“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is Knowing and Acquainted”
Quran, Chapter 49, Verse 13
This article is Part 2 of our focus on the media and journalists in Gaza. Part 1 can be read here.
The scenes unfolding in Gaza defy description in their sheer horror. Current reports indicate a staggering toll: over 14,530 Palestinians have perished, of which more than 6,000 are children. Hospitals, refugee shelters, and residential buildings have been systematically targeted. Civilians, even those fleeing along routes declared safe, have found no respite from the onslaught.
What sets this attack apart is its chilling immediacy: the Palestinian plight is being relayed almost in real-time through social media platforms such as Instagram. For many around the globe, these platforms serve as the sole window into the unfolding tragedy in Gaza. Journalists like Saleh Aljafarawi, Wael aldahdou, and Motaz Azaiza are braving unimaginable dangers to bring these truths to light, offering the world a raw, unfiltered view of what can only be described as a systematic campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
These same journalists and their families are facing targeted attacks from the IDF in order to cut off the world from the realities. Palestinians report that the most horrific massacres transpire when the IDF intentionally cuts off electricity and internet access, a tactic perceived as an ominous attempt to shroud their atrocities from global scrutiny. This deliberate blackout not only amplifies the terror of the assaults but also raises grave concerns about the lengths to which these acts are being concealed from the international community.
While social media often garners criticism for its role in engendering a culture of endless, mindless scrolling among the youth, it’s not without its positive facets. This instance stands as a testament to the constructive power of social media, transforming it from a tool of distraction to a vehicle for crucial awareness and global connectivity. In this light, social media emerges not just as a digital pastime, but as a pivotal platform for sharing urgent truths and fostering collective consciousness.
The scenes we see are horrific and nightmare inducing. The horrors we witness now surpass any scene from a horror movie or apocalyptic tale, presenting a reality far beyond any fictional nightmare. There are bloody scenes of children being pulled out from the rubble, children shaking in fear, orphans wandering the streets with no one left to take care of them. I share these videos with a heavy heart, driven by necessity rather than choice. To truly comprehend the dehumanization Palestinians face, one must confront the horrific reality they endure. Only through witnessing these conditions can the full extent of their plight be understood.
Expand to see video. WARNING: Extremely Graphic
Though I could link thousands of videos, they capture less than a fraction of the immense pain endured by the Palestinians. The depth of their suffering defies complete portrayal through any lens. I urge you to research the content that these journalists, and others listed below are producing in order to see level of dehumanization that is occurring at the hands of the IDF and the Israeli government.
Tragically, many activists and journalists who are exposing the dehumanization are being silenced. Instagram is shadow banning, blocking, and deactivating hundreds of accounts that are sharing content related to the Palestinian plight. Below are screenshots of activist Instagram accounts that have been censored:
A full list of Palestinian journalists who are posting on social media can be found here:
If Meta and X are going to censure the truth from being exposed, it is our duty to give voice to the oppressed, whomever they may be.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
If anyone would like to help me create a safe platform where the oppressed can share without fear of their account being closed, shadow banned, or deactivated, please reach out to me in the comments below.
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