Haifa was a developed city with a thriving economy before 1948. This video captures the final moments of the lives of Haifa's residents and how they were forcibly evacuated and the role it played in the lives of those who were compelled to leave. Imagine having your fate determined by chance, as the place where you stand at any given moment could dictate the destiny of your entire lineage.
The vlog was published on the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, shedding light on the issue of displacement following UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which calls for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes.
This video falls under mobile journalism, and I remember waiting for the traffic light to turn red so we could safely film in the middle of the street amidst curious onlookers and fellow photographers.
The experience of filming and producing the Haifa vlog was indeed compelling. Talking about people who, on the morning of April 22, 1948, were drinking morning coffee in their homes, only to become refugees in Lebanon by evening, deeply resonated with many Palestinians, especially those who heard the same story from their own grandparents, who were displaced from Haifa in that incident.
