A photojournalist known for her courageous documentation of civilian life in Gaza was killed this week while responding to an attack on a colleague. Mariam Abu Dagga, 33, was among five journalists who died when the vehicle they were traveling in was struck.
Despite the immense dangers of reporting from the region, Dagga was renowned for her dedication to her work. A close associate described her as a gentle yet deeply passionate professional who continued her reporting without interruption, even after suffering profound personal losses during the conflict.
Her journalistic work first gained significant attention during the 2018 border protests, a period that became personally tragic for her when she filmed the fatal shooting of a demonstrator who was later identified as her brother.
In the subsequent 22 months of war, she worked as a freelance photographer, contributing to major international news agencies. Colleagues praised her commitment to carrying her camera directly into the heart of conflict zones to capture the human cost of the war with what was described as rare honesty.
Her photography focused intensely on the humanity of her subjects. One of her widely seen images tenderly portrayed a five-year-old boy who had recently died from malnutrition. Another captured the chaotic and desperate scramble of dozens of men seeking food from an aid truck, illustrating the severe humanitarian crisis.
Like many journalists in Gaza, Dagga was acutely aware of the risks. The ongoing conflict is considered the deadliest period on record for members of the press, with numerous Palestinian journalists killed since the war began. While the military has stated it does not target journalists, press freedom organizations have condemned the high death toll.
Dagga leaves behind a teenage son, from whom she had been separated for a year and a half after he was evacuated abroad. A friend stated that her unfulfilled dream was to be reunited with her child. In a letter to her son, she expressed her hopes for his future, asking him to make her proud and to one day name a daughter after her.
