Gaza Voices

The sixth and final episode of Gaza Voices for 2024 features a conversation with 22-year-old Deema Jad, a Gaza City native, recorded on May 2, 2024. Deema and her father lived in Cairo with her aunt at the time, while her mother and siblings remained in Gaza.

Deema recounts her life before the war, working at an NGO, enjoying cooking, and cherishing her close-knit family. She then describes the harrowing events during the war that began on October 7, 2023.

Deema shares her journey with her father and young nephew to Rafah, walking under IDF presence, and contrasts this with her mother's refusal to leave Gaza, rooted in her identity as a 1948 Nakba refugee. Deema and her father eventually fled to Egypt, leaving behind her mother and siblings.

Deema reflects on the deep sadness of family separation as she is in Cairo and conveys a powerful message: no one should endure the suffering experienced by Palestinians.

This marks the last episode of 2024 as the Gaza Voices team pauses to rest and reflect.

Write us here: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube & Instagram and visit our website www.gaza-voices.com

Chapters: 

Intro and recap (0:00 - 2:26) 

Chapter 1: Pre Oct 7: My life before the war (2:27 - 7:01)

Chapter 2: Post Oct 7: My whole October was just evacuating (7:02 - 27:02)

Chapter 3: Rafah: The south turned me to an emotionless body (27:03 - 39:01)

Chapter 4: Leaving Gaza: I started to feel everything (39:02 - 53:31)

Outro: (53:32 - 60:00)

Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-cd_rBB95HAQtmuX2FEJ5Q0K3npqBI0tcGcCWezdmt8/edit?usp=sharing

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

Sources:

In this special episode of Gaza Voices, we asked Palestinians living inside and outside of Gaza to share their thoughts with us after 365 days of war. Here are their voices.

These voices were collected between 22 August and 6 October 2024.

Write us here: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube & Instagram and visit our website www.gaza-voices.com

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18BH-wMqpmaH4A37iqY2ZFAtbqq2TYQ8ZFmVnsLeqr1M/edit

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

Gaza Fights for Freedom, by Anahedron

Right to Resist, by Anahedron

The Great March of Return, by Anahedron

Sources: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154971

The fifth episode of Gaza Voices takes us within the walls of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, into the heart of Gaza itself. This episode marks one year since the war in Gaza began, and is a sombre moment for recognition of the devastation of the last 12 months. 

This episode features an interview between two doctors currently living and working in Nasser Hospital who were able to record and send their interview to us despite significant constraints in internet connectivity. It was recorded on August 21st, 2024.

Hala Omar and Samah Qauraea are doctors from Rafah and Khan Yunis. They are friends and colleagues who have known each other since middle school and are currently part of the remaining healthcare professionals in Gaza working under direly limited conditions to care for the lives of their patients. Hala and Samah’s stories open a window to the current reality of the medical system in Gaza, or what remains of it. 

Help Samah and her family by giving to Samah’s GoFundMe campaign: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-samah-and-her-family-be-safe?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Write us here: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube & Instagram and visit our website www.gaza-voices.com 

Chapters: 

Intro and recap (0:00 - 1:41) 

Chapter 1: Gaza Dreams (1:42 - 15:00)

Chapter 2: Nasser Hospital (15:01 - 25:51)

Chapter 3: Gaza’s Healthcare (25:52 - 42:17)

Chapter 4: Walking Dead (42:18 - 50:03)

Chapter 5: A Message to the World (50:04 - 56:19)

Outro and Call to Action: (56:20 - 60:00) 

Transcript:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1goDiI523GFwrb2Z6lgZIo-ocs-V_U6HnP0YKI4XMZow/edit?usp=sharing

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

Flying Street, by Stefan Christoff and Sam Shalabi

Gaza Fights for Freedom, by Anahedron

Right to Resist, by Anahedron

The Great March of Return, by Anahedron

As Nazarene women crossed the meadow, by Reem Kelani

سميح شقير - رجع الخيسميح شقير - رجع الخي

Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c4LjNffcPmpYGsqM2sm4b3_bJRpzsyGHsAacW6pwsRQ/edit?usp=sharing

In the fourth episode of Gaza Voices, 34-year-old Mai Timraz faces the ordeal of war and evacuation to Egypt with her two young daughters. She shares the strain of parenting through bombardment, and the challenge of both protecting her children from the worst of the terrors while being honest about their reality. Mai describes the impact of war trauma on her children even after evacuation, and the ever-present feeling of war regardless of her present location. This interview took place on January 21, 2024 with Gaza Voices team members Tabea Szabo and Alaa Antar.

