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Over 20 months of devastation, Khaled’s work has never stopped.
Khaled’s brother Hussein (left) was killed by an Israeli airstrike in January 2025. Source: Supplied
During sunlight hours, he uses a small solar panel to charge his equipment. All electricity to the grid was cut months ago.
“We’d film, return with the ambulances, and sometimes get targeted while filming.”
“That’s how my journey as a reporter began.”
Khaled, who became a journalist after October 7, says he dreams of finishing his education and building a “normal life”. Credit: Supplied
Israel has continued to restrict foreign media from entering Gaza, and with hundreds of Palestinian journalists killed since October 7, civilians inside the enclave — journalist or not — are left with the responsibility of documenting the war.
“Many Palestinians documenting atrocities on the ground have lost faith after relentlessly telling stories from Gaza, with no effective action to stop atrocities or offer protection.”
‘I wonder how I’m continuing’
But the 25-year-old schoolteacher and psychological first aid specialist says her fluency in English — a skill she learned by watching videos online — compelled her to “convey the truth from inside Gaza”.
Nadra was displaced for more than 500 days in southern Gaza. While sheltering at a refugee camp, she told the stories of the women and children there. Source: Supplied
“One of my friends outside the Gaza Strip called me … [and asked me] to tell the world the facts in Gaza by my English,” she told The Feed.
“I’m hungry. Yes, we are in Gaza, hungry, but not ashamed. The shame is not ours,” she said in a video to her Instagram following, a day before being hospitalised for malnutrition.
Relatives mourn over the body of journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, who was among at least 30 people killed by an Israeli airstrike on Al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza City Source: EPA / Haitham Imad/ Getty
Among them was 32-year-old photojournalist and film director Ismail Abu Hatab.
“I went to the spot and half of the people were still in the sea, killed in the sea, and another half on the ground,” Nadra said.
Can you imagine? I was speechless in that moment … I couldn’t speak any word.
Israel has said the strike targeted Hamas operatives. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson told the Guardian that “prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance”.
‘Worst ever conflict’ for journalists
The report, by the Cost of War project at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the US, published in April, also declared it the “worst ever conflict” for journalists and media reporters.
“The IDF will continue to counter threats while persisting to mitigate harm to civilians.”
Running on low batteries
Over 70 per cent of the enclave’s networks have been partially or completely destroyed since October 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy.
“When the military cut the internet, we used SIM cards and tried to get close to the border, which was dangerous. Those SIM cards only worked in those border areas, where Israeli troops were stationed,” Khaled said.
Some journalists were killed while uploading footage, or just while changing SIMs.
Khaled says his small solar panel setup is “just enough to charge my phone or camera if there’s sunlight”. On cloudy days, he’s learned to work under-resourced.
“Since electricity is scarce, people have set up small businesses just for charging phones, and they make money from this,” Khaled says. Credit: Mohammed Talatene / picture alliance via Getty Images
“I use power banks too, but they run out quickly. It’s a daily struggle.”
Palestinians in Gaza rely heavily on mobile phones to heed evacuation orders, navigate the rubble, access information on aid or medical services, call an ambulance and maintain connection to their families.
Press vests are ‘a target’
“It’s nothing more than sponge and cloth.”
Journalists were killed right in front of me … The laws have been broken here.
Rafah has been closed since May 2024.
“We’ve seen the blatant disregard of international law, and the lack of accountability and silence from world leaders that has ensued.”
“The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists as such.”
‘And yet I keep going’
“Even when I’m scared, I force myself to keep going. There’s no choice.
We don’t even think about mental health anymore. That’s a luxury for people in peaceful places.
“My childhood [dream] was killed because of this war, after seven years of waiting to be pregnant.”
Hadil Al Swaiedi from SBS Arabic provided interpretation and translation assistance.
