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April 16, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
On April 16, 2025, an Israeli airstrike obliterated a home in Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah neighborhood, killing 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna and ten members of her family, including her pregnant sister. The attack came just one day after the announcement that a documentary featuring Hassouna, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, had been selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
Born in Gaza City in 1999, Hassouna graduated with a multimedia degree from the University College of Applied Sciences. She began documenting life in Gaza following the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. Her work, characterized by its visceral portrayal of civilian life amid conflict, gained international recognition. She was known for capturing scenes of grief, displacement, survival, and resilience, providing a window into the daily realities of Gazans under siege.
Hassouna’s final Instagram story, posted on April 15, 2025, depicted a Gaza sunset with the caption: “It’s the first sunset in a long time.” In a previous social media post, she had expressed a poignant wish: “If I die, I want a resounding death… an impact that will remain through time.”
The Israeli Defense Forces stated that the airstrike targeted a Hamas member inside the house. However, director Sepideh Farsi, who worked closely with Hassouna on the documentary, refuted this claim, emphasizing her knowledge of the family and dismissing the justification as “nonsense.”
Hassouna’s death underscores the perilous conditions faced by journalists in Gaza. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of April 25, 2025, at least 176 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in recorded history.
At the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival, French actress and jury head Juliette Binoche paid tribute to Hassouna, stating, “She should have been with us tonight.” The documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk premiered at the festival, serving as a testament to Hassouna’s courage and dedication to documenting the human cost of war.
Fatima Hassouna’s legacy endures through her powerful imagery and unwavering commitment to truth, reminding the world of the vital role journalists play in bearing witness to conflict and holding power to account.
Reference –
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-07/gaza-is-now-the-worst-ever-conflict-for-journalists/105196800
