40. A Palestinian Returns To Her Grandfather’s Village in Palestine, talks Social Media Advocacy and Anas AlSharif

Yara, known as @Tawakulsabr on Instagram shares the profound journey of returning to her grandfather’s village Hittin in Palestine, stepping into the land of her heritage and reconnecting with the stories of home. She describes visiting Al Aqsa mosque for the first time. We also explore her evolving role as a social media advocate—how she uses platforms to amplify Palestinian voices, challenge narratives, and spotlight Palestinian resilience.Yara also brings insight into the work and legacy of Anas Al-Sharif, a courageous Palestinian journalist whose frontline reporting in Gaza captured the world’s attention before he was brutally murdered by Israel and whose story continues to resonate in today’s media landscape. We unpack the intersection of personal history, digital storytelling, and activism.Key Topics Covered:The emotional return to her grandfather’s village in Palestine: family, memory & identityHow social media advocacy can shift the narrative and build community-based solidarityA tribute to Anas Al-Sharif: what his reporting meant, the challenges he faced, and why his legacy mattersHow the so-called current ‘ceasefire’ has not eased life for Palestinians. How to engage with Palestinian issues in an ethical and impactful way.Chapters:01:00 Introduction02:51 Current State of the Ceasefire and Human Rights Violations07:09 Yara's Journey to Palestine20:13 Experiencing Checkpoints and Crossing into Palestine26:41 Understanding Movement Restrictions in Palestine29:35 The Spiritual Significance of Masjid Al-Aqsa32:27 Navigating the Complexities of Visiting Occupied Territories35:03 Supporting Palestinian Businesses37:53 The Deep Connection to the Land41:57 The Role of Social Media in Advocacy46:17 Honoring Anas al-Sharif's LegacyGuest Intro: Yara is a Palestinian advocate who uses her platforms to speak out against the occupation and raise awareness about what's happening in Palestine. She focuses on challenging misinformation and uplifting Palestinian voices. Yara studied criminal justice and legal studies and is now earning her master's in cybercrime and digital investigation hoping to use those skills to fight disinformation and support justice through digital spaces. Yara welcome to the podcast, I appreciate your time today!Connect & Take Action: 📌 Follow Tawakulsabr on her social channels (IG/Twitter) to discover more of her work. 📌 Share this episode with your community—and invite discussion: how can each of us turn our personal history into meaningful advocacy?Keywords/SEO Tags: Palestine, Palestinian village, heritage travel, social media advocacy, digital activism, Anas Al-Sharif, Palestinian journalism, advocacy podcast, storytelling, Middle East, Palestinian heritage, village visit, social justice media.Links:Subscribe to the channel: @savetheolivetreeWebsite: www.savetheolivetree.comInstagram:   / savetheolivetree  TikTok:   / savetheolivetree  Support us: patreon.com/SaveTheOliveTree