Watan-Al Jazeera correspondent Heba Akila spoke about the extent of the brutality and savagery of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since October 7th of last year.
In a video segment aired by Al Jazeera, Akila introduced herself as a Palestinian citizen, a mother, and a journalist, working as a correspondent for the Qatari channel since 2003.
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She added that she loves this profession very much, but journalism holds a greater significance for her, as she feels it helps the Palestinian people more than she had expected.
Hiba Akila pointed out that her family has supported her greatly in her journalism career, with her husband being a pillar of strength and support. She described her children as the real support for her.
Confronting death multiple times
Akila pointed out that in many situations, especially in her fieldwork, she has faced countless instances of real death and direct targeting. However, she always attributes survival to the belief that “life spans are in God’s hands.”
She continued, “If I had been afraid, I wouldn’t have left my home. If I had feared for my life, I wouldn’t have covered any invasion, war, or confrontation.”
Tragic Scenes in Gaza
Hiba Akila spoke about the tragic scenes in Gaza, stating, “When we witness the martyrdom of children, innocents, and entire families, it is extremely tough for me. As a mother, when I go out to work and see children who have been martyred, I imagine my own children in front of me. However, what we experienced in previous wars and escalation waves was by no means comparable to what is happening in this war.”
She pointed out that Israel has employed various forms of collective punishment on the Palestinian people, mentioning the demolition of homes from the very first day.
Hiba Akila revealed that she has lost friends, and entire families known to her personally, since the first week of the war. She highlighted the tight blockade and the prohibition of food supplies, leading people with money to beg for food.
It is worth noting that since October 7th of last year, the Israeli army has been waging a fierce war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the martyrdom of 15,899 Palestinians and injuring 42,000.
The Israeli war on Gaza has also caused massive destruction to infrastructure and triggered an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.