‘Our stories will not be erased,’ says Palestinian journalist at SEF

“We’re human just like anyone else. We’re not born to die. We’re not superheroes. We didn’t choose this life,” said Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad to an audience that greeted her with resounding applause at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025.

Speaking at the ‘Women of Palestine: Voices Beyond Borders’ session, Alaqad delivered a powerful message about resilience, displacement, and the responsibility of storytelling in shaping history.

Plestia, whose name carries deep significance – derived from the first tribes of Palestine – has not only lived through history but has documented it in real time. The 23-year-old journalist began her career with a passion for amplifying the voices of her people, determined to showcase Gaza beyond the devastation often depicted in headlines. “I wanted to highlight the beauty of Gaza, the family-run restaurants, the close-knit communities, and the daily acts of kindness,” she said.

But in October 2023, as war engulfed Gaza, the nature of her reporting shifted. She was no longer covering community stories but bearing witness to destruction, loss, and survival.

‘WAR WIPES OUT MEMORIES’: Despite the relentless bombardment, she saw families celebrating birthdays in basements and children finding moments of laughter amid chaos. “War doesn’t just claim lives – it erases memories,” she said, recalling how the places she once documented – the markets, the cafés – were reduced to rubble.

Among the many stories she has covered, one remains etched in her memory: an elderly woman forced to evacuate her home who insisted on taking her birds and turtle with her. “This sums up the Palestinian spirit,” Alaqad reflected. “If she refused to leave her birds behind, she would never abandon her land either.”

Displaced in November 2023, Alaqad now finds herself in Australia, following a family history marked by displacement. Her mother was born in Kuwait, moved from Iraq to Amman, then to Gaza, and now to Australia. Despite the distance, Gaza remains a central part of her identity. “When I was young, the sea defined everything good in Gaza because it was the only thing not getting bombed,” she shared.

Through her reporting, Alaqad is determined to ensure Palestinians are seen not as victims, but as people with dreams, dignity, and voices that demand to be heard. “We might not have the power to change the world or our circumstances,” she concluded. “But we do have the power to own our narrative – and we won’t be silent.”

Recently, the Arab Parliament has commended the UAE for its substantial support to the Palestinian people in Gaza, while addressing the dire suffering and tragic conditions triggered by the relentless genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation for over a year and two months.

Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, Speaker for the Arab Parliament, stated that the multiple international commendations for this support reflect the UAE’s steadfast stance in championing and supporting the Palestinian cause on all political and humanitarian levels.

“The UAE is at the forefront of nations supporting the Palestinian people in alleviating their ongoing suffering. This is a moral and humanitarian duty the UAE is honoured to uphold towards its Palestinian brothers and sisters. The UAE boasts a long-standing history of providing aid to friendly and brotherly nations during times of crises and disasters.”

These efforts are rooted in the numerous humanitarian initiatives spearheaded by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he added. A report last year says the United Arab Emirates is not prepared to support a post-war plan for Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote on X.

“The UAE is not ready to support the next day of the war in Gaza unless a Palestinian state is established,” Sheikh Abdullah said.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, also posted on his account on X on Saturday: “The statement by Sheikh Abdullah that the UAE is not prepared to support the day after the war in Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state reflects our firm and steadfast position in supporting our Palestinian brothers and our conviction that there is no stability in the region except through a two-state solution.