Faces of
Resistance: Stories That
Refuse to Be Forgotten

Muhammad Jamal al-Durrah was a 12-year-old Palestinian boy from the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza. His death on 30 September 2000 — captured on live television by a French camera crew — became the defining image of the Second Intifada and one of the most powerful visual documents of Palestinian suffering.

The Final Moments

On the second day of the Second Intifada, Muhammad and his father Jamal were caught in crossfire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants near the Netzarim junction in Gaza. Seeking shelter, they crouched behind a concrete block. The footage captured by cameraman Talal Abu Rahma shows Muhammad clinging to his father, both screaming in terror as bullets strike the wall around them.

In the final frames, Muhammad’s body goes limp, slumped across his father’s lap. His father, severely wounded but alive, sits in shock. Muhammad was pronounced dead at Shifa Hospital. The footage — broadcast on France 2 television — was seen by millions worldwide within hours.

The Controversy

Israel initially claimed responsibility, then retracted and launched a smear campaign questioning whether Muhammad was even dead — suggesting the footage was staged. Independent investigations, including by the French courts and journalists, confirmed the authenticity of the footage and the circumstances of Muhammad’s death. The Israeli military’s own internal review acknowledged that Israeli fire was likely responsible.

Legacy

• Symbol of the Intifada: Muhammad’s image was reproduced on posters, murals, and postage stamps across the Arab world.
• Artistic Tributes: Poems, songs, and paintings dedicated to his memory.
• Documentaries: “The Killing of Muhammad al-Durrah” investigated the case.
• Continued Relevance: His name is invoked whenever children are killed in Gaza — a reminder that Palestinian children remain targets.

Shireen Abu Akleh was one of the most recognizable and beloved journalists in the Arab world. For 25 years, she reported for Al Jazeera Arabic, covering the occupation, the Intifadas, and the daily lives of Palestinians. Her voice was known in every Palestinian home.

The Assassination (11 May 2022)

On 11 May 2022, Shireen was covering an Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp. Despite wearing a blue press vest and helmet clearly identifying her as a journalist, she was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper. Her colleague, journalist Ali al-Samoudi, was also shot but survived.

Eyewitnesses, including journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the AP, confirmed that there was no Palestinian fire in her immediate vicinity — the shot came from Israeli positions. The Israeli military initially blamed Palestinian gunmen, then launched a series of investigations that only admitted “a high probability” of Israeli fire after a year of denial.

Global Outrage & Funeral

• Funeral Attack: Israeli police attacked her funeral procession in Jerusalem, beating pallbearers carrying her coffin — footage went viral worldwide.
• UN Condemnation: UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killing and the attack on the funeral.
• International Investigations: The US conducted its own investigation and concluded she was likely killed by Israeli fire.
• ICC Evidence: Her case was included in the ICC investigation into war crimes.

Legacy

Shireen Abu Akleh’s name became a rallying cry for press freedom and Palestinian rights. Streets, schools, and journalism awards have been named in her honor. Her death highlighted the systematic targeting of journalists by Israeli forces — over 150 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023, the highest death toll in any modern conflict.

Ahed Tamimi grew up in the village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah — a village known for its weekly non-violent protests against the Israeli settlement of Halamish, which had confiscated the village’s spring. From a young age, Ahed participated in these demonstrations and confronted heavily armed soldiers with nothing but her courage.

The Viral Moment (2017)

In December 2017, after Israeli soldiers had shot her 15-year-old cousin Muhammad in the head with a rubber bullet, Ahed — then 16 years old — confronted two soldiers near her home. In a video filmed by her mother, she is seen slapping and kicking the soldiers, who did not physically retaliate. The footage went viral worldwide, sparking both admiration and condemnation.

She was arrested in a night raid by Israeli forces and charged with assault, incitement, and throwing stones. After 8 months in military detention, she was released in a plea deal. Her case drew international attention to the military detention of Palestinian children.

