Gaza Photojournalist Killed Days Before Film Debut

A Palestinian photojournalist, Fatma Hassona, was killed Wednesday in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza, just weeks before her documentary film was scheduled to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Hassona, 25, was featured in “Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk,” a film documenting her experiences and observations during the ongoing conflict.

Director Sepideh Farsi, speaking to Deadline, revealed that Hassona died alongside several family members in her home. Farsi had recently spoken with Hassona, who had excitedly shared news of her engagement and, tragically, a sister’s pregnancy. The director expressed profound grief, noting the devastating irony of the loss.

“Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk” was selected for ACID, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, and chronicled a year-long exchange between Farsi and Hassona following the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023. Farsi described the film as a vital window into the realities faced by Palestinians, with Hassona serving as her “eyes in Gaza.”

The director admitted to questioning whether the film itself may have inadvertently made Hassona a target. Hassona’s death brings the total number of Palestinian journalists killed since the conflict began to at least 170, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UN estimates a total of 209 journalists have been killed in Gaza while working or at home.

The news arrives as the Cannes Film Festival prepares to address the ongoing conflict. Last year, attendees used the red carpet to express solidarity with both Palestinians and Israeli hostages, with actress Leila Bekhti wearing a Palestinian flag pin and Laura Blajman-Kadar, a survivor of the October 7th massacre, wearing a sash advocating for the return of hostages.

ACID released a statement Thursday, remembering Hassona’s “magical” spirit and unwavering dedication to documenting life in Gaza, even amidst immense hardship. The organization emphasized that Hassona’s death underscores the urgent need for her story to reach a wider audience, stating the film will now carry an even greater weight and purpose.

This loss is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict, particularly for those working to bear witness and share the stories of those affected. The silencing of a journalist like Fatma Hassona is a loss not only for her family and community, but for the world, diminishing our understanding of a complex and devastating situation. It’s crucial that her work, and the stories of those she sought to amplify, continue to be heard.