Amid the relentless gunfire and destruction, Basem Alhabel crouches in the rubble of Gaza, using sign language to document the horrors of war for deaf Palestinians and his 141,000 Instagram followers. The 30-year-old, who calls himself a “deaf journalist in Gaza,” films himself explaining everything from Israeli airstrikes to widespread starvation—risking his life to ensure the world sees the crisis through the eyes of those often left unheard.
For nearly two years, Gaza has endured bombardment and siege, with local health authorities reporting over 60,000 killed. Yet many survivors feel abandoned by the world. “I wanted to amplify my voice and those of deaf people who can’t speak or hear,” Alhabel told Reuters through his interpreter and friend, Mohammed Moshtaha, whom he met during the war. “I film videos wherever I can, hoping someone will help us.”
Clad in a flak jacket and helmet, Alhabel’s Instagram feed is a harrowing chronicle of Gaza’s suffering: emaciated children, bombed-out neighborhoods, and families struggling to survive. After filming, he retreats to a tent to edit his footage, determined to bridge the gap between Gaza’s reality and global awareness. His work fills a critical void, offering a lifeline of information to deaf civilians cut off from emergency broadcasts and audible warnings.
As one of the few deaf journalists in conflict zones, Alhabel’s mission transcends reporting—it’s a fight for visibility. “People don’t realize how the deaf community suffers doubly in war,” he explains. Without access to sound-based alerts, many rely on his videos to navigate danger. Despite the chaos, Alhabel keeps filming, a silent witness demanding the world listen.