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Sidon Mayor Eng. Mostafa Hijazi Honors Palestinian Journalist Plestia Alaqad with an Appreciation Shield
Following a Public Dialogue on the Suffering of Gaza Held at Sidon Municipality

Ghassan Zaatari – Sidon Municipality Media Office

The Mayor of Sidon, Eng. Mostafa Hijazi, honored Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad with a commemorative shield following a public dialogue held at the Municipality Hall under the title "Gaza Through the Eyes of the One Who Told Its Story." The discussion was moderated by Eng. and Professor Khaled Zaatari.

The event was jointly organized by the Sidon Municipality, Marjan Group, and Kingco, and was attended by a number of political, social, and civic figures, including MP Dr. Osama Saad; Mr. Wassim Safadieh, representing MP Dr. Abdel Rahman Bizbizri; Mr. Mazen Hashisho, representing Mrs. Bahia Hariri, President of the Hariri Foundation; Dr. Bassam Hammoud, Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya; Mr. Omar Marjan, President of Marjan Group; in addition to members of the Municipal Council and municipal advisors.

Mayor Hijazi presented the appreciation shield to Ms. Alaqad in the presence of Ms. Inji Atrouni, Chair of the Municipality's Social Affairs Committee, and Mr. Khaled Affara, Chair of the Youth and Sports Committee.

Below is the text of Mayor Hijazi's speech:

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,I warmly welcome you all to Sidon, the city of history, dignity, and resistance—a city that has always remained deeply rooted in Arab identity and steadfast in its solidarity with Palestine.Today, we gather to listen to a voice that emerged from beneath the rubble, carrying the pain and resilience of Gaza. It is the voice of journalist Plestia Alaqad, who conveyed to the world the story of truth from the heart of suffering, from a land that continues to write its story with blood, light, and hope.In an age overwhelmed by endless headlines and images, firsthand testimony from Gaza remains an undeniable heartbeat and a voice that cannot be silenced.Gaza is not merely another news story. It is the story of people struggling to live with dignity, and of a memory that refuses to fade.From here, in Sidon—a city that has always embraced the Palestinian cause—we affirm that Gaza's pain is our pain, and that carrying its voice to the world is a shared responsibility.Sidon has always been, and will continue to be, a city of freedom and free expression, a platform for every voice that speaks the truth—especially when that voice comes from Gaza, which teaches us every day that resistance is not only expressed through arms, but also through words, images, and unwavering honesty.A heartfelt salute to Gaza, the enduring symbol of resilience and dignity.And our deepest appreciation to the courageous journalist Plestia Alaqad, whose voice has become a window through which the world can witness the truth.Today, Sidon stands with Gaza—in heart, in voice, and in conscience.Thank you, and peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you.