In the Eye of the Storm: Palestinian Journalists' Quest to Inform Amidst Devastation and Despair
The brunt of the work amid the violent conflict lies solely on the shoulders of Palestinian journalists who are forced to risk their lives to share the stories from the frontlines
Youma ElSayed's voice trembles as she tells her children she loves them, not knowing if she'll return. They cower in terror as missiles strike, seeking refuge under the kitchen counter while she races to the bureau to cover the unfolding chaos. In the besieged city of Gaza, the Al-Jazeera correspondent paints a harrowing picture of the turmoil and devastation residents face under relentless bombardment by the Israeli army.
The world watched Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, Waed Dahdouh, learn of the death of his wife, daughter, and son live on air. Less than 24 hours later, the seasoned reporter, beloved in the Arab world, was on air again. Flak jacket on, camera ready, he continued informing the world of the atrocities happening in Gaza.
Youma ElSayed and Waed Al Dahdouh are two of many brave Palestinian journalists who have continued to verify, film, and report what is happening under the Israeli bombardment of the blockaded strip. Journalists who are mourning, exhausted, and terrified as they try to do their jobs while avoiding missiles.
Our team at CFWIJ has been documenting threats against women journalists on the frontlines of this conflict. We have seen killings and threats. We witness the frustration of journalists trying to navigate propaganda and online mobs by tirelessly reporting facts from the ground.
On October 13, CFWIJ reported the killing of Palestinian journalist Salam Mema following an Israeli missile strike in northern Gaza. With all the chaos, missiles, and death, it took days to confirm what had happened to Salam. A flicker of hope arose in our team when word reached us from sources that her youngest son, Ali, had been rescued and was safe. There was optimism that Salam and the rest of her family might still be alive. But this war, like all wars, drowns hope in its unrelenting horror and disregard for humanity. After days trapped under the rubble, her lifeless body, alongside her eldest son’s, was extracted from the remnants of their destroyed home. The news was devastating.
The incredible women journalists reporting in Gaza do not have the choice to disengage. They are sheltering from missile attacks, fearing for their loved ones, and yet all the time documenting, verifying, and informing the world
We have felt despair and deep sadness speaking to those living this war firsthand, and this is our experience as an international team privileged to work from a distance. We are safe in our intact homes, with the ability to disconnect from our screens and mute notifications. We are spared the dread that the next call will bear the news that our homes no longer exist and our families are dead. The incredible journalists reporting in Gaza do not have the choice to disengage. They are sheltering from missile attacks, fearing for their loved ones, and yet all the time documenting, verifying, and informing the world.
Palestinian journalists, unlike foreign correspondents in most conflicts, do not have the luxury of leaving their current assignment
Palestinian journalists, unlike foreign correspondents in most conflicts, do not have the luxury of leaving their assignment. Frontline journalists capture every image and video from inside Gaza, risk their lives daily, and cannot escape. Their dedication to documenting the conflict is both commendable and essential.
The ban on foreign journalists not only puts the burden on Palestinian journalists but also skews coverage. International correspondents were allowed to visit the scenes of Hamas’ deadly massacre in southern Israel days after the attack. Still, none have been allowed to investigate sites of Israeli missile assaults inside Gaza.
Following the IDF’s ground invasion into northern Gaza, on the first weekend of November, a small group of international journalists were allowed to accompany the Israeli forces into the strip. This tactic of only allowing reporters entry if they are embedded with the army limits the ability of media outlets to provide a balanced and comprehensive view of the conflict. Journalists must be allowed to freely report in Gaza and interview people who have experienced the Israeli bombardment. This tight control over media access violates the principles of freedom of the press and the right to information.
Journalists in Gaza provide valuable local knowledge and context for events, ensuring the world is aware of human suffering and providing crucial evidence for future investigations into possible war crimes. These reporters risk their lives to ensure the world bears witness to the ongoing suffering and devastation. Yet as the bombardment continues, they are being killed daily. This has been the deadliest conflict for journalists in 30 years.
Women journalists killed in Palestine/Israel starting October 7th (clockwise starting top left): Salma Mukhaimer, Duaa Sharaf, Shai Regev, Salam Mema, Ayelet Arnin.
As he reports on the death of yet another one of his colleagues, a Palestinian journalist in Gaza breaks down. “We can’t take it anymore. We’re exhausted. We’re going to get killed. It’s just a matter of when,” he exclaims, exhausted, pulling off his protective gear. “There’s no protection, no impunity. These PPEs don’t protect us. Nothing protects journalists. We lose lives, one by one.” The Committee to Protect Journalists has documented that 42 journalists have been killed since October 7.
These journalists report so that we can act, so that war crimes can be investigated, but to continue to report, they must stop being killed.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for an immediate ceasefire. Hamas must immediately release all hostages. In Gaza, humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medical supplies, is urgently needed. We implore both Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces to halt all attacks, allow aid into Gaza, and stop targeting civilians. The suffering must end.
It is vital that the United Nations, particularly UNESCO, safeguards frontline journalists and their rights, ensuring their access to the internet and other communication tools. This is essential to inform the local Palestinian population and the world about the situation in Gaza amid the war.
The Israeli government must allow outside reporters to enter Gaza to document what is happening. This not only strengthens journalists’ coverage but will allow a respite for the Palestinian journalists on the ground who have been relentlessly reporting since the Israeli bombing campaign began.