Moataz Musallam
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.
Biography
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.
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
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.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Local Gaza authorities say the Israeli military has killed another Palestinian journalist in the strip, bringing the death toll to 239 since the occupying Tel Aviv regime launched its all-out onslaught on the blockaded territory in early October 2023. A medical source stated that at least three Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City on Monday. Local Palestinian outlets reported that journalist Islam al-Koumi was among the victims. This comes as the remains of a journalist from Gaza were uncovered weeks after an Israeli strike claimed her life. Marwa Musallam was buried under the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City in July. Her cries for help went unanswered amid pleas to pressure Israel to allow rescuers to reach her. Musallam’s remains were discovered 45 days later.1 nournews.ir Open source
Palestinian journalist Marwa Musallam was buried alive by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City as her cries for help went unanswered. Her remains were recovered 45 days later, one of nearly 270 journalists killed since the Israel’s war on Gaza began.2 aljazeera.com Open source
Her relatives discovered the fully decomposed bodies of Marwa and her two brothers Moataz and Montaser were found on August 16, 2025. On August 16, 2025, the fully decomposed bodies of journalist Marwa Musallam and her two brothers, Moataz and Montaser, were discovered. The siblings had been pronounced dead on August 1, 2025, after reports emerged of their bodies being found in the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood, eastern Gaza City. However, in a statement published by media outlet Sahat on August 12, Marwa’s close friend, journalist Mariam Al-Dabla, and the Civil Defense spokesperson announced that th house was still inaccessible to Civil Defense crews. Mariam noted that a civilian had managed to reach the location earlier that month and retrieved two decomposed bodies, which were not yet identified at the time. The absence of a third body led to uncertainty about Marwa and her brothers' exact whereabouts.3 stopmurderingjournalists.com Open source