- Yara Eid returned to Gaza just over eight months ago after studying in the UK.
- The 22-year-old was unable to visit her family in Gaza due to 15-year Israeli blockade.
- Eid claims she went through “tough moments” as a result of frequent Israeli assaults on Gaza.
After spending six years in the United Kingdom to pursue her studies in international affairs, Yara Eid returned to Gaza just over eight months ago.
Due to the 15-year Israeli blockade of the coastal enclave and travel restrictions, the 22-year-old was unable to visit her family in Gaza once during her studies.
Eid claimed she went through “tough moments” as a result of frequent Israeli assaults on Gaza while she was away.
Every time there was a bombing in Gaza while I was in the UK, my heart would absolutely stop, Eid said Al Jazeera. “I would be constantly checking my phone to see if I could reach my family to see how they were doing. There is never any serenity there.
She described the attacks that took place after she had returned home, including the three days of Israeli strikes that began on August 5.
In an operation against the armed Palestinian Islamic Jihad group operating in Gaza, 49 Palestinians were killed. According to Palestinian sources, about half of those killed were civilians.
Eid made the decision to use her cell phone, walk the streets, and talk to people about Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza because she felt she had to act at the time.
Usually, bombing sounds make me feel quite frightened, Eid admitted. “I experienced post-traumatic symptoms following the 2014 conflict in Gaza, which complicated my health and kept me in the hospital for years. I was 14 years old when it happened.
This period was unique. I made the decision to face my fears. I made the decision to use my extensive network of friends and acquaintances in the UK and my fluency in the English language to spread the word about Gaza and the oppression, injustice, and ongoing bombing of its residents.
Eid covered the situation on her Instagram account. She visited a number of hospitals and bombed-out locations, and within a short period of time, she gained 40,000 followers.
Because there aren’t many English-speaking reporters covering events in Gaza, she added, “I chose to use my voice and give a voice to the voiceless.”
It was my first time ever reporting from the ground. I simply carried out what my gut told me to do. When I noticed individuals running, I would follow them and alert other people that there was a bombing nearby.
Eid’s Instagram activity drew a lot of attention from followers all across the world. They requested more attention and emphasized the significance of what she was doing.
I want people to have the same experience I did, therefore documenting what was happening is crucial to me, Eid added. We’re becoming numb to the visuals on television, so I wanted to offer a personal story.
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