Dying for peace: Gaza journalist and JapanーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
It’s been over one and a half years since fighting broke out between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas. For journalists covering the conflict, it has been catastrophic with at least 178 killed in Gaza. Muhammad Mansour is one of them. The 29year-old was a correspondent for a major Japanese newspaper. He was also a member of a Japanese NO’s Gaza office where he worked alongside a man who took him under his wing. Here’s a look back on the life cut too short. After a fragile two-month ceasefire, Israel relaunched its barrage of attacks on Gaza and the victim toll continues to rise. On March 24th, Israeli missile attacks killed 29-year-old local journalist Muhammad Mansour. At his memorial service in Japan, more than 50 people gathered to pay their respects. To be honest, I wanted to see what kind of person he would be when he turned 30, 40, and 50. Kuayama Nordihiko is a psychiatrist and CEO of the nonprofit Front Line, which supports young people in southern Gaza dealing with trauma. When the two first became acquainted, Muhammad was just 14. Kuyama had been treating him for his emotional scars and they formed a special bond. Muhammad had ambitions to study at university. Kuyama not only helped him with his tuition but also invited him to join the NPO after graduating. For him, Muhammad was family. He’s like a true son to me. At some point, he found himself calling me father. He is honest with a sense of justice. He’s also a person who won’t give up. In October 2023, the Israeli military operation got underway and intensified, making it difficult for Kuyama to enter Gaza. Muhammad kept Kuyama up to date on the situation by sending photos and videos through the NPO. He and others also delivered food and medicine to hospital children wards. In March, Kuyama received the news Muhammad had been killed. My state of mind is likely to get worse because when I think about it, I can’t bear it. It’s too painful. I can’t accept his death in this war of hatred. I can’t accept any death. But war is something we don’t have to wage, right? We can’t stop earthquakes and tsunamis. But I think war can be stopped. Pouring over Muhammad’s images and words, Kuyama is reminded all the more of their significance as portraits of people simply struggling to live amid chaos. Throughout it all, Muhammad remained resilient. Alhamdulillah. During the memorial service, Muhammad’s little sister is zoomed in. She tells the mourners of her determination to carry on her brother’s work, which she respected and support the NPO. I will take over his duties while building on his efforts. I will carry his beliefs with me. I hope to do my best with Mr. Kuayama and his team. Thank you very much. It is not easy to improve the situation in Gaza, which is in a dire state. But people there say that they can get by through their connection with Japan. They can’t make it alone, but they can have hope for tomorrow by feeling that they share a lifeline, a network with Japan. I want to continue our support as much as possible. Kuyama hopes people will remember Muhammad and his message. When I reflect on what he wanted most, I think he hoped for a world where people would never die the way he did. He wanted to stop people from losing their lives due to violence. I’d like to continue pushing for peace and a word without war according to his wishes. Kuayama is planning an exhibition featuring Muhammad’s photographs in June. Living for peace, dying in conflict. Muhammad’s images framing the human cost of war live on. And that’s all for
Voice of young Gaza journalist silenced. Mohammed Mansour was also an aid worker for a Japanese NPO with strong ties to its founder. #world #politics #israelhamasconflict #middleeast #children #israel #hamas
More stories on Israel-Hamas conflict: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/tags/132/
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