Gaza Journalists

Truth Under Fire

The Vital Role of Journalism in the Sarkha Project’s Mission for Accountability in Gaza

The work of the Sarkha Project hinges on the tireless efforts of courageous journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. These individuals put their lives on the line daily, navigating perilous situations to document the war crimes and human rights violations perpetrated against Palestinians civilians. Their unwavering commitment to truth-telling is essential, as they provide first-hand accounts of the atrocities faced by civilians. Without their bravery and dedication, the evidence we rely on to expose these abuses would remain hidden in the shadows, leaving countless stories untold.

The targeting of journalists and the banning of international media from entering Gaza, alongside the prohibition of Al Jazeera from operating in Israel, represent significant assaults on press freedom and the dissemination of information. These actions not only endanger the lives of journalists, but also severely restrict the flow of vital information needed to document human rights violations. When journalists are silenced or barred from reporting, the reality of the situation on the ground remains obscured, hindering efforts for accountability and justice. Without independent verification and reporting, the truth about war crimes and abuses faced by Palestinians is buried, leaving victims voiceless and preventing the international community from holding perpetrators accountable. Such obfuscation undermines the very foundations of human rights advocacy, as it becomes increasingly difficult to mobilize support for those who suffer in silence.

Following these journalists is crucial for gaining an uncensored understanding of the severity of the genocide occurring in Gaza. Mainstream media often fails to report from conflict zones and when they do, the narratives can be shaped by various biases. Journalists on the ground offer raw, unfiltered perspectives that reflect the realities faced by those living under siege. By supporting and amplifying their work, we not only honor their sacrifices but also ensure that the world is informed about the true scope of the humanitarian crisis. Advocacy for journalists is advocacy for justice, and it is imperative that we stand with them in their pursuit of accountability and truth. Their resilience fuels our mission and reinforces the urgent need for collective action.

The Sarkha Project recognizes the exceptional dedication and courage of journalists who have tirelessly reported on the human rights violations occurring in Gaza and the West Bank. Their unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth and providing open source evidence of war crimes plays a crucial role in documenting abuses and amplifying the voices of those affected by conflict. These journalists navigate immense challenges to ensure that the world is informed about the realities on the ground, making significant contributions to our mission of supporting justice and accountability. By highlighting their outstanding work, the Sarkha Project underscores the vital importance of investigative journalism in the pursuit of human rights.

Ismail al ghoul

Ismail al Ghoul, a correspondent for Al Jazeera based in Gaza, was a highly respected journalist known for his unwavering commitment to delivering the truth. His targeting and subsequent killing have profoundly affected the journalism community in Palestine and globally. On July 31st 2024, Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi, his cameraman, had been killed after Israel struck the car they were traveling in with a missile.

Renowned for his fearless reporting, Ismail worked tirelessly, often in the most perilous situations, to shed light on the ongoing genocide and the dire humanitarian conditions resulting from Israel's actions in Gaza. His dedication to his profession and the pursuit of justice solidified his reputation as a vital voice for those affected by the violence.

He was married and the father of a toddler, Zeina, Ismail al Ghoul will be profoundly missed and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy continues to inspire journalists and advocates for human rights around the world.

Five days before he was martyred he posted his thoughts about the relentless assault on Gaza and his role as a journalist.

“Every day we start working, thinking about people's pains. How to transfer the image that we are not used to all these months. What issue to focus on amidst the crowdedness of so many issues. We find that we are facing a global disability, but sorry, our people, this is what we can do, to reach your voice and convey your suffering.”

- Ismail Al-Ghoul

14 January 1997 – 31 July 2024

Motaz Azaiza

Motaz Azaiza is a distinguished Palestinian journalist hailing from Gaza. He was raised in the Deir al-Balah Camp within the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip. A graduate of Al-Azhar University in Gaza, where he earned a degree in English studies in 2021, Azaiza has emerged as the most recognized journalist from Gaza. He boasts an impressive following of 17.5 million on Instagram and has gained international acclaim for his couraguos documentation of the brutal Israeli assaults on Gaza in 2023.

