From the heart of suffering and a suffocating siege, a new radio voice named "Here Gaza" has emerged, serving as a microphone that defies silence and breaks the media isolation imposed on the Strip. This radio station is not just a fleeting wave on the airwaves; it is a serious attempt to document the daily testimonies of Palestinians who negotiate death to survive, considering that speaking out in these circumstances is a form of resistance.
The radio station is the fruit of national cooperation and a strategic partnership between the "Palestinian Women's Affairs Technical Committee" and the Media Center at An-Najah National University, with partial funding support from the European Union. This project aims to fill the void left by the systematic destruction of local media institutions by the occupation, to be a platform that sides with humanity and its postponed daily details.
Wafaa Abdul Rahman, the General Director of the Palestinian Women's Affairs Technical Committee, affirmed that the radio begins its broadcast as a triumph for life and memory, at a time when the world is retreating from supporting victims. She explained that the radio content was designed to serve the basic needs of Gaza residents, starting from health and education issues to food and water, with a special focus on the most affected groups such as women and children.
The idea for the radio station was born from the "media blackout" imposed by the occupation during the war of extermination, where journalists were targeted and the headquarters of radio stations and media companies were systematically destroyed. Through this policy, the occupation sought to isolate Gaza to commit silent crimes away from the eyes of cameras, but the will of Palestinian journalists prevented the truth from being obscured.
Wafaa Abdul Rahman, who oversaw the project, experienced the details of the war from Ramallah, while her family hails from Deir al-Balah, which reinforced her understanding of the importance of a continuous local communication medium. Although the idea of the radio existed before the war, field developments necessitated adjusting plans to keep pace with urgent needs and ongoing forced displacement.
The project evolved from merely a radio wave broadcast via An-Najah Radio in Nablus to a full-fledged radio station broadcasting audio and video via FM frequencies and the internet. The television broadcast is expected to include live and direct scenes from various neighborhoods of the Strip, to convey a realistic picture of the extent of the destruction and how residents manage their daily lives.
The morning program "Sabahak Gaza" opens the daily segments, focusing on urgent daily issues such as commodity prices in the markets and the volatile weather conditions. The program also monitors the movement of crossings and restrictions imposed on the travel of the wounded and sick, in addition to tracking road conditions and the difficulty of transportation amidst the destruction of infrastructure.
The radio highlights the work of humanitarian teams in municipalities and civil defense, who work in extremely complex conditions due to the lack of equipment and heavy machinery. Through its reports, the radio criticizes the occupation's refusal to allow the entry of necessary medical supplies to deal with the repercussions of the ongoing war, which exacerbates health and environmental crises in the Strip.
The radio is preparing to launch a special program cycle for the holy month of Ramadan, which will include specialized programs in mental health to help residents overcome trauma. The cycle also includes awareness programs on how to deal with explosives and war remnants, in addition to competitions and prizes aimed at instilling a spirit of hope and recovery among citizens.
The radio's management considers this project part of the process of rebuilding trust and instilling spirit in the people of Gaza, affirming that reconstruction is possible despite all the destruction. The management praised the courage of field journalists, whom they described as the "spearhead" in the battle for truth, and who presented unprecedented professional experiences worthy of academic study.
For her part, broadcaster Yafa Abu Akr recounts her professional experience under fire, affirming that radio work in wartime carries a double responsibility to convey people's pain honestly. She pointed out that being close to the pulse of the street and respecting the listener's mind are the two main pillars of her work in this environment full of immense risks and challenges.
Abu Akr's story reflects the tragedy of the Palestinian journalist, as she lost more than 50 martyrs from her family and loved ones during the ongoing war of extermination. She explained that the war changed her professional and personal concepts, making her more aware of the value of life, especially in the absence of the luxury of separating work and private life under bombardment.
The radio faces significant technical and logistical challenges, most notably the absence of protection guarantees from direct Israeli targeting of headquarters and personnel. To overcome the prevention of equipment entry, the project organizers were forced to install broadcasting devices in the city of Hebron in the West Bank, as the closest geographical point that can cover the skies of the Gaza Strip.
For his part, Dr. Tahseen Al-Astal, Deputy Head of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, indicated that the launch of any media outlet from Gaza is an act of resistance in the face of death. He noted that the occupation destroyed 23 local radio stations and killed 260 journalists, in a desperate attempt to eliminate eyewitnesses and silence the voice of truth that still echoes from amidst the rubble.
We tell stories to live, so that the story is not stolen, the city is not erased, and the voice is not defeated.
شارك برأيك
Launch of "Here Gaza" Radio: A Palestinian Voice Breaks the Airwaves Siege from Amidst the Rubble