The tragic death of journalist and activist Saleh Al-Jaafrawi has once again highlighted the immense risks faced by those who strive to document the truth amid Gaza’s ruins. Al-Jaafrawi, known for his courage and devotion to exposing the human cost of the ongoing genocidal war, was fatally shot on Sunday evening while filming the devastation in southern Gaza City. His body was later transferred to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

Witnesses reported that unidentified gunmen opened fire on Al-Jaafrawi in the Sabra neighbourhood, where he had been reporting on the aftermath of yet another wave of destruction. His camera and recording equipment were taken, silencing a voice that had long sought to bring the stories of Gaza’s suffering to the world. Contact with him had been lost earlier that evening, prompting widespread concern among colleagues and local residents.

Al-Jaafrawi had received threats in the past due to his work exposing the impact of Israel’s continuing campaign in Gaza, threats that tragically materialised on the streets he so often walked to document others’ pain. His killing comes amid growing reports of internal unrest in Gaza, where armed groups have targeted both civilians and security personnel, further deepening the sense of despair within an already devastated population.

Al-Jaafrawi’s death is not just a loss for journalism but for the collective memory of Gaza itself. Through his lens, he preserved what others sought to erase, the faces, voices, and endurance of a people living through a genocide that the world too often chooses to look away from.