Moataz Musallam

Their life

Moataz Musallam was a resident of Gaza City and the brother of Palestinian journalist Marwa Musallam. He lived with his family in the Al-Shaaf area, eastern Gaza City, where he was closely bonded with his siblings. Moataz was among the many civilians whose lives were devastated by the ongoing war in Gaza.

Moataz Musallam came from a family rooted in Gaza City, where he lived alongside his siblings, including journalist Marwa Musallam and his brother Montaser. On July 5, 2025, their family home was severely impacted following an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighboring house in the Al-Shaaf area, eastern Gaza City. After that date, all contact with Moataz and his siblings was lost, and they were presumed dead. Reports of their possible survival briefly emerged when Marwa’s phone was used later in July, sparking vigils and appeals by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and international organizations. Despite these appeals, rescuers were denied access to the home. Eventually, on August 16, 2025, the decomposed bodies of Moataz, Marwa, and Montaser were discovered in their destroyed home, confirming their deaths after weeks of uncertainty.

How they died

Moataz Musallam was killed after being trapped under rubble following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

Moataz Musallam lost his life after an Israeli airstrike struck near his family home in the Al-Shaaf area of eastern Gaza City on July 5, 2025. The bombing destroyed parts of the Musallam residence, leaving Moataz, his sister Marwa, and brother Montaser buried under the rubble. For weeks, Civil Defense crews were unable to access the house due to ongoing military operations in the area. Appeals from family, journalists, and international organizations to rescue the trapped siblings were ignored. As a result, Moataz died trapped under the collapsed structure, his body left unrecovered for over 40 days until it was finally discovered fully decomposed on August 16, 2025.

A plea from the family

After contact was lost with Moataz, his sister Marwa, and brother Montaser on July 5, 2025, their surviving relatives made urgent appeals for help. One of Marwa’s brothers, living in Russia, reported receiving a call from Marwa’s phone on July 28, which gave the family hope that the siblings might still be alive. In response, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate organized a vigil on July 29, 2025, outside the Solidarity Media Center in Gaza City, urging immediate rescue operations. The family and colleagues pleaded with international organizations, including UNOCHA and the Red Cross, to intervene. However, the Red Cross stated that they only evacuate living individuals, while UNOCHA reported that the Israeli military was delaying access. These appeals reflected the desperate attempts of Moataz’s surviving family to save their loved ones before it was too late.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources