10-year journalist takes Palestine’s message to world

Janna Jihad, a 10-year old Palestinian girl, is counted as the youngest journalist in the world.
Living in the Nabi Saleh village in the occupied West Bank, Janna produces videos about Israeli checkpoints, anti-occupation marches and Israeli violence against Palestinians.
“I’m trying to send a message to the world that the Palestinian children are suffering from injustice,” Janna told Anadolu Agency in an interview.
“This land is named Palestine and its people are Palestinians, not terrorists,” she said.
“We are defending our rights usurped by the Israeli occupation,” the defiant Palestinian girl said.
Born in the United States, Janna reports in both Arabic and English and her Facebook page has around 250,000 followers.
She says she seeks to end the injustice done to Palestinian children in the occupied territories.
“Children of Palestine are like other children around the world, who need education, health and living as free people,” Janna said.
“Every day, we see the blood of our relatives being shed at Israeli checkpoints and our friends being crushed while playing,” she said.
“This all happens because we are living under occupation.”
Turkish award
Janna can’t forget the death of her uncle and his friend in her home village after an attack by Israeli settlers.
“We were in farmlands when we were attacked by settlers,” she recalled. “Israeli soldiers also fired teargas canisters, which caused my grandmother to fall sick.”
The young journalist, who started documenting Israeli violations since she was seven, said Israeli restrictions are making their life harder.
“My daily journey to school takes more than two hours because of the Israeli barricades and checkpoints, instead of 20 minutes,” she said.
Last week, Janna was honored in Istanbul by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the International Benevolence Awards.
“I was very proud that I have managed to deliver Palestine’s message to Turkey and the world,” a proud Janna said.
“Though I was happy that I won the award, I was sad that there are many children being killed [in Palestine],” she said.
The International Benevolence Awards are given by the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate with a view to making goodness dominant in the world.
“We appeal to the world to wake up and and watch what’s happening against Palestinian children,” Janna said.
“We want freedom, peace and justice. We want a world free of killings, blood and destruction,” she said.
“We will not lose hope and one day our land will be liberated and the enemy will leave this land.”