For today’s show, I’m honored to be joined by Dr. Hazem Almassry, who’s born and raised in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. Palestine is his home. What is daily life like as a Palestinian living under Israeli occupation? How can you travel to other places? Or are you even allowed? How did Hazem’s family lose their ancestral farmland, like many other Palestinians?

In this episode, we started our chat with the Great March of Return, a series of peaceful demonstrations organized by independent Palestinian activists in 2018-2019. Hazem also shared with us his family’s home in Khan Yunis, which was destroyed in recent Israeli airstrikes. Hazem experienced what it was like inhaling teargas thrown by the Israeli army when he was 6 years old.

Hazem just lost his mother very recently. She was killed by an Israeli airstrike. When we had this interview, I wanted Hazem to feel seen and supported throughout our conversation.

If you've never heard of most of the things Hazem shared, look upon this as new input, new key words, and stories to go read more and search for what you think is your truth. Some key words for you: The Great March of Return, 1948 The Nakba, 1987 The First Intifada, Gaza Division, Blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Photo caption:

Left: Hazem and his mother, who was killed in a recent Israeli airstrike. Right: Hazem’s family home destroyed in recent Israeli airstrikes. (Photo: Dr. Hazem Almassry)