Fatma Hassona

Their life

​Fatma Hassona (April 15, 1999 – April 16, 2025) was a Palestinian photojournalist and artist from Gaza City, renowned for her poignant documentation of civilian life amid the Gaza War
Born and raised in Gaza City, Hassona pursued a degree in multimedia at the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza. She began her professional journey in photojournalism following the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, focusing on capturing the daily realities and resilience of her community .​
As one of the few local journalists operating in Gaza after foreign media access was restricted, Hassona's work provided a vital window into the conflict. Her photography chronicled forced evacuations, the destruction wrought by airstrikes, civilian casualties, and moments of hope and endurance, such as children playing amidst ruins.

Fatma Hassona (April 15, 1999 – April 16, 2025) was a Palestinian photojournalist and artist from Gaza City, renowned for her poignant documentation of civilian life amid the Gaza War
Born and raised in Gaza City, Hassona pursued a degree in multimedia at the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza. She began her professional journey in photojournalism following the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, focusing on capturing the daily realities and resilience of her community
.​As one of the few local journalists operating in Gaza after foreign media access was restricted, Hassona's work provided a vital window into the conflict. Her photography chronicled forced evacuations, the destruction wrought by airstrikes, civilian casualties, and moments of hope and endurance, such as children playing amidst ruins. Her compelling images were featured in international outlets, including The Guardian.
Hassona's life and work became the focus of the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, directed by Sepideh Farsi. The film, comprising nearly a year of video conversations between Hassona and Farsi, offers an intimate portrayal of life in Gaza. It was selected for the ACID section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
On April 16, 2025, just one day after the announcement of her documentary's selection for Cannes, Hassona was killed in an Israeli airstrike on her family home in the Al-Touffah neighborhood of Gaza City. The attack also claimed the lives of ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister . The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a Hamas operative, a claim met with skepticism by those who knew Hassona .​

How they died

killed by Israeli missile struck

she was killed on April 16, 2025, when an Israeli missile struck her family home in the Al-Touffah neighborhood of Gaza City.

A plea from the family

As of now, there have been no direct public statements or pleas from Fatma Hassona's surviving relatives. Reports indicate that her parents survived the airstrike that killed Fatma and ten other family members, including her pregnant sister, but they are in critical condition and receiving treatment in intensive care. While her family has not spoken publicly, Fatma herself left behind powerful words that reflect her hopes and fears. In a message shared before her death, she wrote: "If I die, I want a loud death. I don't want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group. I want a death that the world will hear, an impact that will remain through time, and a timeless image that cannot be buried by time or place." These words have come to represent not only her personal legacy but also the broader plea for justice, remembrance, and dignity from countless civilians caught in conflict. Fatma's story continues to resonate through the voices of those honoring her memory and through the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources