This Electronic Intifada livestream features an interview with Aseam Nabi, an engineer, PhD researcher, and spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, who provides a harrowing firsthand account of life under ongoing genocide. Nabi details the catastrophic impact of Israel's fuel blockade, which has crippled essential civic services like water supply, sewage treatment, and waste management, leading to widespread environmental and health crises. He emphasizes that the lack of fuel affects every aspect of life, from cooking to transportation and communication, pushing Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe. Nabi powerfully conveys the emotional toll of living with constant fear of death and the profound psychological burden of witnessing systemic civilian targeting and starvation. Through personal anecdotes, including a symbolic story of a shared date and his suggestion for his children to experience limited water, he highlights the resilience, deep love, and solidarity among Gazans, while calling for a deeper global understanding that translates into bold action to end the genocide and achieve liberation.
Summarizing the Transcript: A Glimpse into Life in Gaza Under Genocide
0:00 - 1:01 Introduction to Aseam Nabi: The Electronic Intifada hosts introduce Aseam Nabi, an engineer, PhD researcher, writer, and spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, emphasizing his unique perspective on living through genocide.
1:48 - 2:00 The Visible Toll: The hosts note Aseam's thinner appearance, highlighting the reality of starvation endured by many in Gaza.
2:07 - 3:51 The Fuel Blockade's Devastation: Aseam explains that the fuel blockade is one of the most devastating and least understood forms of collective punishment. Since October 2023, Gaza's infrastructure relies 100% on fuel, which Israel has severely restricted, causing "unbelievable suffer" from food insecurity, water scarcity, and massive bombardments.
Water: 70% of water wells and 100,000 meters of water networks are damaged.
Sewage: All sewage pumps and plants are partially or totally damaged, with 200,000 meters of sewage networks affected in Gaza City alone. Without fuel for treatment, sewage floods homes, tents, and displacement areas.
Waste Management: 85% of heavy vehicles are destroyed, leading to over 250,000 tons of solid waste accumulated in Gaza City.
These vital services require fuel for operation, but Israel denies sufficient amounts for even basic needs.
9:16 - 11:00 Environmental and Health Crisis: The lack of fuel and breakdown of services creates an environmental and health crisis, with limited access to clean water, accumulating waste, and sewage flooding leading to widespread skin and stomach conditions, especially among children.
11:00 - 12:47 Individual Daily Struggles: Without gas, fuel, or electricity for cooking, people resort to burning books, clothes, furniture, and wood, creating an environmental hazard. The fuel shortage also cripples transportation, food supplies, and communication systems.
13:20 - 16:26 A Call for Deeper Understanding: Aseam describes how he misses his family outside Gaza. To help his children understand the severity of the situation, he suggested they try using a limited amount of water. He believes a deeper, experiential understanding leads to "bold actions" and "effective results" in ending the genocide.
16:26 - 19:07 A Day in Aseam's Life: He shares a snapshot of his own daily struggle, describing a day without breakfast, working without pay in a high-risk zone, eating plain rice for lunch, searching for his evacuated family, and dealing with no electricity and limited phone battery β yet still considering himself "lucky."
21:28 - 26:12 The Symbolism of a Date: Aseam recounts keeping a single 4cm date for six months for "the darkest days." He gave it to his mother, who passed it to his 17-year-old sister Nesma (a survivor of multiple wars), who then gave it to their 2-year-old nephew M, who lost his father. This act symbolizes profound love, solidarity, and the belief that Palestinians "deserve to live" in peace and dignity.
26:12 - 29:35 Hopes for the Future: Aseam expresses sadness for Nesma, a "genius" and "war survivor" who dreams of being a doctor but is denied a normal youth. He hopes their sacrifices will lead to freedom and self-determination for Palestinians after decades of struggle.
30:16 - 35:12 Fear and Optimism: Aseam lives with the constant fear of being killed, a reality for all Gazans. However, the scariest part is the impunity with which an army in the 21st century can kill and starve civilians. Despite this, he remains optimistic, identifying as a "freedom seeker" and echoing the sentiment, "If I must die, let it bring hope, resistance, revolution, freedom, justice, liberation, peace." He urges the world to stop this "cancer."
35:25 - 38:13 Unyielding Commitment: The hosts reaffirm their commitment to continue speaking out, demanding an end to the genocide, and holding those responsible accountable, emphasizing that the Palestinian struggle for liberation cannot be killed. Aseam playfully adds he has "renewed his souls quota" and will be fine, concluding with shared prayers for safety and a better future.