The Political Scene | The New Yorker A Palestinian Journalist Escapes Death in Gaza
Aug 19, 2025
Mohammed R. Mhawish, a Palestinian journalist from Gaza City, shares his harrowing experiences during Israel's invasion following the October 7th attack. He recounts narrowly escaping death when his home was targeted and the challenges faced by journalists in conflict zones. Mhawish highlights the resilience of mental-health workers striving to help traumatized communities, despite their own suffering from the aftermath of war. His insights illuminate the human cost of violence and the vital role of storytelling in fostering hope amid despair.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Press Markers Became Targets
- Palestinian journalists in Gaza felt targeted and shifted tactics, including abandoning marked press vests because they became targets.
- Mhawish received threatening calls from people claiming to be IDF officers explicitly ordering him to stop reporting.
House Destroyed After Threatening Call
- Mohammed R. Mhawish described returning home on December 6, 2023, after reporting and receiving a threatening call warning the house would be bombed.
- The house collapsed minutes later, leaving him injured and buried under rubble while family and neighbors were uncertain of survivors.
Rescue, Injuries, And Loss
- Rescuers pulled Mhawish from the rubble after hours; he suffered multiple broken bones and his young son was unconscious and bloodied.
- Four relatives and two neighbors died in the strike while his immediate family survived, leaving him with survivor's guilt.