Yahya Sobeih

Their life

Yahya Sobeih was a freelance Palestinian reporter and social media journalist known for his impactful coverage of life under siege in Gaza. With over 170,000 followers on Instagram, he had built a large audience that trusted his firsthand reporting and visual storytelling. Passionate about documenting the suffering of civilians and the resilience of his people, Sobeih became a respected voice for truth amid the chaos of war. He had recently celebrated the birth of his daughter, a moment of joy that came shortly before his tragic death.

Born and raised in Gaza, Yahya Sobeih dedicated his life to journalism and social media reporting, often working independently to capture the realities of daily life in the besieged enclave. His reporting style was deeply personal, focusing on the human stories behind each headline and giving a voice to the voiceless. Through his Instagram platform, he reached hundreds of thousands of followers who relied on his updates for accurate and heartfelt accounts from Gaza’s streets. Sobeih was known among his peers for his courage and compassion, often rushing to scenes of destruction to document the truth. In early 2025, he welcomed the birth of his daughter, which filled him with renewed hope despite the ongoing war. Tragically, his life was cut short just a few months later by an Israeli airstrike.

How they died

He was killed by Israeli airstrike.

Yahya Sobeih was fatally wounded on 7 May 2025 by an Israeli airstrike targeting Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighbourhood. He was preparing to cover what witnesses described as a massacre of civilians in the area when the strike hit nearby. The explosion caused fatal injuries, and images of his blood-covered face circulated widely on social media, symbolizing the high cost journalists have paid while covering the Gaza war.

A plea from the family

Yahya Sobeih’s grieving family has pleaded for justice and for international protection of journalists working in Gaza. His wife, holding their newborn daughter, reportedly said that Yahya’s only weapon was his camera and his voice. Relatives and friends have shared heartfelt messages, urging the world to remember his courage and to ensure that his death—and the deaths of many journalists like him—do not go unpunished or forgotten.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Yahya Sobeih, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources