Palestinian journalist Fatima Hassouna, 25, famously wrote: “I want a loud death if I die.” I do not want to be a number in a group or just breaking news. I want the world to hear about my death. Days before her wedding, on April 16, 2025, she was killed in an Israeli bombing that hit her home in northern Gaza, fulfilling her eerie words.
Eight of her family members, including her pregnant sister, were also killed in the attack, leaving a somber reminder of the growing toll that the Gaza war is taking on both journalists and civilians.
A voice of Gaza silenced
Hassouna had spent the last 18 months documenting the war in Gaza, sharing unfiltered glimpses of life under siege through photography and social media. Her powerful visuals gained global recognition and highlighted the human cost of the ongoing conflict. Her last post featured Gaza’s fishermen and a poem reflecting on the soul of the city she loved.
A life and legacy captured in documentary
Fatima was the subject of a documentary titled Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, directed by Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi. Set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, the film presents Gaza’s reality through Hassouna’s eyes. “She was fiery and full of life,” Farsi said. “I filmed her laughs, her tears, her hopes, and her depression.”
Condemnation from Journalist Groups
The Palestinian Journalists’ Protection Center (PJPC) called Hassouna’s death a “crime” against journalism and a breach of international law. The airstrike hit her home on Al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City, further intensifying global scrutiny of attacks on media workers in conflict zones.
“Fatima’s images documenting life under siege were published globally, shedding light on the war’s toll,” PJPC stated. The center reported that 212 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023—an unprecedented figure that continues to rise.
