For journalist Plestia Al Aqad, reporting is more than a profession; it is an act of resilience, a calling to tell the untold stories of her homeland, Palestine. Her mission as a Palestinian journalist focuses on documenting the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, exemplifying a blend of strength, compassion, and relentless commitment to sharing the human side of the war. Growing up in one of the most volatile regions, deeply shaped her voice and perspective, giving her an authenticity that resonates globally. eniGma’s Farida Elserty had the chance to interview the young journalist where she shared her personal and professional journey, shedding light on the human cost of war, the emotional weight of bearing witness, and her aspirations to immortalise Palestinian stories through her work.
Born and raised in Gaza, Al Aqad’s early life was marked by the harsh realities of war and blockade. “Growing up in Gaza, I witnessed countless Israeli aggressions and lived my entire life under an ongoing blockade,” she reflects. Life in Gaza is a continuous battle, with limited resources, restricted movement, and an uncertain future. For Plestia, journalism was not just a career path—it was a calling to humanise Palestinians reduced in global media to mere statistics. “I felt compelled to tell the stories of the people I grew up with, to show the world who we are beyond the headlines and faceless numbers, humanising Palestinians in a way the media so often fails to do,” she explains.
In 2023, Al Aqad’s fearless reporting during the Israeli war on Gaza captivated millions, courageously uncovering to the world the atrocities committed in her hometown. The task, however, came with an immense emotional toll. “Reporting on the genocide of my hometown is something I struggle to put into words,” she admits. The line between journalist and survivor blurred as she found herself navigating the horrors of war while documenting its impact. “Every time I’m at a hospital and see an ambulance arrive, I wonder if someone I know is inside.”
There was little time to process emotions or grieve, with each moment demanding her attention to capture the stories of those affected. “Even crying or grieving felt like a privilege I simply couldn’t afford amidst the urgency of documenting each moment,” she says, encapsulating the cost of witnessing and reporting.
As a journalist living through genocide, Al Aqad’s work is fraught with personal danger and emotional turmoil. “Each day felt like it could be my last, and I wanted to spend it showing the world who the Palestinian people are,” she explains. Balancing her role as a reporter with the daily threat of survival is impossible. Fear, she says, often becomes the driving force that propels her to continue. Through each story, she strives to counter the dehumanisation of Palestinians and present them as individuals with lives, families, and aspirations—a mission, she finds particularly urgent given the life-and-death stakes of her work.
Al Aqad’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. Her reporting has resonated worldwide, moving audiences to see Palestinians as individuals rather than nameless figures in distant headlines. “The most impactful response has been seeing people around the world connect with Palestinians as real individuals,” she says. Her work helps bridge the gap, allowing people to connect with Palestinian stories personally and recognise the shared humanity underlying the suffering.
The global response affirms her mission to humanise her people’s stories and reflects the profound influence that empathy can have in raising awareness. “Through my reporting, I feel I’ve been able to bridge that gap, helping people realise that behind each story are people with hopes, dreams, and families,” she notes, underscoring her drive to create understanding and compassion through her work.
For many young Palestinians, Al Aqad embodies resilience and hope, a symbol of standing firm amid adversity. This responsibility shapes her approach to both journalism and activism. “Being viewed as a symbol of resilience and hope by young people is a profound responsibility,” she says. This commitment to authenticity drives her to embrace simple acts of kindness, believing in their power to change how people view the world, even if they cannot change it.
During the Israeli war on Lebanon, she eschewed typical press attire in favour of engaging with children in schools, showing them that humanity can prevail even in times of crisis. In those moments, she realised that while they may not have the power to change to world, they have the power to at least change how one person sees it. “What’s happening isn’t just about Palestine; it’s about the kind of world we want to live in,” she reflects, adding, “Do we want to be part of a world where genocide and war is the new normal? My goal is to inspire others to see the humanity in one another and to foster understanding, compassion, and hope.”
Each story Al Aqad has covered, carries its weight of tragedy. “It’s difficult to single out any one story as the most challenging because every story I’ve covered during this genocide is equally important and heartbreaking,” she admits, adding: “There are around two million people in Gaza, and each person has a story worth telling”. Her work is accompanied by an overwhelming sense of loss, especially when those she interviews do not survive to see their stories published. This reality weighs heavily on her, yet she remains driven by the belief that every voice deserves to be heard.
Her reporting is an act of preservation—ensuring that the lives lost are remembered and the stories of her people are not forgotten. “What keeps me going is the responsibility I feel to share these voices with the world, to ensure these lives are not forgotten,” she explains.
Beyond journalism, Plestia aspires to use literature as a tool to preserve Palestinian resilience and cultural memory. Her goal is to reach a global audience, hoping her words will serve as a lasting legacy of Palestinian strength and endurance. “I aspire to achieve a form of immortality through the legacy of my writings,” she says, envisioning her stories as a testament to the resilience of her people.
Al Aqad’s message to the next generation of Palestinians and their global supporters is one of endurance. She acknowledges that the struggle for justice and freedom is a long and arduous journey, one that spans generations. “Our struggle for justice and freedom has been ongoing for over 75 years, and it won’t be achieved overnight,” she asserts. “Hold onto your identity, and know that every story, every voice, and every effort counts,” she urges. For Al Aqad, the strength of the Palestinian people lies not in achieving immediate change but in refusing to give up, preserving their heritage, and continuing to assert their right to exist.
When asked to describe the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Plestia’s words are a stark reminder of the human suffering behind the headlines. “Palestinians in Gaza survive each day waiting, wondering if today is the day they’ll be killed,” she says, her voice imbued with urgency. For her, the world must understand the depth of the trauma her people endures, a trauma that extends far beyond simplistic labels of “conflict” or “clash.”- it’s ethnic cleansing.
With her unwavering dedication to her work, Plestia not only highlights the immediate horrors Palestinians are subjected to, but also strives to foster a deeper understanding of the Palestinian struggle for dignity, justice, and the right to exist. Plestia’s voice is one of many, but it stands out as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of a people determined to be remembered, not as victims, but as human beings with dreams, resilience, and a story that demands to be told.