Congo Journalist Rosie Pioth Receives Death Threats Over Airport Bombing Report
July 24, 2025
From Fired Broadcaster to YouTube Star: Christian Esguerra’s Journalism Journey
July 25, 2025
July 24, 2025 – Palestine –
Eleven‑year‑old Lama Nasser Al‑Badrasawi, known as an aspiring journalist for the Palestine Chronicle, and her entire family were killed in an Israeli airstrike on July 15, near Gaza City. Lama had contributed homemade reports, emulating professional journalists and often recording field testimonials alongside friends, to a young storytelling project documenting life under siege. The project, launched in response to professional journalists being driven from many frontline areas, aimed to give Gaza’s youth a voice during the escalating violence.
In her last known video, Lama delivered a moving message about the suffering of children in Gaza, noting widespread starvation, collapsed schools, and the effects of war on future generations. She concluded with a plea: “Stop the genocide.” Her mother and teacher, Samah, had helped Lama hone her English and educational aspirations before the bombardment took their lives alongside four siblings in the collapse of their six-story shelter.
The Palestine Chronicle highlighted Lama as “the voice of Gaza,” praising her efforts to document destruction and human resilience. Her death came amid ongoing efforts by volunteer reporters, including children, stepping in where professional coverage was impossible, substituting fallen or exiled journalists.
Lama’s killing adds to the grim toll on Gaza’s media landscape. More than 230 journalists, including volunteer contributors, have died in the enclave since October 2023. The loss of such a young, budding voice underscores the extreme risks, even children face when documenting conflict. It also sharpens demands from press freedom advocates for greater protections and accountability.
Lama’s innocent courage and tragic fate leave behind a haunting reminder of a generation both bearing witness and paying the highest price.