Write us here: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube & Instagram and visit our website www.gaza-voices.com 

Chapters: 

Intro and recap (0:00 - 2:00) 

Chapter 1: Preparing for war (2:01 - 10:19)

Chapter 2: Motherhood in war (10:20 - 21:07)

Chapter 3: Childhood trauma (21:08 - 35:30)

Chapter 4: Leaving Gaza (35:31 - 55:06)

Chapter 5: Memories of Gaza (55:07 - 59:31)

Outro: (59:32 - 60:00)

Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kDTy-bzNxJ37U2FdUKIExG3rMMIQJc34AnEp8Pa0oz8/edit

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

DABIQ by Ibrahim

MIZU - Pulsations

Middle Sattre - This Used To Be A Grocery Store (demo)

alhuriya by LITH

Dedalus - Palestina from IAFG - Vol. 7 by International Artists For Gaza

When we smelled the breeze after the rain by Garden of Gethsemane

Cooking for Nabil by Garden of Gethsemane

Last minutes before Al-Aqsa Intifada by Garden of Gethsemane

Sources: 

https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15503.doc.htmhttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2022/0817/Gaza-civilians-face-airstrikes-with-go-bags-and-comforting-catshttps://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/acaps-thematic-report-palestine-impact-conflict-children-gaza-strip-01-february-2024https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/17/crisis-gaza-why-food-water-power-running-outhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2024/gaza-parents-children-fear-war/https://archive.fo/o/3YnhL/https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/acute-malnutrition-has-doubled-one-month-north-gaza-strip-unicef?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-templatehttps://archive.fo/o/3YnhL/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2024/gaza-food-famine-malnutrition-children-aid/https://www.savethechildren.net/news/it-s-not-fair-die-hunger-lives-malnourished-children-gaza-endangered-obliteration-andhttps://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/child-killed-average-every-10-minutes-gaza-says-who-chief-2023-11-10/

https://visualizingpalestine.org/visual/four-wars-old/

https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/4497/New-Report:-91%25-of-Gaza-children-suffer-from-PTSD-after-the-Israeli-attackhttps://www.savethechildren.net/news/children-s-mental-health-gaza-pushed-beyond-breaking-point-after-nearly-month-siege-and

https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15503.doc.htm

https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6020/Over-10,000-infants-and-children-killed-in-Israel%E2%80%99s-Gaza-genocide,-hundreds-of-whom-are-trapped-beneath-debrishttps://www.itv.com/news/2024-03-14/desperate-families-pay-thousands-to-get-relatives-out-of-gazahttps://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-embassy-seeks-temporary-status-gazans-who-entered-egypt-during-war-2024-05-02/https://theintercept.com/2023/12/09/palestinian-diaspora-gaza-trauma/https://www.savethechildren.net/news/egypt-palestinian-children-who-fled-gaza-s-war-haunted-nightmares-and-anxiety

In the third episode of Gaza Voices, 28-year old Alaa Antar speaks of fleeing his home with his family on October 10, 2023, after it was destroyed by Israeli forces. He shares his stories of daily life in Gaza, from the moment his home was bombed and he was trapped under the rubble, to the turmoil he experienced in the days and weeks following, as he fled his home, dealt with food scarcity, uncertain evacuation orders and the tragic loss of his friends. Alaa was able to eventually evacuate to Berlin, but his future remains uncertain as he reflects on assimilating to a new country, culture and language while his heart remains in Gaza.