Since evacuating Gaza, Azaiza has traveled extensively to raise awareness about Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on Gaza.

His significant contributions to global resistance movements have earned him recognition from prestigious outlets, including Time Magazine and GQ Middle East.

Awards & Recognition:

Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
Featured in Time's list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2024
Included in Time's Top 10 Photos of 2023
Recipient of the 2023 TRT World Citizen Award
Honored as Man of the Year by GQ Middle East
Awarded the Freedom Prize in Normandy, France

“I wished to be awarded this Freedom Prize the moment my country is free from the Israeli occupation.

We -Palestinians- have been suffering from the atrocities committed by the israeli occupation since 1948.

My people in Gaza are now being annihilated and starved while the world remains silent and no one stops this genocide and no one has been able to hold Israel accountable for its crimes, and we will fight for our freedom relentlessly and fearlessly till we witness the liberation of our land, my fight is not done yet.

Keep in mind that no one is free until Palestine is free.

After all the horror that I witnessed while covering the ongoing genocide and after the many times I almost was going to lose my life while reporting on it, there is nothing more important than the protection of journalists. I got the chance to evacuate Gaza, but my journalist colleagues in Gaza currently face threats that severely impact on their life, safety, and their ability to report the truth because of the israeli occupation and its heavy and indiscriminate bombardment.

More than 136 journalists from Gaza lost their lives only for doing their job, but with your support we can all together call for the protection and safety of the palestinian journalists still on the ground risking their lives to continue telling the truth.

I evacuated my beloved country Gaza, but I promised myself to make our message reach the world that we are people looking for our freedom and we are not terrorists.

Please do not stop talking and reporting about Gaza.

Thank you all very much.”

-Motaz Azaiza

Mahmoud Bassam

Mahmoud Bassam is a seasoned photographer and war journalist based in Gaza, renowned for his impactful documentation of civilian casualties within the Gaza Strip. His photographs poignantly convey the profound emotions of sadness and heartbreak experienced by surviving family members following home bombings. Despite having sustained serious injuries from being targeted by Israeli occupation forces, he remains resolute in his commitment to documenting the ongoing violence against his people. His work not only highlights the human cost of conflict but also serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of those enduring these tragic circumstances.

“We stand firm, holding onto hope as one clings to a lifeline in the middle of merciless waves.

400 days of war, and each day brings new pain and another loss, yet our determination only grows stronger. We were forced to flee, losing our homes and loved ones, but we have not lost our will. We, the people of this land, share the truth amidst the destruction of our city to show the world that we were not created to bow.

We may feel pain, we may cry in a silence heavy with the betrayal of a world that has turned its back on our suffering, but we will not retreat. We stand here, among the ruins, reporting the truth without fear, capturing images of a city that once pulsed with life, so that humanity bears witness to those who resisted to their last breath.

We are the ones crushed within the walls of war, but we are not defeated. We are those who lost land, home, and soul, yet we have not lost our will. We are here to tell the world: we are not numbers; we are faces, names, stories. We are hope that will never die. We will stay until the end, writing until oppression is lifted and living until victory is achieved.”

-Mahmoud Bassam

Hatem h. rawagh

A Palestinian journalist displaced from Gaza City to the south, focusing on covering the Israeli war on Gaza. He has lived through five wars and numerous escalations, His experiences shape my commitment to documenting the realities of conflict and advocating for the voices of those affected. His work aims to shed light on human rights violations and promote accountability for the ongoing crisis.

“The comforting thing is that ALLAH
‏knows us from within”

-Hatem H. Rawagh

Mohammad Salama

Mohammad Salama is a distinguished photographer and war journalist from Gaza, Palestine. He is married to fellow war journalist Hala Asfour. As a younger professional in the field, Mohammad is widely respected for his fearless coverage of the ongoing conflict, providing poignant and intimate footage of the victims of Israel's hostilities.

Mohammad has repeatedly risked his life to document the harrowing realities on the ground, with significant coverage of the sieges at Nasser and Al Amal Hospitals. His family home was bombed and destroyed leaving him with no home. Despite facing threats from Israeli snipers and targeted airstrikes, Mohammad remains committed to capturing the stories that need to be told, highlighting the resilience and suffering of those affected by the conflict.

“We saw life and death overlap in front of the lens, every scene carries a story of a deep pain, between rubble and wounds, it picks up pain and writes stories that are not told in words, not only what we see is war, but the war that lives in every moment, working day and night, facing danger, and approaching death to tell the stories of others while real suffering remains hidden behind every shot, yes, the camera may capture everything, but the fatigue that exaggerates the soul does not appear in the pictures, Oh God, steadfastness.”

-Mohammad Salama

Donate to Mohammad’s GoFundMe

Mahmoud Abusalama

Mahmoud Abusalama is a distinguished journalist from Gaza. Throughout this devastating conflict, he has exemplified exceptional professionalism in documenting the egregious war crimes occurring in modern history. His meticulous attention to detail and commitment to accuracy have established a benchmark for war journalists worldwide, setting a standard for thorough and responsible reporting in the face of unprecedented challenges.

“30 days of the siege on the Northern Gaza Strip and the Israeli army continues to send in its military reinforcements to the heart of Jabalia Camp.

I am one of the residents of this camp, rebelling against being broken, and refusing the idea of being expelled. This (steadfastness) caused the General’s Plan to fail in expelling the residents of the Northern Gaza Strip to the south.

The Israeli army used all forms of weaponry that were (designed and) invented by humans to kill other humans in Jabalia Camp. Despite all this, the residents of Jabalia Camp are resiliently steadfast, regardless of what has happened to them.

This is despite the use of explosive barrel (bombs), the martyrs lying in the roads, the stray dogs gnawing at the corpses of the martyrs lying in the roads, no hospitals in the north, no hospitals for the injured, and tons of ex pl os iv es (being used against us).

All this has been happening for more than a month now in plain view, while the entire world sees and hears (all this happening) in Northern Gaza.

And with all this..

Jabalia Camp will not fall!

Jabalia Camp will not fall!”

-Mahmoud Abusalama

Anas Al Sharif

Anas Jamal Al Sharif is a Palestinian journalist and correspondent for Al Jazeera, hailing from Jabalia refugee camp in North Gaza. He has meticulously documented numerous instances of war crimes, including multiple school massacres, the destruction of Al Shifa Hospital and Kamal Adwan Hospital, and the killings of fellow journalists. Additionally, he has reported on the bombing of his sister’s home, extensive bombardments of civilian residences, and the complete destruction of Jabalia Camp and Beit Lahia. His work is essential in bringing attention to these critical issues and advocating for accountability in the face of ongoing human rights violations.

“God, the paths have become narrow for us, the dangers have surrounded us, the crises have become severe for us, and their rings have become entrenched. So, O God, remove our grief, relieve our distress, relieve our yearning, and protect our country.”

- Anas Jamal Al Sharif

Hussein Karsoua

Hussein Karsoua is a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza who has been diligently documenting Israel's war crimes since October 7, 2023. Throughout this period, he has experienced displacement over 13 times and suffered serious injuries to his foot as a result of being targeted by the Israeli army—an explicit repercussion for his commitment to exposing their actions. The Sarkha Project recognizes Mr. Karsoua for his remarkable courage, resilience, and exemplary journalism in the face of adversity.

“The occupation deliberately targets journalists, and press shields no longer protect us.”

