Haneen Ali Al-Qashtan

Their life

​Haneen Al-Qashtan (also spelled Al-Qutshan or Kashtan) was a Palestinian journalist born on September 23, 1990, in Gaza City. She contributed to multiple media outlets, including the local Fatah-affiliated TV Al-Kofiya, the local privately owned Baladna Web TV, and Sawt Al Watan Radio. ​
Tragically, on December 17, 2023, Haneen was killed along with her family in an Israeli airstrike that targeted their home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Prior to her death, she had expressed profound fear and anxiety about the ongoing conflict, sharing on social media her wish to pass away before witnessing the loss of her loved ones. ​
Her untimely death underscores the extreme risks journalists face in conflict zones and highlights the devastating impact of the ongoing violence in Gaza.​

Birth & Early Life:
Haneen Al-Qashtan was born on September 23, 1990, in Gaza City, Palestine. She grew up in a region marked by ongoing conflict and hardship, which shaped her perspective and passion for journalism.

Education & Career:
Haneen pursued a career in journalism with the aim of bringing Palestinian voices and stories to the world. She worked for multiple media outlets, including:

Al-Kofiya TV (a Fatah-affiliated television channel)

Baladna Web TV (a privately owned media outlet)

Sawt Al-Watan Radio

She covered the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, documenting the struggles of civilians, including children and families affected by war. Her reports were deeply personal, reflecting both her professional commitment and the harsh realities she lived through.

Personal Life & Views:
Haneen was active on social media, often sharing her emotions about the war and its impact on her life. In the weeks leading up to her death, she expressed deep fear and grief over the destruction and loss in Gaza. In a heartbreaking social media post, she wrote:

“O Lord, let me die first before I witness the loss of my loved ones.”

This post reflected her anguish over the deaths of family members, friends, and colleagues.

Death & Legacy:
On December 17, 2023, Haneen Al-Qashtan was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted her home in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in central Gaza. Her family members were also among the casualties.

Her death brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7 to 95, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. Palestinian authorities and international media organizations condemned her killing, describing it as part of a broader effort to silence journalists reporting on the war.

Impact & Recognition:

Haneen’s work continues to be referenced in discussions about press freedom in conflict zones.

Media rights organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have called for accountability for the deaths of journalists in Gaza.

Her story has become a symbol of the immense risks journalists face while reporting in war zones.

How they died

Killed by airstrike

She was killed when an airstrike targeted her family’s home in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza.

A plea from the family

​Tragically, Haneen Al-Qashtan was killed along with her parents, sister Linda, and brothers Atef and Shadi in an Israeli airstrike on December 17, 2023, that targeted their home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. This devastating event left one sister as the sole surviving member of the family.​ In the days leading up to her death, Haneen expressed profound fear and anxiety about the ongoing conflict. She confided in friends about her deep attachment to her family and her dread of losing them.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Haneen Ali Al-Qashtan, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources