That we have reached this stage is an affront to our collective humanity.' He called on Israel to urgently allow aid into the territory, adding that denying it 'may amount to a war crime'. He also described the videos of hostages as 'shocking', calling for the ICRC to be allowed immediate access to them.
