Mariam Abu Dagga, a 33-year-old journalist, was known for her fearless reporting. Sadly, Taiseer was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza. She mostly produced stories for the Associated Press (AP) and freelanced for Independent Arabia. In her dispatches, she did an amazing job conveying what local doctors are going through just trying to save kids that are dying from starvation. Her death underscores the growing and alarming trend of violence towards journalists in the area. This harrowing trend has drawn international outcry from press freedom groups.
Abu Dagga has extensively reported on the rising tensions in the conflict. He pays special attention to the humanitarian crisis now taking place in Gaza. Her reporting highlighted the plight of children who were previously healthy but now faced dire circumstances due to lack of food and medical care. She loved her work and it showed in everything she did. She frequently put her life on the line to bring attention to the suffering being experienced by the entire community.
On the day she died, Abu Dagga was one of twenty-four journalists who perished during the fatal airstrike. This was the kind of deadly attack that struck Nasser Hospital. Healthcare workers and civilians scrambled to seek refuge within the hospital’s fortified walls. Unfortunately, these walls have been drowned out by the rising tide of bloodshed that has been constantly spilling into the area.
In a poignant farewell to her 13-year-old son Ghaith, Abu Dagga left behind a letter urging him to “make me proud … become successful and excel.” Her foresight in writing a will beforehand to her reporting efforts served to show the risks she was taking while covering the war.
Her friend Samaheer Farhan then shared what so many of us who knew Abu Dagga are feeling—that deep emptiness and sadness. She wanted family and friends to come together in prayer and memory of her life before her body was released from this world. Farhan urged everyone to go beyond the professional life of Abu Dagga in remembering her. She was not only an inspiring mentor, but a loving mother and supportive friend.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in their statement condemning the Israeli strike that killed Abu Dagga, said the following. Sara Qudah, the regional director of CPJ, condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza as “intolerable.” She highlighted the growing demand for transparency and accountability in these shooting cases. She stated, “Israel’s broadcasted killing of journalists in Gaza continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has faced in recent history.” Furthermore, she demanded an end to such unlawful killings, insisting that “the perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.”
The Associated Press reacted to this heartbreaking murder by doubling down on plans to protect their reporters. A spokesperson stated, “We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to provide crucial eyewitness reporting in difficult and dangerous conditions.”
Independent Arabia honored Abu Dagga’s legacy by describing her as an “example of dedication and professional commitment.” Indeed, this feeling has been repeated in countless print and television tributes that celebrate her incredible impact on journalism despite overwhelming odds.
Reactions from around the world have been immediate, sharp, and warranted by the unsafety of journalists in all conflict regimes. British politician David Lammy expressed his horror over the attack on Nasser Hospital, stating, “Civilians, healthcare workers and journalists must be protected. We need an immediate ceasefire.”
Mariam Abu Dagga’s death serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists covering conflicts around the world. Her commitment to documenting the plight of those in pain from the destruction in Gaza resonates deeply. It rings in the souls of all those whom she impacted and motivated.