6 Palestinian Documentary Photographers on the Ground to Follow

Amidst the carpet bombing of the Gaza Strip by Israeli occupation forces, the lack of international media coverage on the ground in Gaza has been admonished by scores of Palestinian activists,  including writer and poet Mohamed El Kurd. The people of the Gaza Strip have taken on the roles of witnesses, archivists and  journalists for themselves.

Palestinian photojournalists and photographers have been documenting the relentless attacks by Israeli forces even while they struggle for survival. Despite power outages and limited internet access, they persist in providing live coverage, employing their lenses as an additional tool of resistance.

In solidarity with Palestine, we have compiled a list of six photographers currently operating on the ground in Gaza.

MOTAZ AZAIZA

Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian photojournalist, divides his efforts between capturing the world's attention with his documentation of the war crimes committed by occupying forces and collaborating with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. On October 12th, Azaiza took to Instagram to share that more than 15 of his family members were killed by an Israeli airstrike.

SAMAR ABU ELOUF

Samar Abu Elouf is a Palestinian photographer who resides and operates within the Gaza Strip. Her primary photographic focus revolves around depicting the effects of the Gaza conflict on women and children. Following her brief reunion with her children on October 14th, Abu Elouf shared, “I met my children after a week of working as a photographer during the war. I was inspecting the bodies while taking pictures out of fear that they might be among them.”Since 2010, Abu Elouf has pursued a career as an independent photographer, contributing her work to various publications such as Reuters, The New York Times, Middle East Eye, World Health Organization, UN Women, The Feminist Peace Organization (CFD), and several others. Her projects centre on themes of resilience, delicately treading the line between hope and despair. Abu Elouf is also a fellow of the International Committee of the Red Cross and has received over 17 local and international awards in recognition of her contributions.

SUHAIL NASSAR

The Gaza-based photographer is known for his distinctive visual language. Amid the rubble and violence, he chooses to capture the subtle nuances and the destruction of what the world often takes for granted. Recently, Nassar’s photos have become characterised by a muted grey tone that allows them to convey their message without words. His images traverse the tumultuous and sorrowful streets of Gaza, showcasing everything from its resilient inhabitants, kittens and children to the interiors of its ravaged homes.MAHMOUD BASSAM

While unaffiliated with local or global media outlets, the photographer has been diligently capturing the current reality of being in Gaza today. Inside ambulances and grieving families’ homes, Bassam’s lens does not shy away from violence.MOHAMED AL MASRI

“There is a new massacre every single minute,” stated Al Masri along with images detailing the aftermath of Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7th. The photographer also documented the attack on Gaza which occurred after the Israeli Occupation Forces had issued a warning to Gazans to evacuate Northern Gaza on October 13th. Tragically, this warning was followed by attacks on civilians as they sought to flee to safety.MOHAMMED ZAANOUN

Mohammed Zaanoun, a Palestinian photographer, is dedicated to documenting the violence and destruction he observes in Gaza. With over 15 years of experience as a photojournalist, he was honoured with the Cultures of Resistance award in 2017. Equipped with two cameras, a press vest, and a helmet, Zaanoun provides his Instagram followers with a firsthand account of the unfolding events in Gaza, effectively capturing both the pain and the indomitable spirit of resistance.