Frans  Alsalmi

Their life

Frans Alsalmi (Amna Al‑Salmi), aged 36, was a distinguished Palestinian visual artist and digital creator from Gaza. A graduate of Al‑Aqsa University with a degree in fine arts photography, she was celebrated for her work across painting, murals, sculpture, and digital media. She was active in Gaza’s arts scene, participating in initiatives at Eltiqa Gallery and conducting workshops with the Tamer Institute to support children amid ongoing conflict

Born into a large family as one of ten siblings, Frans rose to prominence in Gaza’s tight-knit art community. She graduated with distinction in fine arts photography from Al‑Aqsa University and developed a versatile portfolio that blended traditional and digital formats. Her contributions included painting, public murals, sculptural pieces, and digital installations. She was closely involved with Eltiqa Gallery—Gaza’s contemporary art hub—and described her experience in Eltiqa as deeply significant for shaping her artistic identity.
Despite the many tragedies she endured—such as the death of her father in December 2023 due to lack of medical care, her brother’s spinal injury from shrapnel, and repeated displacements during military offensives—Frans remained resilient. She actively led arts workshops for children via the Tamer Institute and harbored dreams of further artistic study abroad. Her final Instagram post, shared just ten days before her death, featured a poignant image of three women and read:
“The blood of the martyr. Blood scented with cardamom.”

How they died

Frans Alsalmi was killed instantaneously on June 30, 2025, when an Israeli airstrike struck the busy Al‑Baqa Café on Gaza City's Mediterranean coastline. The strike triggered a powerful explosion that destroyed the venue and caused fatal trauma to those inside, including Frans Alsalmi

Frans Alsalmi was killed instantly on June 30, 2025, when an Israeli airstrike hit the Al‑Baqa Café—a popular seaside venue on Gaza City’s Mediterranean coast—during a daytime gathering of journalists, artists, and students. The explosion caused massive structural collapse, flying debris, and severe trauma for those inside

Why we remember them

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

References & sources