BAD OMEN.

When I visited Israel for the first time, it was just a little less than a year before the conflict sparked on October 7th. My trip in November 2022 was particularly interesting because my knowledge of the Israel-Palestine conflict at the time was quite modest. During my time in Israel, life seemed cheerful and lighthearted on the surface. The bustling markets, vibrant cafes, and busy streets created an illusion of normalcy. However, as I delved deeper into the subtle details of my surroundings, I've noticed the undercurrents of unrest. It was a paradox—a place where joy and sorrow coexisted, masked deeper complexities. Later, I organized the pictures from my trip into a short narrative. As I reflected on the three weeks I spent there, I noticed an intriguing pattern of emotional tension.

Back in November 2023, I submitted my work for a competition at Photographers Without Borders—a community of storytellers who champion revolutionary, ethical, and decolonized storytelling, empowering photography storytelling to bridge the social divide. My work was shortlisted along with thirteen others. Over the course of a month, the community had the opportunity to vote on Instagram, and to my delight, my photograph emerged as the favorite.

However, just hours before the voting was set to close, I received an unexpected email from the community. They informed me that my nomination was cancelled and my winning picture would not be printed in their monthly magazine. The reason? A complaint from their community about its “Zionist context.”

This turn of events was both intriguing and disconcerting. The image that had resonated with so many was now deemed controversial. I questioned whether my lens had been too biased or if I had unwittingly stepped into a political minefield. The tension I had observed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict now echoed within my own life, extending beyond the frame of my camera.

And so, I continue to document. Not just the obvious narratives, but the shadows—the spaces between the lines.