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Tragedy Strikes Gaza as Journalist Fatima Hassouna is Killed

Following the escalation of violence that began on October 7, 2023, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the loss of at least 175 journalists and media personnel due to attacks from Israel’s Occupying Forces (IOF), known as the IDF. This violence simultaneously claimed the lives of “more than 400 aid workers and over 1,300 health workers” in Gaza. The grim toll was further highlighted by the recent revelation of a mass grave where 15 paramedics and rescue workers had been executed. Among the latest casualties is 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, who, along with nine family members, was killed just a day after it was announced that her documentary Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk would be screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

The bombing that took her life adds to the alarming civilian death toll since the recent conflict’s outbreak, with estimates for Palestinian deaths reaching around 52,000, although some reports suggest the actual number may surpass 100,000. Humanitarian access to the region remains severely restricted, complicating accurate reporting of casualties as journalists face increasing threats.

In a report by The Times of Israel, often perceived as supportive of the Israeli military narrative, officials stated:

“The IDF asserted that the airstrike targeted a Hamas member involved in assaults on both soldiers and civilians, claiming that prior precautions were taken to minimize civilian risk, including precision munitions and aerial surveillance.”

Filmmaker Sepideh Farsi, who has dedicated her film to Hassouna’s life and work, learned of the tragedy while discussing plans with the French Embassy for Hassouna to attend the Cannes screening. “She was a bright light, immensely talented. Watching the film will reveal her essence,” Farsi shared with Deadline. Previously, Hassouna expressed a strong desire to attend the festival but was drawn back to Gaza, stating that despite the dangers, it remained her home.

She crossed / And I did not cross / My death crossed me / And a sharp sniper bullet / I became an angel / For a city / Huge / Bigger than my dreams / Bigger than this city / I became poetry… — Fatima Hassouna, from the poem “The Man Who Wore Her Eyes”

Farsi recollected their last conversation, where Hassouna expressed her commitment to her homeland. “I was deeply worried about how to ensure her safe return. It breaks my heart to know that her entire family is no longer with us—her sisters, brothers, and even her pregnant sister,” she said. “Just two days ago, she showed me her sister’s baby bump over a video call. It’s devastating, especially considering Fatima had just gotten engaged.”

ACID & Cannes Will Continue to Screen ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’

Documentarians and storytellers continue to shed light on what many organizations—including Amnesty International, the United Nations, and Human Rights Watch—have denounced as genocidal actions against the Palestinian population. Filmmaker Farsi believes that Hassouna’s work and her rising profile may have played a role in this targeted attack. This follows similar circumstances faced by Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, a director of the critically acclaimed documentary No Other Land, who was attacked by Israeli settlers prior to his unlawful detention by police.

“I aimed to amplify her voice, yet now I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. Perhaps they sought to silence her because our film was about to be showcased,” Farsi lamented. “The claim that the house was targeted for housing a Hamas officer is utterly false; I know the family well. It’s just unfathomable.” A recent statement released by ACID reflected the community’s sorrow:

“We, members of the filmmaking community and ACID, encountered Fatima during our exploration of Sepideh Farsi’s film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk while curating at Cannes. Her smile radiated magic, and her resilience was remarkable: capturing Gaza’s essence through her lens, distributing aid amidst the chaos, enduring loss and suffering. The news of the missile that took her life and demolished her home is jarring.”

“What we first viewed as a film filled with her life force is now a bittersweet tribute. We pledge to honor her memory as we present this film across cinemas, starting with Cannes. As filmmakers and audiences, we must embody her luminous legacy.”

Who Was Fatima Hassouna?

Farsi penned a heartfelt tribute for Hassouna published in Liberation, detailing her deep connection with the young photographer. In her tribute, she describes Hassouna’s words, rich with emotion and insight, reflecting both the terror of living under constant threat and her indomitable spirit:

I don’t have a CV / To recognize two eyes / Mysterious / And I believe / I do not have a story / One clear for a stranger / To believe it / And he believes / I have no physical characteristics / Complete / To fly / Outside of this gravity / And I believe. / Maybe I’m ushering in my death / Now / Before the person in front of me lifts / His sniper rifle/ And it ends / And I’m done / Silence.

These poignant lines come from “The Man Who Wore Her Eyes,” a poem that juxtaposes the mortality and beauty of life, much like Hassouna herself. Until the tragic day she was killed, she had been using her art to tell the stories of her community amidst the ongoing crisis.

Farsi recalls the moment they first met: “I was looking for a way to Gaza, hoping to document life amidst the conflict. Struck by the challenges of travel due to my nationality, my encounter with Fatima was serendipitous. She became my conduit into Gaza, while I offered her a window to the world,” Farsi noted, explaining their exchanges where Hassouna shared the reality of being Palestinian.

“She was proud, resolute: ‘Whatever they do, they cannot defeat us.’ Every shared message felt sacred, a connection through the chaos of warfare,” Farsi reflected. As she grappled with the fear that one day a message might go unanswered, realizing it could mean Hassouna had perished, she was struck by the weight of their friendship. “Yet, she embodied hope, insisting that one day this war would end—yet at what cost?”

In Haasouna’s own words, she expressed a desire for her death to be known, to ensure that her story would resonate long after she was gone. “If I die, I want a loud death,” she had previously stated, yearning for her existence to leave a timeless impact. Fatima’s life may have been tragically cut short, but her legacy calls for remembrance and action.

Honor Hassouna and See ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’

To explore Fatima Hassouna’s work, visit her Instagram page. A trailer for Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk featuring filmmaker Sepideh Farsi can also be viewed in a recent interview on Democracy Now!. Additionally, support humanitarian efforts by contributing to organizations such as The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, American Near East Refugee Aid, Medical Aid for Palestinians, and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

Source
movieweb.com