For almost two years, we have been spectators of a live-streamed genocide in Gaza, as our world leaders failed to act. Since October 7, 2023, people around the world have been calling out Israel's atrocities in the besieged enclave, with global protests, social media posts and fundraisers — all demanding a free Palestine and an end to the occupation.
As we witness mass starvation in Gaza today, fuelled by Israel's blockade, and as strikes continue to pound the region where 60,138 Palestinians have now been killed, the need for an end to this brutality is as urgent as ever.
But this fight for liberation is nothing new, nor did it begin on October 7 — for many Palestinian families, like the Hadids, the Palestinian liberation struggle has been ongoing for over a century, rooted in colonial resistance, anti-displacement efforts, and demands for statehood and the right of return.
"I've always been someone who felt like I needed to use my voice," Palestinian-American Alana Hadid tells The New Arab.
In fact, the model, human rights activist, podcaster, soon-to-be author and Creative Director for Watermelon Pictures, has long been using her platform to call for a free Palestine.
"I've been talking about Palestine for a long time, and I've been saying that I'm a Palestinian for a long time, which, in a lot of ways, for a lot of people, was a revolutionary act," she continues.
"As a family, we've generated quite a large platform, and I felt like I would be ridiculous if I didn't use it for this cause," she adds, notably referring to her renowned father Mohamed Hadid, famous supermodel siblings Bella and Gigi Hadid as well as producer brother Anwar Hadid, all of whom have been vocal about Palestine.
Rooted in resistance
From wearing her keffiyeh during fashion weeks, talking about Palestine at dinners, and being the Creative Director of a Palestinian-owned and led production company, Alana makes sure Palestine is a part of everything she does.
"I think, being in different spaces where, quote, unquote, politics aren't necessarily welcomed, is a chance for me to represent that Palestine is important in every industry, and to talk about it and to be vocal," she explains.
Coming from a family that faced the Nakba, Alana acknowledges that her father is still a refugee, regardless of whether he has done well in his life or whether her other family members have as well.
"Palestine is his homeland. He was born there," she tells The New Arab.
"When you're not allowed to go home, when you've been expelled from your homeland with no right of return, you're forever a refugee. Palestinians carry that with them forever," Alana continues.
"The fact that we can't go and live in Palestine, our ancestral homeland, sits with us forever. It's a seed in our heart to want to go home."
The struggle has made her stronger, Alana shares, with her family's survival giving her the power and understanding that she could make anything happen.
"I feel like it makes me brave. It makes me a fighter," Alana explains.
Being half Irish, the activists' family have fought for liberation on both fronts, feeling fortified for the fight. Alana remembers her cousin taking her to protests as a child, but it was notably during the Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2021 that the activist truly started amplifying Palestinian voices on the ground.
At a time when live videos were being used to broadcast Israeli atrocities, Alana had many people on the ground asking her if they could utilise her platform to raise their voices.
"My blood is literally fighting for liberation and understanding what struggle is, and knowing that I can make a difference," she continues.
Building liberation media
Along with her advocacy, Alana also helps to amplify Palestinian voices that the entertainment industry has maligned through her work in Watermelon Pictures.
Founded by brothers Hamza and Badie Ali, Alana aims to be part of Watermelon Pictures' journey in sharing Palestinian stories and enabling audiences to understand their humanity while bridging the gap between despair and joy.
While her official title is 'Creative Director', Alana explains that everyone does everything at the production and distribution house, from watching the films, working on brand voice, to helping reach more audiences.
"I just feel very proud of what it is, not just as a company, but as an idea of creating our own freedom in spaces now, because truly, we need to be creating these communities in these areas in different industries while we can. Right now," she explains.
"Not when we find liberation, but before, so that we can find liberation, and this is liberating entertainment. Watermelon Pictures is really seeking to do that, and I think we're succeeding, and it's beautiful, and I'm just like a proud person to be a part of it."
From protest to podcast
Along with her production work, Alana also platforms many pro-Palestine voices through her podcast The Seeds, where she introduces listeners to the faces behind the many social media efforts driving conversation on the subject.
"There are these beautiful people who have such phenomenal life stories, and so I wanted to give them a platform to introduce themselves to people they had become parasocial friends with, or who had started following them because of their pro-Palestinian views," Alana explains.
"So, it was me having conversations with them about who they are at their core, not just about Palestine, but everything that they're doing and what I think their impact on the world is. "
Teaching the untold story
Alana, along with her friend Janan, is also finishing off the first draft of a book that educates school kids on Palestine, a subject untouched in the education system, with the model hoping it will come out next year.
"We're not educated on the subject, so the fact that people are ignorant of it is sad, but it's intentional, and so I do understand that there's a lot of education necessary," Alana says about the subject.
"That's why a lot of Palestinians are doing their best on social media to really educate people about the history of Palestine, the history of Zionism, the history of the [Israeli army], what Israel was and is, and what the occupation is."
From using her platform to spread the word on Palestine, embedding Palestine in everything that she does and amplifying Palestinian voices, Alana Hadid has one end goal: A free Palestine.
"I'm hoping that more people are educated," she says.
"I'm hoping that more people join us in this struggle and this fight for liberation for all people, not just Palestinians — the fight for a free Palestine is the fight for freedom, for everyone, for a free Congo, for a free Puerto Rico, for a free Sudan, for freedom in Lebanon, for everywhere, everywhere in the world, that's what a free Palestine means," Alana adds.
"But my end goal is liberation. And that's period."
Anam Alam is a staff writer at The New Arab. She frequently writes about human rights and social issues, including women's rights and sex education
Follow her on X: @itsanamalam