Listen: First-Hand Account of Gaza Genocide; Triangle Factor Fire’s Meaning for Immigrants Today

Immigrant workers speak out during this year’s Triangle Factory Fire memorial in New York City.

By Bob Hennelly

The BBC is reporting that the next few days in Gaza are "make or break," according to the UN, as Israel's military pauses its ongoing attacks following a global outcry about the toll on Gaza's civilian population. The pause comes after the World Health Organization said on Sunday that malnutrition has reached "alarming levels" in Gaza with one in three people going without food for "multiple days in a row." 

The UN welcomed newly proposed humanitarian aid measures but warned that the relief needs to be sustained and that there must be "no more attacks on people gathering food." 

Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza has resulted in starvation amongst the civilian population while over a 1,000 other Palestinian have been killed by the IDF trying to get food. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has described the situation as genocide. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyhu, meanwhile, continues to deny there is any starvation going on, and in February President Donald Trump proposed the US should take over Gaza and turn it into a resort.

More than 55,000 civilians, including thousands of children, have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack which killed about 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis.

On this episode, we speak with Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, MD, MPH who’s had first-hand experiences on the ground in Gaza. Dr. Sidhwa is joined by Kathy Kelly, board president of World Beyond War. Kelly recently completed a 40 day fast for peace.

We get our weekly preview of the world economy from James Henry, Yale Global Justice Fellow, investigative journalist and economist. He is joined by New Jersey peace and climate crisis activist Paula Rogovin. 

We also get an update on the ongoing deterioration in conditions of the New York City Park system from Joe Puleo, president of DC 37 Local 983 and Ralph Baselice, Urban Park Ranger and union representative. Chronic understaffing, as well as under-funding, is taking its toll as trash piles up and enforcement slides.

In our second hour, we hear from Brendan Griffith, the president of the New York City Central Labor Council, which represents over one million workers from over 300 unions. Griffith talks about what’s at stake for all workers as the Trump administration doubles down on attacking the federal workforce and their unions. The newly-elected NYC CLC leader lays out how the Triangle Fire that killed scores of young immigrant garment workers more than a century ago, is relevant today as 21st immigrant workers grapple with Trump's push for mass deportation. 

Listen to the entire show below: