Key Points
- Hanin Abdalla, a Gaza native residing in Japan, shares firsthand accounts of the unprecedented destruction and humanitarian suffering currently unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
- The discussion highlights the severe scarcity of basic necessities, including food, clean water, and medical supplies, describing a situation where civilians are pushed to the brink of survival.
- Abdalla emphasizes that the current crisis is a continuation of a long-term blockade and systemic issues, rather than an isolated event starting only recently.
- The interview serves as a call to action for the Japanese public to remain informed, recognize the shared humanity of those in Gaza, and advocate for an end to the violence.
Full Transcript (English)
Host (Jun Hori): Today on 8bitNews, we are joined by Hanin Abdalla, who is originally from Gaza, Palestine, and is currently living in Japan. Hanin, thank you for joining us today to share the reality of what is happening in your homeland.
Guest (Hanin Abdalla): Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. It is very important for us to share these stories right now.
Host: We see many images on the news, but it is often hard to grasp the daily reality. What are you hearing from your family and friends who are still in Gaza?
Guest: To be honest, it is a nightmare that never ends. My family is constantly moving. There is no “safe zone” in Gaza, despite what is claimed. They move from the north to the south, and then they are told to move again. Every time I speak to them, if the internet connection even works, the first thing I ask is simply, “Are you alive?” That is the baseline of our conversations now.
Host: I have heard that the food situation has become catastrophic. Can you tell us more about that?
Guest: It is beyond “dire.” People are starving. In the north, especially, people have been forced to grind animal feed to make bread. Even that is running out. Clean water is almost non-existent. Children are getting sick from drinking contaminated water because there is no other choice. This is not just a side effect of war; it feels like a deliberate starvation of a population.
Host: Many people in Japan may feel that this is a very distant conflict. What do you want the Japanese people to understand about the situation?
Guest: I want people to know that we are just like you. We have families, we have dreams, we have students who want to graduate, and doctors who want to save lives. But right now, our entire society is being erased. This did not start on October 7th. We have lived under a blockade for 17 years. Gaza has been called an “open-air prison” for a long time, but now it has become a graveyard. I ask the Japanese people not to look away. Your awareness and your voices are a form of support that gives us hope that the world has not forgotten us.
Host: The role of the international community is being heavily questioned. How do you view the global response?
Guest: There is a painful double standard. We see how the world reacts to other conflicts, yet for Palestinians, the response is often silence or “concern” without action. We need more than concern. We need a ceasefire, and we need the blockade to end so that people can live with dignity. Japan has a unique voice in the international community, and I hope it uses that voice to stand for human rights and international law.
Host: Thank you, Hanin. We will continue to follow this story and provide a platform for these voices here at 8bitNews.
Guest: Thank you very much.
