Kashmiri Journalist Irfan Mehraj Marks 1000 Days in Detention as Press Groups Renew Calls for Release
December 20, 2025
December 21, 2025 – Palestine/Egypt –
Palestinian-Egyptian journalist Youmna El Sayed, a seasoned correspondent for Al Jazeera English, has navigated profound personal and professional challenges in covering the war in Gaza, ultimately choosing to protect her children while remaining committed to documenting the conflict for global audiences. El Sayed’s experience underscores the human cost of frontline reporting and the difficult choices facing journalists in war zones.
El Sayed, 35, was living in Gaza City with her husband and four young children when the October 7, 2023, conflict began between Hamas and Israel. Initially, she reported from within Gaza, where Israel’s ban on many foreign journalists elevated the role of Palestinian reporters in conveying the realities of intense bombing, displacement, and civilian suffering to the world. El Sayed and her family endured repeated attacks, forced displacement, and the collapse of basic services, often fleeing bombardments multiple times over a short period.
Amid escalating danger, El Sayed faced immense pressure at home. In a conversation with El País, she revealed that her mother confronted her with a stark choice: “You have to choose between being a journalist or being a mother, because you can’t be both anymore,” reflecting the family’s fear for their children’s safety in the conflict zone. Ultimately, El Sayed decided to evacuate Gaza with her children to Cairo, where she now lives as a refugee. Despite the upheaval, she continues to travel internationally to speak about the war’s impact and to urge continued global attention to the plight of Palestinians.
El Sayed’s work, marked by both frontline reporting and advocacy, highlights the psychological toll borne by journalists who survive while their communities continue to face violence. She has spoken about “survivor’s guilt” and the emotional strain of balancing professional duty with family responsibilities. Her accounts emphasise the urgency of bearing witness to suffering even as she navigates life in exile.
Earlier coverage of El Sayed’s reporting in Gaza described her relentless commitment to documenting frontline conditions, often in the face of bombardment and personal risk. Her testimony illustrates the broader challenges confronting journalists in conflict zones, particularly when personal and professional roles intersect under extreme duress.
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