Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
21 January 2025 |14:00 CAT
2 min read

Award-winning journalist, columnist, and author Qaanitah Hunter recently embarked on a profound journey to Palestine, an experience she describes as transformative. Speaking about the trip on Radio Islam International, Hunter shared how a conversation with Gaza journalist Yumna Said planted the idea, who stated: “The rest of the world must try to go to Palestine because Palestinians can’t go to the rest of Palestine.”

Hunter also drew inspiration from a powerful essay by American author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose reflections on Palestine before October 7 contextualised the long-standing injustices faced by Palestinians. “Everything that he saw matched the description of a pocket,” Hunter recalled, adding that this perspective spurred her to book her ticket the very next day.

She entered Palestine through the King Hussein Bridge border crossing, navigating the familiar challenges faced by many travellers to the region. Detained for six hours at the border, she considered it a relatively easy experience given her past reportage on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case and her outspoken pro-Palestinian stance.

Once inside Palestine, Hunter was struck by the glaring reality of apartheid. “When you hear about it versus seeing it, it’s an unbelievable dichotomy,” she reflected. She described her disbelief at witnessing the level of animosity exhibited by young Israeli soldiers. “It doesn’t make sense to the human experience to be that young, to be that disdainful, that vengeful,” she said.

She spoke of the overwhelming hospitality she encountered from Palestinians upon hearing she was South African. Many invited her into their homes, sharing food and stories. “The Palestinians used to only know Mandela,” one woman told her, “but now all South Africans are Mandela.”

Hunter described a complex mix of emotions during her visit to Palestine, where she encountered remarkable resilience and hope amidst a deep sense of disappointment. Reflecting on the experience, she remarked, “It’s an incredible experience. But you saw this level of resilience and hope, and at the same time, this kind of disappointment that the world allowed that extreme level of depravity to persist for as long as it did.”

She visited during the last week of December when talks of a ceasefire were underway. “Everyone was really hopeful,” she said. However, the visible manifestations of apartheid left a profound impact on her. “To see apartheid play out, to hear people’s stories—it’s something you cannot ignore.”

Despite the harsh realities, Hunter emphasised how some encounters highlighted the Palestinians’ unwavering spirit in the face of adversity. “Hearing their stories and seeing their resilience reminded me of the importance of continuing to advocate for justice and accountability,” she said.

Her visit coincided with the period leading up to the Gaza ceasefire, offering her a glimpse of the cautious hope among Palestinians. Yet, the stark realities of apartheid and the enduring struggle for statehood weighed heavily on her reflections. “This journey changed my life in so many ways,” Hunter said.

She emphasised the responsibility of holding regimes accountable and the importance of advocacy. “As a Muslim woman, showing up with the ability to convince at least one or two minds, it is my responsibility to lean into that.”

For Hunter, the trip was both a deeply personal and profoundly political experience, a reminder of the enduring fight for justice and the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.

LISTEN to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Qaanitah Hunter, Award-winning journalist, here.