GAZA: Amid the ruins of Gaza, Basem Alhabel stands with bullets flying and people lying flat on the ground, filming himself using sign language to warn fellow deaf Palestinians about the dangers around them.
The 30-year-old, who calls himself a “deaf journalist in Gaza” on Instagram, has made it his mission to raise awareness of the war’s devastation — from relentless Israeli airstrikes to widespread starvation — reaching not only the deaf community in Palestine but also viewers worldwide.
“I wanted to get my voice out to the world and the voices of deaf people who cannot speak or hear,” Alhabel said through his interpreter and friend, Mohammed Moshtaha. “So that someone can help us.”
With 141,000 Instagram followers, Alhabel shares footage of starving children, destroyed homes, and people scraping flour from the ground to survive. He films in the field wearing a flak jacket and helmet, then returns to his tent to edit — one of countless shelters housing displaced Palestinians since the conflict erupted in October 2023.
The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, triggering massive retaliation. Gaza health authorities report over 60,000 deaths, while global hunger monitors warn of a looming famine.
Alhabel’s own family was displaced, spending a year and a half in a crowded school-turned-shelter. “There was no space for a person to even rest,” he recalled.
Despite international mediation, no ceasefire is in sight. Israel’s security cabinet has approved plans to take control of Gaza City, intensifying military operations despite mounting criticism.
“We want this situation to be resolved so we can all be happy,” Alhabel said. “So I can feed my children, and life can be beautiful.”
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