Friday Focus: Israel is weaponizing food, and Hamas is weaponizing its own people
Jul 25, 2025
The podcast dives into the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where starvation is used as a weapon. It questions the moral implications of such tactics and explores the failures of international aid efforts. Discussions highlight the need for urgent interventions from global security forces. Additionally, the potential recognition of Palestinian statehood by France raises questions about its impact on existing political dynamics and leadership. Can such declarations truly change the status quo, or are they merely symbolic gestures?
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insights INSIGHT
Weaponization of Food in Gaza
Israel has weaponized food by cutting off aid to Gaza to weaken Hamas financially.
This strategy, however, starves 2 million innocent Palestinians, creating a moral and humanitarian crisis.
insights INSIGHT
Security Collapse in Gaza
Public order in Gaza has collapsed as Hamas retreats from policing and there's no substitute force.
Without security forces, food distribution sites become deadly scenes of desperation and violence.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Deploy Security Forces Now
A ceasefire without a security force guarantees repeated deadly chaos at food distribution points.
The international community must deploy troops to secure humanitarian access in Gaza immediately.
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Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.
Rudyard and Janice open today's show talking about starvation in Gaza. How do we find ourselves here, and what can be done about it? While it is true that Hamas steals food to sell on the black market to pay its fighters, there is no justification for using food as a weapon. Can Israel recover from this moral stain? And why is Hamas not subject to international pressure to release the hostages that could end this war? Both Rudyard and Janice agree that the time is over for diplomatic solutions. International security forces need to intervene and put an end to this conflict. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to France's intention to recognize Palestinian Statehood at the UN in September. This might not be welcome news to the Palestinian Authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas as it comes with expectations of governance and elections. How does a statement or recognition actually change events on the ground? Is it enough to break through the defensive shield Bibi has built around himself? Ultimately, If this declaration does nothing to change Palestinian leadership or Israel's control over the West Bank, then it is nothing more than empty rhetoric with no consequence.
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