Palestinian Journalist Echoes The Cries Of His People

By Suraidah Roslan

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- Palestinian journalist Younus Abdel Hamid Abu Jarad may be miles away from Gaza, but the anguish of his homeland weighs heavily on him.

Based in Istanbul, Turkiye, 43-year-old Younus turns his pain into purpose, using powerful stories and images shared by his colleagues in Gaza to report on the suffering there.

Through his work, he gives a voice to those in pain and tells the world about their ongoing struggle with deep determination.

“It is hard not to feel emotional when you witness the suffering of others. Although I am not on the ground covering the unrest, I feel equally saddened by the stories and images shared with me.

“In the past few days, people have been collapsing from hunger. People are dying of starvation as humanitarian aid is being blocked by the Israeli military,” he said during a special meeting with a Palestinian activist delegation organised by the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM) here recently.

These accounts, he explained, were shared by a trusted partner he has been working with directly in Gaza, despite the severe lack of resources and the difficult conditions on the ground.

“Palestinians have no life left to live, yet they hold on to the smallest glimmers of hope just to stay alive and endure this genocide,” said Younus, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science and a Master's degree in Modern History, both from the Islamic University of Gaza.

Sharing his views, Younus said there is a serious imbalance in the global narrative about the situation in Gaza, mainly due to limited international media coverage.

The media activist  noted that the strength and reach of pro-Israeli media networks often overshadow the Palestinian perspective, further distorting global understanding of the conflict.

To date, more than 230 journalists who were actively reporting from the ground have been killed since the Israeli occupation began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Commending Malaysia’s actions and support, Younus said, “We truly appreciate them. Malaysia's support stands out as among the strongest compared to most other Muslim countries.”

On the role of ASEAN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in supporting the Palestinian cause, he acknowledged that while the support is welcome, it is not sufficient to pressure the Israeli government to halt the genocide.

He described the level of solidarity among Arab states as very low, attributing it to the lack of democratic space in the region, which prevents citizens from freely expressing their support for the Palestinian cause.

He also said that despite the fact that there are 22 Arab countries and 57 Islamic nations – each with its own policy and strategy – they are still not doing enough to pressure Israel to halt the genocide.

“If the Arab states were to swiftly shut down Israeli embassies in their countries, it would send a strong message and increase the pressure on the occupying forces,” he added.

Meanwhile, Younus also expressed deep concern over the ongoing occupation in Jerusalem – home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque – which he described as being in its worst condition since the occupation began.

He urged Muslims around the world to take action before Israel gains full control of the sacred site.

He added that he will continue working to raise global awareness about the situation in Gaza through his organisation, Trustee of Al-Aqsa, and to advocate for immediate action in support of the Palestinian cause.

-- BERNAMA