BREAKING: Photojournalist met a tragic end in Gaza day after documentary

Fatima Hassona, a Palestinian photojournalist, was killed in an Israeli air strike on her home in northern Gaza, along with ten family members. Her story will be the subject of a documentary that will be screened at the Cannes film festival next month.
An Israeli air strike on her home in northern Gaza has reportedly resulted in the death of Fatima Hassona, a Palestinian photojournalist who is featured in a documentary that has been selected for a screening at Cannes next month.

Fatima, a graduate of the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza, was not merely a photographer; she was a visual witness to a reality that is becoming increasingly severe. She uploaded a photograph of the sunset from her veranda hours prior to her death, stating, “This is the first sunset in a long time.”

In a previous post, she stated, “In the event of my death, I desire a loud death. I am not interested in being featured in a breaking news story or in a group photo. I desire a death that is heard by the world, a trace that endures forever, and immortal images that neither time nor place can bury.”

The film’s central character, Fatma, could have been a significant milestone in her career and an opportunity to share her vision with the world if it had been selected.

The Iranian filmmaker described Fatima in a poignant manner in an interview with the French daily Le Monde, stating that she “was a sun.” She continued, “She was occasionally collaborating with media outlets by sending photos and videos while covering the war in Gaza. She would send me photos, written messages, and audio clips on a daily basis.” I would awaken each morning and contemplate whether she was still alive.

Journalists in Gaza are at risk
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has estimated that at least 157 journalists and media workers have been killed since the commencement of the Israeli war on Gaza. Other reports indicate that the actual figure may exceed 200.

The IFJ expressed its condolences for Fatima and condemned the ongoing targeting of journalists, underscoring the necessity of ending Israel’s impunity. “This massacre must cease,” it declared, urging an immediate and impartial inquiry into the murder of journalists.

Anthony Belanger, the General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, stated that journalists in conflict zones should be regarded as civilians and permitted to conduct their work without interference. “The events in Gaza have garnered significant global attention; however, journalists’ access to the region is essential for obtaining the truth.”

In a statement, Doctors Without Borders stated that Gaza has become a “mass grave” for Palestinians and those who assist them. Amand Pazerol, the emergency coordinator for the organisation, stated, “We are witnessing the forced displacement and destruction of the entire Gazan population in real time.”

Fatima Hassona was not only a journalist, but also a humanitarian voice and an unforgettable image in the history of a city that is created and dies on a daily basis. Her work is a testament to a reality that she continued to document until the very end.