The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: Amal El Khawaja shares story of son killed in Rafah

Four major countries now recognise Palestine as Cork prepares to host Amal El Khawaja, whose son was killed in Rafah

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025 - 17:30

Deirdre O'Shaughnessy

On Sunday, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognised Palestinian statehood, with more countries expected to follow.

Almost two years after the October 7 attacks by Hamas and the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the international community is finally reacting.

Over 65,000 Palestinians, including many children, have been killed in what the United Nations Commission of Inquiry and the International Association of Genocide Scholars describe as genocide.

One such child was seven-year-old Khaled, killed in the bombing of Rafah on October 17, 2023.

Khaled’s mother, Amal El Khawaja, who works with the Norwegian Refugee Agency and now lives in Oslo, will visit Cork this weekend to share her son’s story.

She will speak at a series of public events organised by Coffee for Palestine and is also today’s guest on the Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast.

Details of A Coffee and Conversation with Amal can be found on instagram.com/coffeeforpalestine.