Intro and recap: (0:00)

Chapter 1: Alaa and October 7 (2:13)

Chapter 2: “We were going to die” (6:44)

Chapter 3: The myth of the Safe Zone (21:35)

Chapter 4: Communications & technology in the war (30:47)

Chapter 5: Famine and sanitation (37:17)

Chapter 6: Leaving Gaza (42:53)

Outro: (57:28)

Transcript:

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

01 by Sami Madhoun

Zozolqa - Quicksilver by C2E 

سميح شقير - رجع الخيسميح شقير - رجع الخي

Rêverie by Abulafya

MALFNKTION by  Ztype

Spring Water 300 m by Leslie Ming l

فَجر by xlmxkhfi 

Sources:

In this episode of Gaza Voices, we meet Hala Redwan, a pharmacist from Al Shati Refugee Camp, in Gaza City. She tells us of the impact of the war particularly on girls, women, as well as pregnant soon-to-be mothers. She shares her experience of being rescued from under the rubble of her home, recovering from trauma, and her hopes for the future after evacuating to Egypt.

Write us here: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube & Instagram and visit our website www.gaza-voices.com

Chapters:

Introduction to Hala Redwan, (0:00)

The bombing of Hala’s home, (4:11)

Evacuation to the South (10:24)

Living Conditions & Women’s Heath Crisis (18:03)

The weight of Hala’s trauma, and PTSD prevalence in Gaza (34:08)

Evacuation to Egypt, and the Future (38:01)

Rebuilding Gaza, Rebuilding Hopes (48:08)

Outro & Conclusion (59:24)

Transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QzWcltixIgLwjH4Pq0Bt2WLdJjNwi3jh5Ud8a88VAiE/edit?usp=sharing

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

Observations Concerning the Structure of the 

Square Window by Caroline Partamian

On a Fleeting January Day by Asfandyar Khan 

Ztype by MALFNKTION

Passageway by Atif Farooq

≈ Deku Tree by Beast Nest

I Just Am by Hungry Moths

Varg2™ - Carried by a flock of birds by C2E - Emergency for Gaza

Kettalynne & EGM - ع ن و ا ن ض ا ي ٔ ع (I ’ nwan Dai ’ e)

Oud by Wissam Joubran

Sources:

When is it genocide?

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147976

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session55/advance-versions/a-hrc-55-73-auv.pdf

Additional Sources

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/7/israels-war-on-gaza-six-relentless-months-of-death-and-destruction

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/14/a-cultural-genocide-which-of-gazas-heritage-sites-have-been-destroyed#:~:text=HMML%20Reading%20Room.-,Mosques,start%20of%20the%20Israeli%20assault

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/14/a-cultural-genocide-which-of-gazas-heritage-sites-have-been-destroyed#:~:text=HMML%20Reading%20Room.-,Mosques,start%20of%20the%20Israeli%20assault

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/israel-must-rescind-evacuation-order-northern-gaza-and-comply-international&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1715866584216392&usg=AOvVaw0E3uNp2UgpQwtggMeJdurQ

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/14/gaza-civilians-afraid-to-leave-home-after-bombing-of-safe-routes

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/israel-opt-appalling-gaza-evacuation-order-must-be-rescinded-by-israel-immediately/#:~:text=%E2%80%9COur%20parents%20were%20expelled%20from%20their%20homes%20in%201948%20during%20the%20Nakba.%20We%20lost%20our%20house%20which%20was%20destroyed%20in%20the%20August%202022%20offensive%3B%20our%20rebuilt%20house%20was%20destroyed%20again%E2%80%A6all%20our%20lives%20we%20have%20known%20nothing%20but%20a%20series%20of%20displacements%2C%E2%80%9D%20Munir%20Radwan%20a%20university%20professor%20told%20Amnesty

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/11/the-occupation-of-water/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/17/how-israel-uses-water-to-control-west-bank-palestine

https://www.unfpa.org/news/impossible-choices-gaza-%E2%80%9Cwomen-are-giving-birth-prematurely-because-terror%E2%80%9D

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/05/onslaught-violence-against-women-and-children-gaza-unacceptable-un-experts#:~:text=95%20per%20cent%20of%20pregnant,and%20access%20basic%20health%20care

