Final Images Highlight Tragic Death of Journalist in Gaza

Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who contributed to The Associated Press, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on October 16, 2023, while documenting the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The attack occurred at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where Dagga had captured her final images just moments before the strike. She was one of 22 individuals, including five journalists, who lost their lives during this incident, according to health officials.

The photographs retrieved from Dagga’s camera show a damaged stairwell outside the hospital. They depict people navigating the stairs after a preliminary strike, while others peer out from the hospital’s windows, unaware of the impending danger. The Israeli military stated that the operation targeted a suspected Hamas surveillance camera located at the hospital. Witnesses reported that the first strike resulted in the death of a cameraman from the Reuters news agency, who was covering a live broadcast, along with another unnamed individual. A senior Hamas official has since denied that any surveillance equipment was present at the facility.

Life and Legacy of Mariam Dagga

At the age of 33, Dagga had established herself as a significant voice in documenting the experiences of ordinary Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict. She regularly worked from Nasser Hospital, where she captured the stories of those displaced from their homes, as well as the efforts of medical personnel attending to wounded and malnourished children. Her dedication to portraying the human impact of war was evident in her work, which sought to shed light on the plight of those affected by the violence.

In a poignant moment, Algeria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, addressed the U.N. Security Council on October 18, 2023, reading a heartfelt letter Dagga had written to her 13-year-old son, Gaith. The letter, written just days before her death, expressed her love and hopes for him, emphasizing her role as a mother above all else. “Ghaith. You are the heart and soul of your mother,” Bendjama quoted Dagga as saying. “When I die, I want you to pray for me, not to cry for me.”

Holding up a photograph of Dagga, Bendjama described her as “a young and beautiful mother” whose only weapon was her camera. In the letter, Dagga urged her son to always remember her and expressed her desire for him to name his future daughter after her.

The tragic events surrounding Dagga’s death highlight the ongoing dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones. As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, her legacy as a dedicated storyteller and advocate for the voiceless remains a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.

For more updates on the ongoing conflict, follow The Associated Press’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.