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Publication date: 06/04/2026 08:30 PM
From the tent to the language of the world… Haya and Reem tell the story of Gaza in another tongue and resist with dreams and action
The two students are Reem Abu Zayed (right of the picture) and Haya Jaber Al-Qattati
Gaza, April 6, 2026 (WAFA) – Mohammed Dahman
In a scene where the harshness of displacement is mixed with the strength of will, the stories of the two students, Haya Jaber Al-Qattati (18 years old) and Reem Abu Zayed (20 years old), stand out as examples of young Palestinian women who turned pain into energy, and suffering into a message, defying the reality of war and isolation, and holding fast to their right to learn, work and serve their community .
Haya, a first-year medical student from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, found herself forced to flee to Khan Younis, where her tent became more than just a shelter; it transformed into a space for a daily struggle for survival. Amidst these circumstances, Haya chose to open a window to the world through the Turkish language, which she began learning out of her love for Turkish culture and its people .
Haya says in her interview: “I learned the Turkish language on my own from a young age through free online lessons. I didn’t know there were educational courses, but I worked hard until I mastered it well.”
This learning was not just a hobby, but became an effective tool in her life, especially after the outbreak of war, as she used her language skills to convey the suffering of the people of Gaza to the Turkish people .
She adds: “I started recording audio clips in Turkish, talking about the brutality of the occupation, our daily suffering, the lack of security and the most basic necessities of life.” This voice did not go unheard; it reached the hearts of those who sympathized with her, and was one of the reasons that opened the door for her to work with a Turkish charity, where she became part of humanitarian relief efforts .
Through this work, Haya contributes to providing hot meals daily, distributing cash assistance, and participating in bringing joy to the hearts of children, despite all circumstances.
She affirms that “the most difficult thing I faced was the internet outage, and the difficulty of finding a safe and quiet place to record and work, but the determination was stronger.”
Despite the harsh economic challenges that made even the most basic needs difficult to meet, Haya did not give up on her dream. She says, “Despite displacement, power outages, and the destruction of schools, I am still fighting to complete my education and fulfill my late father’s dream of me becoming a doctor and serving my people and my country.” With a smile tinged with pain, she adds, “Thank God, I have been able to help my mother in a small way through my work.”
As for her ambition, Haya clearly outlines it: “I dream of being part of medical teams, working in hospitals, and participating in helping oppressed peoples with my knowledge and dedication.”
In northern Gaza, where the situation is even harsher, Reem Abu Zayed, a student majoring in Management Information Systems, is living an experience that is no less difficult.
From her childhood, Reem decided to challenge herself, and began learning English until she mastered it, making it her first gateway to the world .
Not only that, but she developed herself remarkably, as she also mastered the Turkish language, and is currently working on learning French, Korean and Chinese, in an ambitious path that reflects her awareness of the importance of language as a tool of power, and her ability to convey the voice of Gaza to multiple peoples and cultures around the world .
Reem recounts: “It started when I was 7 years old. I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of doing something different.” But the war imposed a different reality, as she witnessed repeated raids and shocking scenes of corpses and skeletons in the streets, unable to offer any help .
She adds, “All of this affected us psychologically to a great extent, and made us stop everything for a while, especially with the lack of means of communication with the outside world.” However, Reem did not give up; instead, she regained her strength through her communication skills, which helped her secure a job opportunity with a relief organization .
Reem explains, “My job is to help people in need obtain food, water, and clothing, and my role is to amplify their voices to the world.” She affirms that this experience has enhanced her practical skills and given her profound humanitarian experiences .
Regarding the economic challenges, she says, “We’ve started living by prioritizing, choosing only what’s most important, not because our needs are few, but because we’ve had to give up so much.” Despite this, Reem believes that balancing work and studies hasn’t been difficult for her, adding, “I like to do more than one thing at the same time, and that’s what helps me persevere.”
What drives Reem to persevere is her belief in her right to a better life. She says, “I deserve to live better, so I’m doing everything I can to achieve that for myself and my family.” She addresses a message to the youth of Gaza: “Don’t let circumstances control you, don’t give up on your dreams easily, do anything, even if it’s small, to change your reality.”
In this context, Abdul Aziz Al-Afifi, director of one of the Turkish associations that provides aid to displaced people in the Gaza Strip, confirms that involving Haya and Reem in humanitarian work was not just an ordinary step, but had a tangible impact on strengthening bridges of trust and communication .
In an interview with Wafa news agency, Al-Afifi said: “We gave the two students, Haya and Reem, the opportunity to speak in Turkish about the aid provided by the association, with the aim of strengthening trust between the supporting institution and the Palestinian people, and this had a great impact on increasing the sympathy of the Turkish people.”
He added: “Having voices from inside Gaza speaking in different languages, and conveying the true picture of the suffering, contributes to building greater credibility with donors and supporting institutions, and we have noticed an increase in interaction and support as a result.”
He pointed out that “Haya and Reem played an important role in conveying the suffering of the Palestinian people, not only through words, but also through their actual participation in relief work, which reflects a true picture of the resilience of Palestinian youth.”
In the context of the economic reality, and according to Palestinian and UN sources, the war contributed to increasing unemployment rates to about 80%, and raising poverty rates to unprecedented levels approaching 100%, with extreme poverty and the phenomenon of child labor spreading significantly in light of the cessation of the educational process, and most of the population of the sector relying on humanitarian aid .
The economic system has almost completely collapsed, and the Palestinian economy has witnessed a sharp contraction, with the gross domestic product decreasing by an estimated 86%, which has directly affected the living conditions of citizens and exacerbated the burdens on those with limited and no income .
This coincided with an unprecedented rise in the prices of basic commodities compared to what they were before the war, as the increase in some commodities exceeded 300%, in light of weak purchasing power, which led to a rise in the cost of living, and prompted most families in the Gaza Strip to focus their spending on basic needs only .
In the midst of this complex reality, the stories of Haya and Reem are not merely individual tales, but rather a reflection of an entire generation that refuses to be broken, insists on life, and insists on having a voice, even if it emerges from under a tent or through a phone screen with barely a signal . Their stories encapsulate Gaza today: unending pain and unbroken hope.
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/ A.F
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