Monday, 25 May 2026
Cairo forum spotlights ‘Sahab Al-Ard’ as a dramatic record of Palestine
The Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate hosted a Ramadan evening forum bringing together the creators and cast of the TV drama Sahab Al-Ard (“Owners of the Land”), positioning the series as a cultural response to what speakers described as efforts to distort the Palestinian narrative.
Held under the theme “Drama as a Historical Document,” the event was organized by the syndicate’s Committee for Arab and Foreign Affairs and focused on the role of storytelling in shaping public awareness and challenging Israeli narratives dating back to the 1948 Nakba.
The discussion—moderated by broadcaster Magda El-Qadi—drew diplomats, writers and artists, including former Egyptian ambassador to Israel Atef Salem; Palestinian Embassy Cultural Counselor Naji Al-Naji; lead actor Eyad Nassar; Journalists’ Syndicate head Khaled El-Balshy; and critic Alaa El-Shafie. The series’ writers, Mohamed Hisham Abiya and Ammar Sabry, also took part.
In his opening remarks, Mohamed El-Sayed El-Shazly, head of the syndicate’s Arab affairs committee, said the Palestinian cause “is not a fleeting news item,” describing it as the story of an enduring people. He argued that Sahab Al-Ard seeks to reinforce the Palestinian account at a time when “facts are being manipulated and misleading narratives produced.”
Ambassador Atef Salem spoke about what he called Israeli propaganda mechanisms, alleging the existence of specialized military intelligence units tasked with generating rumors. He also said Israeli authorities have prevented hundreds of foreign journalists from entering Gaza, describing the move as an attempt to control media coverage. Salem added that early criticism of the series by Israeli outlets—even before broadcast—reflected concerns about its potential impact.
Palestinian cultural counselor Naji Al-Naji praised Egyptian support and the producers behind the series, saying it helps break through what he described as global media “stagnation.” He argued that Palestinians are increasingly reduced to statistics, while the series restores “the human story” and depicts daily suffering.
Journalists’ Syndicate chief Khaled El-Balshy commended the production’s professionalism, saying it portrays “making life out of death” and turns the humanitarian reality in Gaza into a dramatic record.
Ola el-Shafie, head of the drama content committee at United Media Services, said the team paid close attention to detail so the series could serve as a reference point, arguing that politics framed through human stories has a deeper impact.
Actor Eyad Nassar said his role reflects his belief that artists should be “a voice for those without one.”
Writers Abiya and Sabry said the screenplay drew on real testimonies from Gaza and highlighted what they described as Egyptian humanitarian efforts, including the work of the Egyptian Red Crescent and medical teams.