Episode 849: "The Narrator" – This American Life

Host: Chana Jafiwalt (sitting in for Ira Glass)

Release Date: December 15, 2024

Introduction: A Call from Gaza

The episode begins with Chana Jafiwalt recounting the inception of "The Narrator." It all started with a phone call to Maram Humaid, a reporter for Al Jazeera English stationed in Derbella, Gaza. The conversation unexpectedly includes Banyas, an eight-year-old girl displaced in Derbella, who becomes the focal point of the episode.

"This all started with a phone call, a call that eventually led to this episode."
— Chana Jafiwalt [00:28]

Life in Derbella: Displacement and Daily Struggles

Banyas lives with her family and approximately 80 other relatives in a single home on the ground floor, sharing limited space and resources. The cramped conditions highlight the severe displacement faced by families in Gaza.

"We're living in our relatives home. Home here with around 80 other family members."
— Maram Humaid [01:56]

Banyas's daily routine is disrupted by the constant threat of violence. Despite the chaos, she engages in imaginative play, creating a semblance of normalcy by pretending to be in school or running a café with her friends.

"Today we play school games... We're pretending that we're in a school."
— Banyas [11:55]

Banyas: The Young Narrator

Banyas takes the lead in conversations, steering the dialogue away from the grim realities of war to focus on her personal experiences and interests. Her confident narration provides a unique perspective on life in a war zone.

"The narrator, an 8-year-old in Gaza, tells us about her life in the middle of a war."
— Chana Jafiwalt [07:24]

Banyas demonstrates remarkable resilience, often avoiding discussions about the ongoing conflict unless she chooses to. Her playful demeanor contrasts sharply with the harrowing circumstances surrounding her.

"She has zero interest in satisfying my journalistic agenda... She was a natural narrator of her own life."
— Chana Jafiwalt [10:57]

Coping Mechanisms: Play and Creativity

To cope with the incessant stress, Banyas and her peers create their own activities. They simulate school environments, complete with classes, assignments, and exams, providing structure and a sense of normalcy amidst chaos.

"We're pretending that we're in a school. I was a student and one of my friends was the teacher."
— Banyas [11:55]

Additionally, they engage in games like hide and seek, which inadvertently intertwine with the surrounding violence, such as bombings and airstrikes.

"When we run to the backyard, we see some insects in the ground... we watched it."
— Banyas [19:18]

Emotional Resilience and Hidden Fears

Despite her outward confidence, Banyas grapples with fear and sadness. Her mother observes that Banyas hides her true emotions, presenting a facade of strength while internally struggling with the trauma of war.

"Banyas was hiding behind the curtain, crying like crazy."
— Maram Humaid [29:30]

Maram emphasizes that Banyas’s behavior reflects a common coping mechanism among children in Gaza, where continuous trauma leaves little room for traditional recovery.

"For kids in Gaza, the trauma is continuous. There is no post. There's no opportunity for recovery. Instead, there is just coping."
— Dr. Iman Farahjala [43:00]

Evacuation Orders and Continued Displacement

In late August, Banyas's family receives an evacuation order to move from Derbella to Azawaida, a decision fraught with uncertainty and fear. The relocation process is chaotic, with Banyas expressing a desire to leave not primarily due to safety concerns but to escape interpersonal conflicts within the crowded shelter.

"I'm ready to leave them... I don't want anymore fights."
— Banyas [27:04]

The family’s move underscores the persistent instability and the arduous choices families must make in war zones.

The Netzerim Corridor: A New Barriers

Banyas's family relocates to a new apartment near Derbella, but their proximity to the Netzerim Corridor—a militarized zone—introduces further challenges. This corridor, spanning approximately 20 square miles, physically and psychologically separates Banyas from her northern home, reinforcing feelings of isolation and displacement.

"Israel has been building and fortifying this military zone... It is something you'd put in place if you're planning to stay awhile."
— Chana Jafiwalt [37:11]

Human rights organizations have labeled the creation of the Netzerim Corridor as ethnic cleansing, though Israel denies these claims, asserting military necessity.

"Israel denies this, and the Israeli military sent me a statement calling the charge of ethnic cleansing entirely baseless."
— Chana Jafiwalt [40:08]

The Psychological Toll: Continuous Trauma

Children in Gaza, like Banyas, experience ongoing trauma with no clear end in sight. The absence of a post-war period means children must continuously adapt and find ways to cope, often by controlling their immediate environments through storytelling and play.

"It's like she's willing it. She's using all of her force to will life into being easier than it is."
— Chana Jafiwalt [44:06]

Banyas embodies this resilience, consistently seeking to maintain optimism and a sense of control over her narrative despite the surrounding devastation.

A Disturbing Shift: Celebrating Violence

In a startling turn, Banyas recounts a moment when the sound of Iranian missiles targeting Israel leads to a communal celebration among her neighbors. Her innocent manipulation of the phone call highlights how normalized violence has become in her environment.

"We killed thousands. Thousands and thousands."
— Banyas [38:05]

This moment juxtaposes her childlike enthusiasm with the brutal reality of the conflict, illustrating the deep psychological impact war has on young minds.

Final Interactions: A Complex Relationship

The dynamic between Chana and Banyas evolves over time, with Banyas continuing to control the narrative of their conversations. Their interactions blend playful exchanges with glimpses into the harsh realities of life in Gaza, culminating in a poignant finale where Banyas references real and imminent threats amidst her storytelling.

"Where do you live?"
— Banyas [48:35]

"I love you, Kim."
— Banyas [58:53]

Conclusion: The Endless Story

"The Narrator" serves as a powerful exploration of how children like Banyas navigate and narrate their existence in war-torn Gaza. Through Banyas’s eyes, listeners gain an intimate understanding of the resilience, creativity, and enduring trauma that shape the lives of young Palestinians amidst continuous conflict.

"This is her life. This is the story she has to narrate."
— Chana Jafiwalt [51:19]

Notable Quotes

• "I'm tired of being these children. Every day I'm the Oldest, I should be the teacher."
  — Banyas [16:11]

• "I feel mad of these things. I can draw them, but I don't like a war playing."
  — Banyas [23:54]

• "You can give a this American Life partner subscription to anyone you want as a holiday gift."
  — Ira Glass [09:18] (Note: Ad content skipped as per instructions)

Closing Remarks

The episode poignantly captures the voice of a child amidst one of the most devastating conflicts of the modern era. By focusing on Banyas’s narrative, "The Narrator" illuminates the profound and often overlooked experiences of young survivors in war zones, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in preserving humanity amidst chaos.