Interview with Mahmoud Basal, Head of the Gaza Civil Defense. (Read in Italian here)

I find myself writing this article about Mahmoud, an exceptionally courageous man who is part of Gaza’s humanitarian sector — the kind that, in war or in what some describe as genocide, as in the case of Palestine, is often forgotten. Who carries the weight of all the innocent lives on their shoulders? Mahmoud Basal.

Let’s begin the interview:

1 – Simone: “Tell me how you started working with the Gaza Civil Defense. Did it happen by chance, or was it a calling? I can imagine the answer, but I want to hear it from you.“.

1 – Mahmoud: “I began working with Gaza Civil Defense in 2008, specifically after the war on Gaza. It was never a coincidence. From the very beginning, I felt that this responsibility was far greater than just a job. In Gaza, when you see people trapped under the rubble, children screaming, and entire families wiped out in a single moment, you realize that this work is a humanitarian and moral duty before anything else. (…) I worked as Director of Public Relations and Media, and I chose to be part of the Civil Defense because I wanted to stand beside people in their darkest moments, even if the price would one day be my own life.“

2 – Simone: “What do you need most right now to save as many lives as possible in the coming weeks? What are the biggest obstacles to delivering aid and protecting civilians?“

2 – Mahmoud: “What we urgently need today is fuel, heavy machinery, ambulances, rescue equipment, and safe corridors to reach the wounded. At times, we are forced to dig through the rubble with our bare hands to rescue survivors. The greatest obstacles are the continuous attacks, the absence of safety, the prevention of essential equipment from entering Gaza, and the immense pressure on our crews, who have been working for months without rest under inhumane conditions.”

3 – Simone: “Which organizations have helped you the most, and which do you think are not doing enough? Speak openly about the responsibilities of the international community and what you think about it.“

3 – Mahmoud: “There are organizations that have tried to provide whatever support they could, whether humanitarian, medical, or relief assistance, and we appreciate every sincere effort that helps ease the suffering of civilians. But honestly, the scale of this catastrophe is far greater than the level of the international response. The international community has the power to protect civilians and stop this tragedy, yet so far it has failed to fulfill its responsibilities as it should. What is happening in Gaza is not just a passing humanitarian crisis; it is a catastrophe experienced daily by more than two million people in front of the entire world (…) And without sugarcoating reality, I must say that we have truly been abandoned by the world and by human rights institutions. Innocent people were being killed before their eyes, and nothing meaningful was done to protect them. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest moral tests the world has failed“.

4 – Simone: “In what situations have you risked your life? Can you tell me about the losses you have suffered and how you cope with them every day?“

4 – Mahmoud: “Every rescue mission in Gaza is a risk to our lives. I entered areas that were actively being bombed while trying to pull wounded people from the rubble, and I lost colleagues while they were carrying out their duty. The hardest part was not only fearing for my own life, but witnessing children, women, and entire families trapped beneath destroyed buildings, while sometimes being unable to save everyone because of the severe lack of resources. These losses leave wounds that never disappear, yet I continue because people still need us, and stopping would mean leaving more lives to die.”

“There is no doubt that attempts have been made to kill me more than once, but I will continue and I will never stop carrying this great responsibility, even after my first and second homes were bombed, my mother was killed, and more than 70 members of my family lost their lives.”

5 – Simone: “Do you dream of leaving Gaza, or of staying?“

5 – Mahmoud: “Gaza is not just a place to me. It is home, memory, family — it is everything. Yes, a person grows tired and dreams of safety, but the idea of leaving is never easy. My true dream is not to leave Gaza, but to live there in peace and safety, and to have the right to live with dignity like all other people in this world”.

“I also hope to speak to the world directly, to tell them what happened to my homeland and my people, and to be part of bringing life back to my people once again“.

Profile of Mahmoud at this link