"I Don't Know How I Made it Out Alive"

Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad has been sharing the everyday struggle for survival in the ravaged city of Gaza

- Plestia Alaqad 

SHE turned 22 on December 10. Dense smoke, dust, debris, rubble, broken windows, discarded memories, lost homes, unidentified photo albums—these were her birthday gifts. She posted videos, photos and journal entries chronicling the war and its impact on her homeland since October 7. Her Instagram handle @byplestia that used to be a space for posting her social life updates—her spending time at libraries, restaurants, or the beach at Gaza with her friends—is no longer a virtual space for giving ‘life updates’. It now works as evidence that she is still alive.  

This is Plestia’s journey—from the day her house was bombed to the present moment when she awaits a ceasefire.  

October 9: Plestia walks through her neighbours’ houses and rushes to check on her parents. Deafening sounds of bombs, shaky window panes and smoke are the witnesses. The sounds of sirens intensify. A pause. Another bomb. Fortunately, she is still alive.  

October 10: In the impenetrable darkness, Plestia runs, runs for her life. They have bombed some apartments in her building. But there is an update: “I still don’t know how I made it out alive. TURNS OUT NOT THE WHOLE HOUSE IS BURNED.”  

October 11: No electricity, no internet. No water. Ambulance can’t even reach any place. She went to her house. Though it is still there, it is ravaged. Within the rubble of a nearby house, she finds family photographs, albums of unidentified people. Who are these people lost in the dust?