Key Points
- Journalist Mohammed Mansour reports from Deir al-Balah, describing the current situation in Gaza as a “war of extermination” where no location is safe from bombardment.
- The civilian population faces a total collapse of infrastructure, with severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, forcing families to live in overcrowded makeshift tents.
- Reporting has become life-threatening; Mansour notes that the “PRESS” vest, intended for protection, now feels like a target as over 140 journalists have been killed.
- Mansour issues a plea to the international community to recognize the humanity of the people in Gaza and to take action to end the violence and the blockade.
Full Transcript (English)
Host (Jun Hori): Today, we are connecting with the Gaza Strip in Palestine. We are joined by journalist Mohammed Mansour to hear about the current situation on the ground. Mr. Mansour, thank you for speaking with us. Please, tell us what is happening in Gaza right now.
Guest (Mohammed Mansour): Thank you, Jun. I am currently in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. To be honest, the situation here is catastrophic. It is beyond what any words can describe. We are witnessing what I can only call a war of extermination against the Palestinian people. There is no safe square inch in the entire Gaza Strip. Whether you are in the north, the south, or here in the center, the bombardment is constant and everywhere.
Host: We see many images of people living in tents. What is the daily life like for the civilians who have been displaced?
Guest (Mohammed Mansour): Most people have lost their homes. They are living in plastic tents that do not protect them from the heat of the sun or the cold of the night. There is a severe lack of food and clean drinking water. Diseases are spreading, especially among children, because of the lack of hygiene and medicine. The markets are empty, and if you find anything, the prices are ten times higher than before the war. People are exhausted; they are just trying to survive one more day.
Host: You are a journalist, but you are also living through this as a resident. How difficult is it to continue reporting under these conditions?
Guest (Mohammed Mansour): It is incredibly difficult. As a journalist, I have to document the suffering of my people, but I am also part of that suffering. I have to worry about my family’s safety while I am out filming. Furthermore, being a journalist in Gaza is extremely dangerous. We wear these “PRESS” vests and helmets thinking they will protect us, but in this war, the vest has become a target. We have lost more than 140 colleagues since October. Every time I leave my house, I don’t know if I will return to my children.
Host: The international community is watching, but many in Gaza feel abandoned. What is your message to the world, and specifically to the people in Japan?
Guest (Mohammed Mansour): My message is simple: We are human beings. We love life, we have dreams, and our children deserve a future just like children anywhere else in the world. We are not just numbers in a news report. We want this war to stop. We want the blockade to end. We ask the international community and the people of Japan to stand for human rights and justice. Please do not get used to the news of our death. Help us to live in peace.
Host: Thank you, Mr. Mansour. We will continue to share your voice from Japan. Please stay safe.
Guest (Mohammed Mansour): Thank you.
