New Radio Station 'Here Gaza' Broadcasts Hope Amidst War's Aftermath
From a small studio in the central city of Deir el-Balah, Sylvia Hassan's voice resonates across the Gaza Strip, broadcast on one of the Palestinian territory's first radio stations to emerge after two years of devastating conflict. Hassan, a dedicated radio host on the fledgling station "Here Gaza," delivers her programs from a well-lit room, while technical team members meticulously check audio levels and mix backing tracks on a sound deck.
A Dream Forged Through Resilience
"This radio station was a dream we worked to achieve for many long months, sometimes without sleep," Hassan told AFP. "It was a challenge for us, and a story of resilience." The station aims to focus on pressing social issues and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which remains severe despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas since October.
Shereen Khalifa, part of the broadcasting team, emphasized the station's mission: "The radio station's goal is to be the voice of the people in the Gaza Strip and to express their problems and suffering, especially after the war. There are many issues that people need to voice."
Overcoming Immense Challenges
The war has left deep scars, with most of Gaza's population of over two million displaced at least once during the grueling conflict. Many still reside in tents with inadequate sanitation. Additionally, the conflict decimated Gaza's telecommunications and electricity infrastructure, posing significant hurdles to reviving local media.
"The electricity problem is one of the most serious and difficult problems in the Gaza Strip," Khalifa explained. "We have solar power, but sometimes it doesn't work well, so we have to rely on an external generator." Stable internet access also proved a major obstacle initially, but the station now broadcasts uninterrupted sound.
International Support and Future Plans
The station's launch is funded by the European Union and overseen by Filastiniyat, an organization supporting Palestinian women journalists, and the media centre at An-Najah National University in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank. "Here Gaza" plans to broadcast for two hours daily from Gaza and longer from Nablus, available on FM and online.
Khalifa highlighted the impact of the Israeli blockade, which has been in place even before Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, sparked the war. "Under the siege, it is natural that modern equipment necessary for radio broadcasting cannot enter, so we have made the most of what is available," she said. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to strictly control all goods and people entering the territory.
This initiative represents a beacon of hope, striving to amplify voices and address critical needs in a region grappling with ongoing hardships.
