#163: From Women’s Empowerment to Global Healing: Dina Ghandour's Story as a Palestinian Yogi

Yoga Inspiration

Openly, vulnerably and courageously, Dina Ghandour shares her experience as a Palestinian Yogi throughout this conversation. Her journey began with practising asanas with a VHS tape in her bedroom at 15 to now, a Jivamukti Yoga certified yoga teacher and bodyworker based in Duba leading community classes and worldwide retreats.

Tapping into her belief that yoga is a practice of liberation and that liberation is about the elevation and healing of all beings, Dina’s mission for women’s remembrance of their strength is needed now more than ever.

To let in the very real, authentic details of her personal story and to inspire you to continue the work of yoga, enter this interview with an open heart and a curious mind.

For further information and resources on the topics mentioned in the episode, please access them below.

Resources (books written by both Palestinian and Israeli acclaimed historians):

• The 100 Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi

• The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine + The Biggest Prison on Earth by Ilan Pappe

• Gaza in Crisis by Naom Chomsky and Ilan Pappe

• Palestine Academy's Palestine 101 online course

• All Out for Palestine Digital Action Toolkit by the Palestine Feminist Collective

• Death toll raised to 21,000

• Website for the SIM cards

Terms

According to the UN Genocide Convention:

The current definition of Genocide is set out in Article II of the Genocide Convention: Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group; already 15,200 have been killed in Gaza alone, 6,600 of which are children -- and violence and killing also happening also in the occupied West Bank, which is not ruled by Hamas

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; consistent images and videos coming out of Gaza prove this is true

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; the blockade on Gaza and the control of its food, fuel, electricity, medication etc pertains to this clause accurately

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

Reference (un.org)

Occupation:

In international humanitarian law, a territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the adverse foreign armed forces. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised. (From the International Red Cross)

For background:

• Military Presence and Control: Israel maintains a significant military presence in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) control checkpoints, strategic locations, and border crossings, restricting the movement of Palestinians and exerting authority over key areas.

• Settlement Construction: Israel has been involved in the construction and expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are considered illegal under international law. These settlements often result in the displacement of Palestinian communities, changing the demographic and geographic realities on the ground.

• Separation Wall: The construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier, also known as the separation barrier or the wall, has further separated Palestinian communities and hindered their access to agricultural land, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. While Israel argues that it is a security measure, critics argue that it serves as a de facto border, annexing Palestinian territory.

• Restrictions on Movement: Palestinians face various restrictions on their movement, both within the territories and internationally. Checkpoints, roadblocks, and barriers limit the ability of Palestinians to travel freely, affecting daily life, economic activities, and access to essential services.

• East Jerusalem Annexation: Israel's control and annexation of East Jerusalem have been a contentious issue. The international community does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over East Jerusalem, which Palestinians consider the capital of their state. However, Israel has continued to expand its presence in East Jerusalem through settlement construction and policies that alter the demographic composition of the city.