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September 2, 2024
Source: Al Jazeera Media Institute –
Journalists testimonies from Gaza and the West Bank –
The testimony of Al Jazeera correspondent Hisham Zaqout reveals the immense burden Palestinian journalists carry in documenting the war in Gaza. His words—expressed through tears and exhaustion—highlight the pain of reliving trauma, where faith alone sustains endurance.
From the start, this project sought to preserve unfiltered testimonies from journalists enduring siege, starvation, displacement, and death. These accounts were not refined for style but captured as raw historical records, driven by fear that both journalists and their memories could be erased by ongoing aggression.
The testimonies serve as evidence of unprecedented targeting of the press. Stories include:
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Amal Habib searching morgues for her husband before his unexpected return.
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Mohammad Al-Sawwaf surviving after losing his entire family.
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Lama Khater’s ordeal in Damon Prison.
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Anas Al-Sharif burying his father yet continuing his reporting.
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Muath Amarneh living with a bullet lodged in his head.
Each account seemed the most harrowing until another followed, with greater horror. These journalists wrote knowing they could be the next target, making every testimony feel like a final record.
Amid devastation, resilience also shines. Journalists documented small acts of life: a hairdresser preparing “war grooms,” mothers educating children in dire conditions, and communities creating festive moments despite despair. Such accounts resist portraying journalists as either victims or heroes, instead presenting them as determined truth-seekers who amplify the voices of Gaza’s victims.
Sixteen journalists, left alone after Israel barred international media and global organizations failed to protect them, provided testimonies that challenge the world’s conscience. They insist this war cannot be simplistically framed as beginning on October 7, 2023.
In a just world, these narratives would be evidence to prosecute war crimes. In reality, they remain as defiant acts of memory against genocide and erasure. As Elias Khoury wrote, “The things we do not write down die.” These testimonies ensure that the suffering, resilience, and pursuit of truth by Palestinian journalists will endure.