A BBC reporter opened up about the harrowing experience of covering the war in Gaza while trying to keep his family safe.
Key points:
- BBC Arabic reporter Adnan Elbursh lived in a tent for months while covering the Gaza war
- He only ate one meal per day during that time
- Elbursh struggled to keep his wife and 5 children safe amidst the violence
- Over 100 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October, according to a press freedom group
Can you imagine doing such a dangerous job while worrying about your family’s safety?
Living and Working in a War Zone
Elbursh spent months reporting live from Gaza during the war with Israel. He went out into the conflict zones daily to document what was happening. At night, he lived in a basic tent rather than being able to stay at home with his family.
Because of the fighting, it was tough for Elbursh and his colleagues even to find food. Most days, he only had one meal because supplies were so limited. Despite the lack of food and harsh camping conditions, Elbursh kept filing reports to make sure the world knew what was going on in Gaza.
“It was a very different and strange situation,” Elbursh said when covering the war. “As soon as we learned of Israeli ground troops entering Gaza, we knew the response would be unprecedented.”
Fears for Family’s Safety
While risking his own life daily, Elbursh also had to worry constantly about his wife’s and five children’s well-being back home. Their neighborhood was under fire, and he could not keep them secure.
“The hardest part was knowing my family was in the middle of the battle,” Elbursh recalled. “As a reporter, I had to focus on covering the events. But I couldn’t stop thinking about where my loved ones were and if they were okay.”
Elbursh said the most challenging moments were seeing destruction all around him and wondering if his own home and vehicle had been demolished in the bombings while he was out reporting.
Witnessing the Casualties of War
One of the most haunting experiences Elbursh documented took place at a cemetery in the Tel al-Sultan area of Gaza. After being notified that the Israeli military wanted to return some remains, he hurried to the site.
To Elbursh’s shock, Israeli soldiers delivered between 80-100 bodies in a large truck container. The remains had been decomposing, making the smell sickening.
“For the first time in my life, I witnessed this scene – this cruelty and brutality,” Elbursh said, shaken. “Local authorities had to dig a mass grave to bury the bodies right there.”
He said seeing that level of death and having to smell the decomposing remains was incredibly traumatic, worse than anything he had experienced before as a journalist.
Lasting Emotional Scars
Press freedom organizations report over 100 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October. Israel says it takes measures to avoid harming reporters but does not deliberately target them.
Elbursh and his colleagues were lucky to have survived, but he knows the mental anguish of what he went through will stay with him forever.
“When will this finally end? No one knows,” Elbursh said, his voice heavy with sadness. “Gaza has to be my first and last choice though. I have to go back, no matter how much it pains me to leave my hometown in such an unlivable state.”
After such a nightmarish experience, only time will tell how long it takes Elbursh and other journalists to heal from the emotional scars of surviving the brutal Gaza war. Hopefully, they can find the peace and security that has been so lacking in the region.