Frans Alsalmi
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
Biography
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.”
Additional Information
Sources & References
Al-Baqa Cafe, located along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, was a popular gathering spot for journalists, activists, students, and remote workers seeking internet access and a place to charge their devices. It was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Monday morning. Among the victims was 33-year-old Abu Hatab, known for curating photo exhibitions abroad that documented the horrors of life in Gaza, including “Between the Sky and the Sea,” an immersive photography show recently displayed in Los Angeles. Frans Alsalmi, a digital artist from Gaza, was also among the casualties. Meanwhile, prominent Palestinian journalist Bayan Abu Sultan was among dozens injured in the strike. In response to the attack, Husam Zomlot, Palestinian ambassador to the UK, said: “The erasure of Palestinian journalists and influencers continues unabated. But their words and their art will bear eternal witness to this genocide.1 arabnews.com Open source