What We Can Learn from Ameera Harouda
On November 28, 2023, Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) hosted a panel featuring Professor Zeina Awad and NU-Q student Jana Al Agha, in conversation with the journalist, Ameera Harouda.
Harouda is the pioneering woman fixer in Gaza, Palestine, dedicated to reporting the region for nearly two decades. Harouda has collaborated with leading media organizations from the US, Europe, and Australia, such as the New York Times, CNN, Al Jazeera English, Sky News, ARD, The Washington Post, Newsweek, The Guardian, and ABC Australia.
In light of the ongoing events in Gaza, Harouda faced the most challenging decision any journalist, mother, wife, and Palestinian has ever had to make — leaving Gaza.
Before Harouda and her family arrived in Qatar, she spent weeks tirelessly producing content on the ongoing genocide in Palestine, an experience that has left her and her family deeply scarred. The once familiar sound of blasting bombs has been replaced by the unsettling silence and sense of normalcy in Qatar. Incomplete buildings in Qatar evoke anxiety in her son, as he associates them with the threat of airstrikes.
In the discussion about being a journalist in Gaza right now, Harouda emphasizes that the current situation differs from the wars in Gaza in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, and 2023. “This time you feel that it’s not only that you are a target for the Israelis, but like you are dead person working in a place full of dead people,” said Harouda.
The presence of lifeless bodies in Gaza has eroded the hope of those still alive, forced to endure each day with the constant threat of surviving another Israeli bomb. “They cannot live day by day, they feel that they are already dead and they’re just waiting for the Israeli missile to attack them in any minute,” said Harouda.
Moreover, both Harouda and her husband, being fixers, had to coordinate shifts meticulously to ensure the safety of their children. In a poignant reflection of the harrowing reality, akin to recent media portrayals of Palestinian children writing their names for identification on the deceased, Harouda found herself compelled to take such measures for her own kids. The growing fear of losing them intensified with each field assignment she undertook.
Harouda, who witnessed unspeakable events, carries the weight of those experiences as she tries to navigate her life in Qatar. She vividly recalls waking up from a nightmare, engulfed in screams and tears, haunted by the persistent echoes of drones and bombs etched in her memory.
Harouda’s enduring trauma and experiences in the midst of this tragic situation underscore the significance of our voices as human beings. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder of the lessons we can learn, both in the realm of journalism and on a personal level.
In the realm of journalism, where the emphasis is placed on maintaining objectivity in reporting hard news, the current events serve as a reminder that, despite our advocacy for impartiality, objectivity becomes challenging when human lives are at stake. When you have humans involved in the news gathering and sharing said news, subjectivity will always prevail. In the context of Palestine, the abundance of videos shared by Palestinians vividly depicting the occupier’s ruthless actions without remorse prompts a question: What is the relevance of striving for objectivity in the face of such evident injustice and suffering?
On a personal level, Harouda’s journey stands as a vital narrative that demands attention, particularly in the face of the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Her experiences not only highlight the immediate human toll of the conflict but also serve as a poignant testimony to the broader consequences of such actions on individual lives.
Highlighting the crucial need to amplify Palestinian voices to counter potential manipulation by Western media, Harouda shared insights on how journalists, including herself, managed to upload content amid Gaza’s connectivity challenges. She emphasized the role of eSIM technology in enabling them to globally showcase the ongoing situation and the impact of the conflict.
What’s an e-sim?
An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a small chip integrated into devices like smartphones and smartwatches, serving the function of a traditional SIM card without the need for a physical card. It allows for remote provisioning and enables users to switch between mobile operators without swapping physical SIM cards.
How can you get an e-SIM for a Palestinian and journalist?
Mirna El Helbawi, the founder of Connecting Gaza and Connecting Hu, successfully linked 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza by leveraging donated eSIM cards. El Helbawi gives a step-by-step on how to amplify Palestinian voices.
Here’s how you can do it:
1. You can purchase an e-SIM online from HolaFly, Simly, and Numero.
2. You will receive an email with a OR code, just send it to Gazaesims@gmail.com.
3. The QR code will be forwarded to someone in Gaza to help them stay connected!
As El Helbawi states: “Each and everyone of us, has the freedom to choose which part of history he/she will be mentioned in. Even if this will happen years from now. Each and every one of us has the freedom to choose how he/she will be mentioned.”
So, are you willing to contribute by donating an E-sim and supporting Palestinians in preserving their voices, much like Haroud or?
