On October 12, Saleh Aljafarawi, a 28-year-old Palestinian freelance journalist, was killed by members of an Israel-linked militia fighting Hamas in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, just days after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel on October 9.
Aljafarawi had gained widespread recognition on social media for his war coverage, where his videos often went viral and earned him the nickname “Mr. Fafo.”
He was in Al-Sabra documenting the destruction left after the Israeli withdrawal when he was fatally shot by armed men cooperating with Israeli forces. Witnesses reported that he was clearly wearing an identifiable press vest and helmet at the time of the attack, suggesting that the killing was deliberate.
“All the scenes and situations I went through during these 467 days will not be erased from my memory. All the situations we faced, we will never be able to forget them,” Aljafarawi said.
Before his death, he had written a farewell letter to be shared in the event of his death. The letter, posted on the social platform X after his death, read:
“I have tasted loss many times, yet I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, a truth that will remain a testimony against those who were silent and an honor for those who stood firm.”
Aljafarawi had previously been injured on February 15, 2024, when an Israeli drone strike hit the area between Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza. At the time, he was helping evacuate doctors from Nasser Hospital when the missile struck, wounding his right hand with shrapnel, he told CPJ at that time.
Saleh’s killing adds to the devastating toll of 278 journalists killed in Gaza since the start of the war, all reportedly by Israeli forces.
At Free Press Alliance, we strongly condemn the killing of journalists in Gaza and call for accountability and protection for all media workers.