How do you humanise people facing unimaginable odds?

That was the task Plestia Alaqad gave herself when she first put on her press vest on October 7. Freshly graduated from journalism school and dreaming of a bright future, she suddenly found herself in the middle of a war zone, with the eyes of the world watching.

Armed with her phone and internet access, she began documenting the lives of her family and the people around her - finding stories of hope and resilience amid the rubble.

Overnight, she became one of the most followed people on the internet, as each day, millions tuned in to watch the war unfold through her eyes. It was a kid of journalism we hadn’t witnessed before, immediate, empathetic and spoken through the voices of young Palestinians facing the unimaginable.

In this episode of The Big Picture Podcast, Mohamed Hassan meets with Plestia in Melbourne, where she and her family fled after leaving Gaza, reluctant and tearful, praying for the day they would return but knowing that day may not come.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, and any guests you'd like us to have on our show. Reach us by email at mh@middleeasteye.org or find us on instagram @BigPictureMee.

You can also watch all our episodes on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1ySj3cO0OSOHZAOgD1WTDixG

Finding my voice and leaving Gaza | Plestia Alaqad