Plestia Alaqad on 'The Eyes of Gaza': A Diary of Resilience and Resistance

Life Under Bombardment in Gaza

• 🎯 Gaza is described as a place where children grow up afraid of the sky, unable to distinguish clouds from smoke due to constant bombardment.
• 🎧 The soundscape of Gaza is dominated by drones, airstrikes, and bombs, replacing natural sounds like birdsong.
• 💨 The air in Gaza is polluted from the constant explosions, and the concept of a tent, usually associated with camping, signifies displacement and hardship.
• 📅 Alaqad recounts her experience of October 7th, noting the unusual activity of people stocking up on essentials, which she recognized as a sign of impending disaster, though she never anticipated a two-year genocide.

Journalism as Resistance

• ✍️ Alaqad's diary entries reveal the immense psychological toll, with her writing about fearing each night might be her last and trying to memorize her family's faces.
• 💡 Her priority, aside from survival, was connecting to the internet to update her Instagram, highlighting the critical role of journalism in documenting events.
• 🎙️ She emphasizes that journalism in Gaza is treated as a crime, with journalists being targeted and killed, making the profession incredibly dangerous.
• 📸 Despite immense personal risk, Alaqad and other journalists strive to show the world the reality of life in Gaza, including the resilience and kindness of its people.

Global Solidarity and Amplified Voices

• 🌍 Alaqad expresses profound gratitude for the global solidarity movements, particularly among young people and students, who are amplifying Palestinian voices.
• 📣 She notes that these movements have gone beyond calls for a ceasefire to advocating for the right of return and a free Palestine.
• 💖 The global protests and activism have provided hope to Palestinians, proving they are seen and that the world is standing on the right side of history.

The Power of Storytelling

• 📖 Alaqad's book, "The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience," is an effort to give Palestinians their own voice, rather than having their stories told by others.
• 💬 She chose to write and speak in English to reach a wider international audience, as international journalists are not allowed into Gaza.
• 💔 The book aims to evoke a range of emotions in readers, with the hope that these feelings will be converted into action.
• 🕊️ Alaqad shares a poem, "Only in Gaza," which poignantly contrasts the harsh realities of life there with the enduring spirit of its people, expressing a hope for a better future.