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/opinion/gaza-palestinians-mental-health.html

https://mecp.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43045-023-00286-5

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7084195/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/apr/26/middle-east-crisis-live-egypt-israel-gaza-ceasefire-talks

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gaza-destroyed-homes-reconstruction-1.7192350

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/1/we-jews-are-just-arrested-palestinians-are-beaten-german-protesters

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/12/un-chief-urges-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza-as-35000-palestinians-killed

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/13/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/

In this pilot episode of Gaza Voices, you’ll hear the story of the first days following the events of October 7th, 2023, from the perspective of Omar Alrabi - a 26 year old from Gaza City.

Omar's account covers the moment-to-moment decisions he and his family faced as they navigated unreliable information around evacuating Gaza. How his family dealt with the onset of food scarcity. And the survivor’s guilt that Omar and others who were able to leave Gaza, experience.

Follow us on YouTube and Instagram

And on our website gaza-voices.com

Chapters:

Intro, (0:00)

About Omar and Gaza, (2:14)

Gaza Under Siege, (5:46)

Escape and Displacement, (17:23)

Emotional Hardship, Loss, and the Greatest Fear, (31:28)

Evacuation from Gaza and the Aftermath of Leaving, (40:07)

Call for Support from the World, (52:54)

Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19vTua2lqlkzd5uhQI8wAZk5dI0h9fPhiV_4GAFqR1_Y/edit?usp=sharing

Music Credits:

Zaytun by Dania (intro)

The Well by Alexandra Spence (outro)

Child of War by Chino Amobi 

LL by CEO

Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/14/a-guide-to-the-gaza-strip

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/06/israel-occupation-50-years-of-dispossession/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahemerson/2023/10/17/palestines-startup-ecosystem-has-represented-economic-hope-war-is-decimating-it/?sh=430cc0da21a4

https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/pauses-corridors-and-safe-zones-gaza-rhetoric-vs-reality

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/why-israels-gaza-evacuation-order-so-alarming

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205672587/israel-warns-evacuate-northern-gaza

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maghazi_(camp) 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/02/world/middleeast/gaza-map-displaced-people.html 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/17/fears-grow-people-are-dehydrating-to-death-in-gaza-as-clean-water-runs-out

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-unprecedented-internal-displacement-in-gaza/%23:~:text%3DThe%2520internal%2520displacement%2520situation%2520in,quite%2520literally%252C%2520nowhere%2520to%2520go&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1712186800124320&usg=AOvVaw2qLTPy-PcgSk0Jpr5EHXIX

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/11/01/76-wounded-palestinians-and-335-foreigners-in-first-evacuations-from-gaza-refugee-camp-struck-again_6219756_4.html

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/jan/08/palestinians-flee-gaza-rafah-egypt-border-bribes-to-brokers

https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2024/displacement-israel-war-on-gaza-no-safe-place/

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza%25E2%2580%2593Israel_conflict&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1712179563630036&usg=AOvVaw3ubkoGliXN51LEBXykRn49

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://visualizingpalestine.org/visuals/four-wars-old&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1712179563630573&usg=AOvVaw0vnkLKi3R8uXST9tNwP19a

Gaza Voices is a poignant and vital podcast that serves as a platform to amplify the voices of those impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, documenting their lived experiences since October 2023. 

In the midst of horrendous and increasingly life-threatening conditions, we share the personal testimonies of Palestinians directly affected by the ongoing conflict. We speak to those who are in Gaza, those who have since been displaced, and to allies providing additional information to support the context of these voices

From reshaped dreams and fractured relationships to coping with grief, the relentless fight for survival under siege, and the persistence of hope - each episode brings forth the raw, unfiltered narratives of those whose lives have been forever changed. 

Gaza Voices is a testament to the strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit of the people of Gaza.

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Gaza Voices will be available wherever you get your podcasts, starting May 13th 2024. With an advanced release on Refuge Worldwide on May 6th.

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Follow us on YouTube and Instagram at GazaVoices24

And on our website gaza-voices.com