Ahmed al-Zinati

Their life

Name: Ahmed al-Zinati
Age at Death: 35
Profession: Journalist, former civil engineer
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Master’s degree in Business Administration (graduated top of his class)
Affiliations: Siraj Media Network; contributor to international platforms including Tumblr
Date of Death: Night of May 18–19, 2024
Place of Death: Sanabel Camp, Khan Younis, Gaza
Family Killed: Wife, Nour al-Madhoun (a pharmacist); sons Mohammed and infant Khaled

Ahmed al-Zinati began his professional journey as a civil engineer. However, due to the economic hardships and high unemployment rates in Gaza, he found limited opportunities in his field. Undeterred, he pursued a master’s degree in business administration, graduating with distinction. Despite his academic achievements, the ongoing blockade and economic challenges in Gaza led him to pivot towards journalism, where he found a new calling.
In his role as a journalist, al-Zinati worked with various organizations, including the Siraj Media Network. He also contributed to international platforms such as Tumblr, where he documented the humanitarian crises and daily struggles faced by the people of Gaza. His work, rich in audio and visual content, served as a mirror reflecting the suffering and resilience of Gazans to a global audience.
Al-Zinati was particularly focused on highlighting the famine and humanitarian catastrophes in Gaza. His friend, Siraj Abu Hamam, noted that Ahmed was deeply affected by the ongoing massacres and bombings, and his primary concern was to halt the cascade of genocide affecting his people.
The war brought personal tragedy to al-Zinati's life. In the first month of the conflict, his home in Khan Younis was heavily shelled, resulting in the death of his two children, Musa and Khaled, and serious injuries to his wife. His son, Mohammed, survived the attack. Four months prior to his death, Ahmed and his wife were blessed with a new child, whom they named Khaled, in memory of their lost son.

How they died

Killed by Israeli airstrike

Ahmed al-Zinati, a Palestinian journalist, was killed along with his wife, Nour al-Madhoun, and their two young sons, Mohammed and Khaled, when an Israeli airstrike targeted their tent in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, Gaza. This area had been designated a "safe zone" for displaced civilians.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Ahmed al-Zinati, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources