Iyad Alasttal: "The mentality of military occupation will lead to the destruction of Israeli society."

BarcelonaIyad Alasttal (Khan Yunis, 1987) She has become one of the most impressive documentary voices to come out of Gaza.capable of reflecting the everyday life of a besieged and destroyed territory in a testament for future generations. His works have been screened at international festivals and have presented a unique perspective on human resilience and fragility. In this interview, conducted via videoconference between Barcelona and Paris, where he lives in exile, Alasttal reflects on how the context has shaped his identity and his filmmaking style.

When did you leave Gaza?

— In February 2024. I had no choice. Either I stayed and was killed, or I left to be the voice of the Palestinians in Gaza.

You were born and raised here. How has this influenced your identity and your filmmaking style?

— I work in documentary filmmaking. It's the best way to talk about Gaza, to change the narrative, and to depict the daily lives of Palestinians. Unfortunately, we're always seen as just statistics. We never talk about Palestinians as human beings. It's true that Gaza, before the war, was known for the Israeli blockade. But there was a vibrant life there.

If we don't see the daily lives of Palestinians, do we not see their humanity?

— Of course! When we show everyday life, we show the human side of the Palestinians. Whenever we talk about Gaza and Palestine, we always show numbers: deaths, injuries, bombings. We haven't talked about the lives of these people, their plans, their hopes and dreams. Talking about everyday life means talking about these things.

When a war is filmed, what responsibility does one have?

— In the context of Gaza, a great deal. Before the war, Gaza was considered a vast open-air prison. Today, unfortunately, we consider it a vast cemetery. The situation compels journalists, artists, filmmakers, and even activists to assume our responsibility. My colleagues and I had this as our only weapon to speak about the Palestinians of Gaza. A short film or video is more important than a thousand political speeches.

Do you think the world truly understands what is happening in Gaza, or are there essential aspects that remain invisible?

— The world has understood this too late. The work of Palestinian journalists has been crucial in revealing the catastrophe that the mainstream media has failed to cover. France's [and other states'] recognition of the Palestinian state is a response to popular pressure. A new awareness of the injustice in Gaza is growing in Europe. Before, only activists defended the Palestinian cause; today, an entire young generation does. International law and all of humanity are at risk when we talk about Gaza. That is why we must make the voice of the Palestinians heard.

What does it mean to work in a place where journalists are targets of attacks?

— A tremendous challenge. A journalist in Gaza must inform the world about what is happening, which carries many risks. In two years, 250 journalists have been killed while carrying out their work. They weren't killed randomly; they were direct targets of the Israeli army because they changed the narrative and conveyed the reality of Gaza. But a journalist is also a citizen: they have a family, they have children. Before going to work, a journalist doesn't say "see you later," they say "goodbye." Because they don't know if they will ever see their children again.

What do you say to those who doubt the images coming from Gaza, because there are no foreign correspondents on the ground?

— Today, the northern and southern Gaza Strip are equally devastated. The absence of journalists in the north demonstrates that the Israeli occupation is committing even more massacres and destruction. Pressure must be put on the International Federation of Journalists to compel the Israeli army to respect international law and allow journalists into Gaza. Palestinian journalists have been working alone for two years and are exhausted. The international community must force Israel to protect them. The army is killing them to prevent the truth and the voice of the Palestinians from leaving Gaza.

I spoke very recently with the journalist and writer Amira Hass, from HaaretzHe told me that the worst part is that the Israelis don't want to know the truth. Is indifference the worst part?

— The worst thing for me is that the Israeli army continues its massacres and human rights violations throughout the Palestinian territories, not just in Gaza. It is appalling that this mentality and ideology of occupation persist. This will lead to the destruction of the Israeli state and society. The occupation must end; the war must stop. Justice is needed for the Palestinians, and the war criminals must be brought before the International Criminal Court.

Do you think the Israeli public really wants to know the truth?

— It's not a question of wanting to know or not. It's a question of accepting it or not. The fact that for two years—and not just two years, but 80 years of Palestinian suffering—Israeli society has accepted this means there is a problem. We see the polls and the voices calling for the extermination of the Palestinians, agreeing with the colonization, with continuing the war, with expelling the Palestinians from their land. It's not that they know it or not; it's that they accept it.

After so many years filming Gaza, what has struck you most about the current situation?

— For a long time I filmed a project called Gaza storieswhere I tried to show everyday life to challenge media clichés. I filmed every neighborhood, I met so many people. I filmed heritage sites, historical landmarks, cities, neighborhoods. I filmed life. When I stand before the ruins and look at what I filmed, I feel utterly broken. Ninety percent of Gaza was destroyed. But I'm proud to have filmed the before and after. It's the memory of Gaza; a testament that will one day serve justice in assessing and understanding what happened.

Is there still a possibility of discussing a two-state solution?

— Where will we establish a Palestinian state? Gaza is destroyed. In the West Bank, settlers have occupied much of the territory. We have always supported both states. But we are facing a far-right government that doesn't want a Palestinian state.

Have you suffered from emotional exhaustion? How are you doing, though?

— Emotional exhaustion affects all Palestinians. We don't live normally, because Gaza is in our hearts, destroyed. Today, I experience a kind of inner turmoil in Europe. Physically, I'm fine, but my mind and heart are in Gaza. I can't have a coffee knowing that children there don't have milk. Perhaps my pain is less than that of a father who has lost all his children, or a mother who has lost her entire family. We don't know what will happen. Will we return one day? Will we repeat what happened in 1948?the NakbaWill we become refugees again? We only ask for justice and peace.

Do you still have a family?

— Yes, I have my whole family there. That's why Gaza is always on my mind. Even my daughters, who are 10 and 7, ask me when we'll go back to Gaza, and what the children there eat. I feel helpless trying to justify or explain it.