He tells the story of thousands of children who can no longer speak
Amsterdam, dinsdag, 4 november 2025.
Ahmed Abu Artema, a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, is now safe in the Netherlands, but his story remains powerful. In a personal article, he wrote that Israel decided his son Abdullah and more than 20,000 other Palestinian children did not deserve to live. This shocking statement, not as political rhetoric but as personal grief, illustrates how journalism in war zones is not only about facts, but about preserving the lives of those who vanish. His arrival in the Netherlands is an act of solidarity, but also a warning: when truth becomes dangerous, the world must listen—and protect.
Truth has become dangerous
Ahmed Abu Artema, a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, published a personal article stating that Israel decided his son Abdullah and more than 20,000 other Palestinian children did not deserve to live [Molecule.nl]. This statement, not as political rhetoric but as profound personal sorrow, illustrates how journalism in war zones is not only about facts, but about preserving people who disappear. The article was published on 2025-10-24 and represents one of the last texts Abu Artema managed to publish from Gaza before being brought to safety [Molecule.nl]. These words are not imagination, but a direct reflection of the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, where journalists risk not only their lives but also those of their families. Abu Artema worked for the media organisation ‘Al-Aqsa News’ since 2018, reporting on the humanitarian crisis and the war situation [The New Arab]. His relocation to the Netherlands is a response to the growing dangers facing journalists in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military operation in 2023 [The New Arab].
An act of solidarity, not politics
The Correspondent brought Palestinian journalist Ahmed Abu Artema to the Netherlands to continue his work there, an action the media organisation describes as an act of solidarity and responsibility [Villamedia.nl]. Director Sabine Bijleveld emphasized that Palestinian journalists are ‘providing evidence of genocide’ and that such evidence ‘must not disappear’ [Villamedia.nl]. The initiative is part of a broader international movement to protect journalists from war zones, with the Netherlands guaranteeing Abu Artema’s safety through a government protection programme, including identity protection and financial support until 2027 [The New Arab]. Abu Artema’s arrival in the Netherlands is not a political act, but a practical measure to preserve journalistic truth in a time when telling the facts is dangerous. He arrived in safety on 2025-11-02 and was granted temporary protection by the Ministry of the Interior [The New Arab].
The impact of safety on news production
The integration of Ahmed Abu Artema’s work in the Netherlands contributes to a broader discussion about safety, ethics, and responsibility in modern journalism. His personal stories, such as the loss of his son Abdullah, are now incorporated into The Correspondent’s journalistic output, where he actively participates as a member of the NVJ [Villamedia.nl]. This integration of personal trauma into professional news production reflects a growing trend in journalism, where the boundary between personal experience and journalistic role is dissolving. The journalist is no longer a neutral observer, but a witness using their pain and loss to show the world what is truly happening. His presence in the Netherlands allows him to continue his work without fear of execution or arrest, an essential condition for producing independent and reliable news [The New Arab]. His story serves not only as an example for two million people in Gaza, but also as a warning: when truth becomes dangerous, the world must listen—and protect [Villamedia.nl].