War Never Tires Young Palestinian Journalist Khawla Al Khalidi
Khawla Al Khalidi, a 34-year-old young Palestinian journalist, mother of four, is another symbol of courage and perseverance from the Gaza strip. The war has never exhausted her. Al Khalidi never stopped working ever since the beginning of the war from October 8.
She was never alone in her fight. Her husband, Bahr stood by her side. One could see him standing beside her, sometimes murmuring words of encouragement, adjusting her head scarf and then stand beside the camera as Al Khalidi prepares for her live.
Like many of her colleagues, she opted to stay at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital which has now become a makeshift bureau as it is one of the places where the internet works and the journalists can charge their phone and other gadgets, reports Al Jazeera.
Everyday, after doing their dawn prayer together, the couple will set off to the hospital about 1 km away holding hand in hand. She, after reaching the hospital grounds, starts her live at 8 am for Al Arabiya and continues till 4 pm. She then returns to home later, changes her clothes and after taking quick bite, she does her phone interview till 10 pm.
“I wouldn’t be able to do half of the things I am doing now if it wasn’t for him (Bahr)”, she said smiling. She is full of praise to her husband who is a prosecutor but hasn’t worked since the war. His simple presence among other journalists, patients and displaced is a great relief to her.
“He’s my backbone, my wings,” Al-Khalidi said. Just like the old saying behind every great man is a great woman. Al-Khalidi has a great man to take care of her. always beside her.
Al Khalidi before war, produced and presented the morning show for Palestine TV. But now she has been working for Al Hadath, a Saudi-owned channel, and Al Arabiya as well. She has been in this industry for past 11 years.
Loosing home and beloved has become common for the Palestinian people. Al-Khaldi too tasted the bitterness of loss. While living at Al-Khalidi’s parents’ home in Gaza city, they received the news that their beloved home which she and Bahr had built together over 10 years has been destroyed. The home where Al-Khalidi’s paintings were hung up by Baher on the walls, all the interior decors that filled the nook and corner of the house chosen lovingly by the husband and wife was destroyed to ashes.
Looking at their house reduced to rubbles, she said, “It didn’t hit me at the beginning that my house was gone. I feel it more now, every time we get displaced farther and farther away”.
But in the long run of freedom, nothing could tire this young mind as hope blooms every single day in the Palestinian hearts. With never ending hurdles on the way of liberation, she constantly asked, “‘Will I be next? Will my family be next?””.
But with strong perseverance she said, “I will definitely build another house, an even better and more beautiful home than the one before.”
Palestinian journalists continue their work while facing such grave dangers right in front of their eyes, witnessing unspeakable horrors as they believe in Palestinian freedom.
Al Khalidi, the unbreakable Palestinian soul fearlessly said that one day she will look into the camera and will say, “And now, Palestine has been liberated. The war is over. Go back to your homes.”
