This Filmmaker RISKS It All to Tell the Truth of Palestine After Israel Unjustly Banned a U.N. Org.

In this powerful episode of Habibi House, we sit down with activist and filmmaker Charles McBryde to unpack the deeper meaning of happiness, community, and the price we pay for both. The conversation then pivots to Charles' urgent documentary work in Palestine, focusing on the unprecedented targeting of UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for aiding 5.9 million Palestinian refugees. He breaks down Israel's recent moves to label the organization a terrorist entity, the geopolitical implications of defunding UNRWA, and what this means for the future of Palestinian life, memory, and rights in the region. Charles gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his upcoming film, its funding goals, and the challenges of documenting this critical moment in history. From East Jerusalem to refugee camps in Lebanon, this episode sheds light on the stakes, the stories, and the fight to preserve truth. 🔗 Support Charles’ documentary and follow his work: Follow Charles McBryde: @CharlesMcBryde (with a Y) Topics Covered - Happiness, friendship & the cost of community - The American Dream vs real emotional fulfillment - The defunding and criminalization of UNRWA - Refugee life in Lebanon & the legacy of the Nakba - Filmmaking under occupation & resisting erasure ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & the role of cigarettes in friendship 00:32 – What actually makes us happy? 01:30 – The American Dream adds only 10% to your happiness 02:05 – The power of weekly friendships 02:40 – Community comes with annoyance – and it’s worth it 03:00 – Charles on his new documentary project 03:35 – What happened after October 7th: Israel’s claims against UNRWA 04:25 – Why Israel has targeted UNRWA for years 05:20 – UNRWA’s role in preserving Palestinian history 06:10 – The Israeli law labeling UNRWA a terrorist organization 06:50 – Why this move is completely unprecedented 07:15 – UNRWA is made up of Palestinians – and that’s a threat 08:00 – The U.S. cuts $300M in UNRWA funding 08:50 – Private fundraising & Qatar’s support 09:15 – The situation for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon 10:00 – Living in refugee camps with no rights or voice 10:45 – Why Charles is making this film now 11:30 – The urgency of finishing the documentary 12:05 – Journalistic integrity & difficult questions on both sides 13:00 – This may document the downfall of UNRWA 13:45 – What’s at stake: caring for 5.9M Palestinian refugees 14:15 – Crowdfunding goals & challenges 15:00 – How you can help 15:35 – Charles’ favorite Arabic word (thanks, Assassin’s Creed) 16:20 – Final thoughts, plugs, and future plans