Israel Killed This Palestinian Journalist A Day After Her Film About Gaza Was Selected To Premiere At Cannes
25-year-old Fatma Hassouna was known as “the Eye of Gaza” for her powerful documentation of the life of Palestinians during Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israel has killed Palestinian photojournalist and artist, Fatma Hassouna, just one day after a film she made about Palestinian women’s lives under Israel’s genocide in Gaza was selected to be premiered at a section parallel to the Cannes Film Festival.
25-year-old Hassouna was known as “the Eye of Gaza” for her powerful documentation of the life of Palestinians during Israel’s war on Gaza, capturing the human side of the war, including destruction, grief, resilience and everyday life under siege, according to the New Arab.
Israel killed 11 members of her family on January 13, 2024, but she continued to risk her life, covering the news everyday.
“She never waited for the news to come to her, but she ran toward it. Even under the heaviest bombardment, Fatima would leave early each morning, camera in hand, determined to capture what others were too afraid to witness,” Hassouna's best friend, Asma Abo, told The New Arab.
Her documentary, “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk” shows the reality of life during the war in Gaza, Israel’s attacks and bombardment and survival stories through calls between Hassouna and Iranian-French director Sepideh Farsi.
Farsi first connected with Hassouna , while she was trying to reach Gaza to document the war but couldn’t due to Israel’s blockade, according to Vulture.
But after their first video call, Farsi decided to record their conversations, making Hassouna the center of the film.
“Fatem became my eyes in Gaza, and I, a window open on the world, for her. I filmed, catching the moments offered by our video calls, what Fatem was sharing with me, fiery and full of life. I filmed her laughs, her tears, her hopes and her despair. I followed my instinct. Without knowing beforehand where those images would lead us. Such is the beauty of cinema. The beauty of life,” Farsi said in a statement, the Independent reported.
On April 15, the Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion ACID, a parallel section promoting independent film at Cannes Film Festival, announced the film is scheduled to premiere during the sidebar at the 2025 Cannes.
On April 16, Israel killed Hassouna and nine members of her family, including her pregnant sister in an airstrike targeting her home in Gaza.
Her parents survived but remain in critical condition.
Israeli forces said it was targeting a Hamas operative involved in attacks on soldiers and civilians, according to the Times of Israel.
“Maybe my photos will outlive me, that's what gives me peace,” Hassouna had said to Abo in one of their last conversations.
Since Oct.7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 211 journalists in Gaza, according to Gaza’s media office.
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