“I Dream of Seeing My Country Free and Safe.”

I spoke in that interview to Mohammed and Abdul Rahman about their daily struggle to survive in the midst of a genocide, in the middle of a 22 mile open air killing field that is the Gaza Strip. We also talked about the vital life saving and dangerous operation that they have been running during the war to secure and transport clean water to people around Gaza who are clinging to life and have no other access to water to drink. 

They have been using crowd sourced money that people donate online to rent trucks and buy fuel, which is extremely expensive and in short supply under the blockade, and deliver treated water to fellow Gazans who desperately need it.

Now, we recorded and published that interview before news of the latest ceasefire agreement was announced at the end of September, and shakily implemented on October 10. And when I say shakily implemented, it’s because I’m reading daily and weekly updates from trusted journalists in Gaza and outlets covering Gaza like this latest report from Tareq S. Hajjaj in Mondoweiss, which was published on October 29.

The Israeli Army announced that a soldier in Rafah had been killed by gunfire on Tuesday. Before the source of the gunfire could be confirmed, Netanyahu blamed it on Hamas and gave the order for the army to launch ​“powerful strikes on Gaza.” The resumption of the Israeli bombing campaign killed over 100 people, 46 of whom were children and 20 of whom were women, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, on Wednesday.

Hamas released a statement saying it had nothing to do with the incident and that it remained fully committed to the ceasefire agreement in all areas. Nevertheless, the Israeli army carried out the attacks across several locations in Gaza. An army statement later said that Israeli forces had struck, ​“thirty terrorists holding command positions in the strip.”

Later on Wednesday, the Israeli Army announced that it was resuming the ceasefire agreement after having killed over 100 people in a single night…

Tuesday’s air strikes were not the first time Israel bombed Gaza during the ongoing ceasefire agreement under the pretense that Hamas had violated the ceasefire. On October 19, the Israeli army said that Hamas had violated the ceasefire following an explosion in Rafah that led to the death of two Israeli soldiers.

Israel claimed Hamas was responsible, despite the resistance group’s denial of the accusation and the later emergence of reports that the explosion was from an Israeli bulldozer running over unexploded ordnance. The army killed over a dozen people in its retaliation.

Mondoweiss reviewed the records of the people killed in air strikes since the ceasefire went into effect. The evidence points to an Israeli tactic of assassinating resistance fighters that had evaded detection during the war under the pretext of retaliation for alleged violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.

In essence, Israel is continuing to carry out its war during the ceasefire.

Today, to give y’all an on the ground view of life in Gaza after the ceasefire began, and to provide y’all with a critical update on our last interview with Mohammed and Abdul Rahman, I was able to get back in touch with Mohammed and send him some questions. 

Then he recorded his answers and sent them back to me with the little internet connection he has. Once again, we have provided links in the show notes of this episode to Mohammed’s Instagram account and to the Instagram and crowdfunding pages for the water delivery operation, which is called Living Water Mutual Aid in Gaza. 

Mohammed Abutawila: Hello, everyone. My name is Mohammed Abu Tawila from Gaza, and I am speaking to you from Gaza. I want to express my sincerely gratitude to journalist Maximillian Alvarez for his fearless efforts to bring the voice of people in Gaza to the world and for giving us this space to speak honestly about our suffering and our hopes after two years of war and genocide. I am entirely honored to be here today sharing with you what life is really like on the ground, what we are feeling and what we are dreaming of these days, which we hope will mark the beginning of a more peaceful and dignified life for every person in Gaza.

Alvarez: Well, Mohammed, brother, it is really, really great to hear your voice, even if we can’t be communicating on a live conversation, just knowing that you’re there, hearing your voice, is really special. I’m really grateful to you for staying in contact with us and giving us these critical updates. 

I wanted to ask if we could start by just having you tell us, what were you thinking and feeling when the ceasefire began? What does this news mean to you and your family after two years of genocide?

Abutawila: When the ceasefire began, I felt a mix of disbelief and emptiness after two years of genocide. Silence felt strange. Almost frightening. My family and I were relieved the bombing stopped, but we couldn’t celebrate. We have lost too much. Our homes, our friends, our peace. 

Still, this news gives a spark of hope. Maybe we can breathe again. Maybe we can start rebuilding our lives. But in Gaza, every ceasefire feels fragile, like a short buzz between storms.

Alvarez: Can you describe what life has been like in Gaza in these past few weeks since the ceasefire began? How are Palestinians reacting? What are people doing, thinking and feeling now that the bombing has, at least temporarily, stopped?

Abutawila: Since the ceasefire began, people in Gaza are living with both temporary relief that the bombing has stopped and deep grief for what the war left behind.

Many people have returned to their homes only to find widespread destruction and rubble, trying to clean up or build simple shelter. 

Aid has started to enter, but is still very limited, and services remain almost nonexistent. Despite the pain and loss, Palestinians are showing resilience and cautious hope that this truce could be the beginning of a safer life.

Alvarez: Can you describe what Gaza looks like right now? What is left of the Gaza Strip?

Abutawila: Gaza now looks almost completely destroyed. Entire neighborhoods have been leveled. Roads are broken and water and electricity are nearly gone. People live among the rubble or in temporary tents trying to clean up what’s left of their homes.

Life is extremely hard. But despite the massive destruction, Palestinians continue to show resilience and hope.

Alvarez: In our last interview together, we talked about your efforts to get clean water to people in Gaza. Can you remind listeners about those efforts and why they are so important? And are you still trying to get water to people now as we speak?

Abutawila: Yes, I am still working to provide clean water for the displaced families in Gaza. As water has become extremely scarce and almost all sources are either contaminated or salty.

I’m currently distributing water tanks to families in camps and shelters, and we are working to expand these efforts to reach more areas, especially with the rising temperature and the destruction of the water network.

Alvarez: What do people in Gaza need most right now? And what can people around the world do to help?

Abutawila: People in Gaza now need water, food, safe shelter, and medical care. Life is extremely difficult after the destruction and lack of basic services. People around the world can help by supporting trusted humanitarian campaigns, spreading awareness and pushing for aid access. Even small acts of support can make a real difference.

Alvarez: Do you have hope that the war will truly end? What dreams do you have for the future of your life, your family, and your country?

Abutawila: Despite everything we have been through, yes, I still have a great hope that the war will finally end. Because the people of Gaza are excited, and only want to live in peace.

I dream of seeing my country free and safe. With homes being built instead of destroyed and schools filled with children’s laughter instead of the sound of bombs.

On a personal level, I dream of living a simple, dignified life with my family and begin applying to travel abroad to continue my education, so that one day I can return and help rebuild Gaza with new knowledge and experience.

Alvarez: As you know, this podcast is by workers and for workers. Do you have any final messages that you want to send from Gaza to working people around the world, after you’ve endured two years of genocide?

Abutawila: My message to workers everywhere is one of resilience and unity. From Gaza I say to you, you know what hard work means and what it means to keep standing despite pain and loss.

Here we continue life with the same hands that rebuild among the rubble. Just as you build a better world with effort and labor. I ask you to never forget Gaza and to keep raising your voice for justice and freedom. Because workers everywhere share the same dream: to live with dignity and peace and to see the fruits of their hard work and a better future for the children.

This episode of the Working People Podcast was originally published on November 1.