-Hussein Karsoua

Donate to Hussein’s GoFundMe

Bisan Owda

Bisan is a Palestinian female journalist from Gaza and was raised in Beit Hanoun and has collaborated with multiple organizations on a variety of issues. As a participant in UN Women's Youth Gender Innovation Agora Forum, she has actively engaged in promoting gender equality. Her work with the European Union includes initiatives focused on climate change, and she serves as an EU Goodwill Ambassador. Additionally, Owda contributes her expertise to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Since October 7th 2023, Owda captured significant attention through her video and livestream updates on social media, which highlighted the experiences of Palestinian civilians. She became widely recognized for frequently commencing her videos with variations of the phrase, "I'm still alive."

Owda's work has been widely disseminated by major media outlets, including BBC News, Al Jazeera, and ABC News. In her reports, she has documented IDF attacks and the critical shortages of food, shelter, medical care, and other essential resources faced by the affected population. As of May 2024, her follower count reached 4.1 million, reflecting her significant impact in raising awareness of these humanitarian issues.

Activism

Following the October 2023 evacuation orders for northern Gaza, journalist Owda and her parents moved from Beit Hanoun to Al-Shifa Hospital. Her home and office in Rimal were destroyed, including all her filming equipment, leaving her to rely on her phone for reporting. From Al-Shifa, she documented illnesses spreading among 50,000 displaced people due to inadequate shelter, water, and sanitation.

On November 3, Owda witnessed and reported on the Al-Shifa ambulance airstrike. She chronicled worsening conditions, including food and water shortages and ongoing bombings. After the IDF siege of Al-Shifa in mid-November, she described injured people dying from lack of medical care and shared videos of her trek south to Khan Yunis, highlighting the dire conditions faced by refugees.

By December, Owda expressed despair over her survival, detailing nightmares, illness, and basic needs shortages like water and menstrual supplies. Her reports were cited widely in the context of journalists' deaths during the conflict. In December, she also called for a global strike supporting a Gaza ceasefire, which gained international traction.

In early 2024, Owda reported on the "Flour Massacre," alleging forced starvation and attacks on civilians seeking aid. In April, she joined Palestinian journalists urging a boycott of the White House Correspondents' Dinner to protest journalist killings and the Gaza blockade. She also expressed support for pro-Palestinian campus protests, calling them a source of hope.

Awards 2024

Peabody Awards
Category: News
Title: It's Bisan from Gaza and I'm Still Alive
Edward R. Murrow Award
Category: News Series — Large Digital Organization
News and Documentary Emmy Awards
Category: Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form
Nomination - 45th News and Documentary Emmy Awards
Category: Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form

“The brutality and terror of the coloniser can never force me to leave my land, to surrender or to lower my spirit or voice.”

-Bisan Owda

Sami F. Barhoom

Sami F. Barhoom, 33, is a distinguished Palestinian journalist and TRT Arabi correspondent based in Gaza. On November 26, 2024, he was honored with the prestigious “Eye of Truth" Award for his exceptional coverage of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. His reporting has included critical issues such as the theft of aid trucks by armed Israeli gangs, tragic killings of numerous children, the Israeli onslaught Northern Gaza, forced famine affecting civilians, military incursion into Rafah, and the implications of the takeover of the Rafah border. Furthermore, Barhoum has reported on the dire living conditions in tent camps and the assassinations of several of his colleagues.

Despite enduring significant personal loss—having been shot by Israeli snipers on August 18, 2024, and losing his grandmother—Barhoum has remained unwavering in his commitment to documenting the harrowing crimes committed against the people Gaza.

Awards:

“Eye of Truth" Award, 2024 from Middle East University - Amman Jordan
ABU Competition, 2024
Category: Best Documentary Film
Title: "The Sole Survivor" (Producer)

“Oh, those who pass through our pages, we have written with blood stories that will remain in their archives and our history... We are proud of ourselves today and every day”!

-Sami F. Barhoom

We are continually adding journalists to this page so please check back frequently for updates. Thank you for your continued support in advocating for accountability and justice.