Roshdi Sarraj

Their life

Roshdi Sarraj (born 1992 — died 22 October 2023, aged 31) was a Palestinian photojournalist, filmmaker and co-founder of the Gaza-based media production company Ain Media. He worked for more than a decade in local media and as a fixer and translator for international outlets (including Radio France, Ouest-France and others), filmed for broadcasters such as the ABC and contributed photojournalism to regional outlets. He was widely respected locally for documenting life in Gaza and for helping foreign journalists operate in the territory.

Roshdi Sarraj was a 31-year-old Palestinian photojournalist, filmmaker, and media producer from Gaza City. He co-founded Ain Media, a respected Gaza-based production company that provided video, translation, and field support to international outlets reporting from the region. Over the years, Sarraj built a reputation for professionalism and courage, often assisting foreign correspondents working under dangerous conditions. He served as a fixer and translator for several prominent media organizations, including Radio France, Ouest-France, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, helping them navigate the complex realities of life in Gaza. Through Ain Media, he also produced numerous short documentaries and visual reports that highlighted the human stories behind the conflict. Colleagues described him as dedicated, creative, and deeply passionate about documenting everyday Palestinian life amid war and blockade. Beyond his professional work, Sarraj was known as a loving husband and father; his wife and young daughter were both injured in the same strike that took his life. Those who knew him remember his kindness, his optimism despite the hardships around him, and his unwavering belief in the power of journalism to tell the truth of Gaza to the world.

How they died

He was Killed by shrapnel and/or blast effects from an airstrike that struck his home area; he later died in hospital. Multiple press-freedom groups and news outlets record the direct cause as an airstrike.

Accounts from local media and colleagues say Sarraj was returning home after reporting on 22 October and was still wearing a press vest when his house was hit. Neighbours and family carried him to hospital, where he died of the injuries. Contemporary reporting and statements from press safety organisations placed responsibility for the strike on Israeli forces (described as an Israeli airstrike in the reporting). UNESCO and journalist federations publicly deplored his death and emphasised concern about journalists being killed while clearly identified.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources