Mariam Abu Dagga: Gaza journalist killed in Israeli strike carried her camera into the heart of the field'

"She left behind two sets of instructions: to her colleagues, do not cry at her funeral; to her 13-year-old son, Ghaith, make her proud. Despite her instructions, Dagga's colleagues could not help but weep over her body on Monday. She was killed by Israel, alongside four other journalists, while rushing to check on a colleague struck by Israel in al-Nasser hospital, where she had often reported throughout the war in Gaza."

"Mariam had left us instructions not to cry for her when we bid her farewell. She wanted us to spend time with her body, speak to her and take our fill of her before she left, said Samaheer Farhan, a 21-year-old freelance journalist and close friend of Dagga. The 33-year-old photojournalist was an inspiring figure to Farhan and many other journalists in Gaza who admired her relentless reporting, despite the often deeply personal losses she suffered throughout the war."

"Independent Arabia said that she was the example of dedication and professional commitment, and praised her for carrying her camera into the heart of the field, conveying the suffering of civilians and the voices of victims with rare honesty and courage. Her photography and reporting highlighted the humanity of her subjects and focused on the suffering of civilians in Gaza."

Mariam Abu Dagga prepared her will at age 33 and left instructions: her colleagues should not cry at her funeral and her 13-year-old son, Ghaith, should make her proud. She was killed by Israel along with four other journalists while rushing to check on a colleague struck by Israeli fire at al-Nasser hospital, where she had frequently reported. She inspired journalists in Gaza through relentless reporting despite personal losses. Her journalistic prominence began after filming a protester’s death in the 2018 Great March of Return, later identified as her brother. She worked as a freelancer with the Associated Press and Independent Arabia, whose praise emphasized her courage and commitment to conveying civilian suffering.

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