Updates on the ground
It is incredibly important to listen to Palestinians on the ground in Gaza who are sharing what they are going through. Since the Israeli Occupation Forces cut off all internet, cellular, and landline connections in Gaza on October 27, 2023, connection has been very difficult to maintain for folks, but they are still working to share live updates.
Here are Palestinians I follow in the south of Gaza:
Motaz Azaiza, also on X
Hind Khoudary, also on X
Lama Jamous (Gaza’s youngest journalist)
Here are Palestinians I follow in the north of Gaza:
Here are Palestinians I follow in Occupied Palestine
Here are Palestinians I follow throughout the diaspora:
Plestia Alaqad, also on TikTok (formerly in Gaza, evacuated to diaspora)
Salma Shawa, also on TikTok
Shadeh (ASL interpretation)
It’s important to interact with these posts, not just look at or watch them. Like them, comment, on them, and share them. This helps raise their ranking in the algorithm and fight against the ongoing shadowbanning and censorship that Palestinians are facing on social media sites. Subhi explains this well here.
I know it is difficult to witness this genocide. Palestinians are documenting it for a reason, though. As Abdulaziz Alkhamis shares, it is to help those of us who are not Palestinian, who are not Arab, to understand. To make us see Palestinians as humans, not numbers. To activate us so that we work in solidarity with them. We cannot turn away. If you find yourself scrolling and no longer taking in the information or taking action, take a break and come back to it later.