Continued Activism

• 2018 International Recognition: Named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People
• 2023 Re-arrested: Detained again during Gaza war for social media posts
• 2024 Released: Freed after months in detention
• Ongoing Advocacy: Continues to speak out for Palestinian rights internationally

Legacy

Ahed Tamimi represents a generation of Palestinian youth who grew up entirely under occupation — who have never known freedom, yet refuse to accept oppression. She has become an icon of Sumud — steadfastness in the face of overwhelming military power.

Rachel Corrie was a 23-year-old American peace activist from Olympia, Washington. In early 2003, she traveled to Gaza as part of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) — a volunteer organization that places internationals alongside Palestinians to witness and document the occupation.

The Final Act (16 March 2003)

On 16 March 2003, Rachel was in the Rafah refugee camp, protesting the demolition of a Palestinian home — specifically the home of pharmacist Samir Nasrallah. She stood in front of the house, wearing a fluorescent orange jacket and speaking through a megaphone.

As a Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer approached, Rachel climbed onto a mound of earth in its path. The bulldozer driver — later identified as an Israeli soldier — ran over her twice. She died of her injuries shortly after. The demolition continued.

Her Letters from Gaza

Rachel wrote extensively to her family about the conditions in Gaza. Her letters — published posthumously in “Let Me Stand Alone” — provide a powerful first-hand account of life under occupation. In one letter, she wrote:

Legacy & Legal Battle

• Family’s Legal Fight: The Corrie family pursued a civil lawsuit against the Israeli military for over a decade. In 2015, an Israeli court ruled the death was an “accident” and Israel bore no responsibility — a decision widely criticized by human rights organizations.
• Plays & Films: “My Name Is Rachel Corrie” (play), “Rachel” (documentary), and countless artistic tributes.
• Inspiration: Her sacrifice inspired thousands of internationals to join the ISM and other solidarity movements.
• Rachel Corrie Foundation: Established to promote peace and justice in her memory.

Refaat Alareer was a Palestinian poet, professor of literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, and co-founder of the “We Are Not Numbers” project — which paired young Palestinian writers with international mentors. He was one of Gaza’s most prominent intellectuals and a powerful voice for Palestinian resistance through words.

His Final Poem

Weeks before his death, Refaat wrote the poem “If I Must Die” — which has since become a global anthem for Palestinian resistance and has been translated into dozens of languages:

The Assassination (6 December 2023)

On 6 December 2023, Refaat was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City. His brother, brother’s son, and sister were also killed. The strike came after Refaat had repeatedly refused to leave Gaza, stating that he would not abandon his students and community. His death was confirmed by multiple sources, including his colleagues and family members.

Legacy

• “If I Must Die” became viral — read at protests, adapted into songs, and translated into 30+ languages
• We Are Not Numbers continues his mission of amplifying Palestinian youth voices
• Books: He edited “Gaza Writes Back” and “Gaza Unsilenced” — collections of Palestinian short stories
• Global Tributes: Streets, scholarships, and literary awards named in his honor

Wael Al-Dahdouh is a Palestinian journalist and Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief. Born in Gaza City in 1970, he began his journalism career in 1998 and joined Al Jazeera in 2004, where he became one of the most recognisable reporters documenting life and war in Gaza.

A Journalist Who Stayed

For years, Al-Dahdouh reported from Gaza through repeated wars and Israeli military operations. During the 2023–2024 war, he remained a central on-the-ground voice, reporting from the territory while documenting the destruction and civilian suffering around him.

When the Story Became His Own

On 25 October 2023, while reporting live, Al-Dahdouh learned that an Israeli airstrike had killed members of his family who had been sheltering in Nuseirat. His wife Amna, his son Mahmoud, his daughter Sham, and his grandson Adam were among those killed. Other relatives were also killed or injured.

Despite the loss, he returned to reporting. His decision to continue working while grieving made him a powerful symbol of the personal cost carried by journalists covering the war.

Wounded While Reporting

In December 2023, Al-Dahdouh was wounded while reporting in Khan Younis in an Israeli strike that also killed his Al Jazeera colleague Samer Abudaqa. He suffered serious injuries and later travelled to Qatar for medical treatment.

Hamza: A Son and Fellow Journalist

On 7 January 2024, his eldest son Hamza Al-Dahdouh, a 27-year-old journalist and camera operator, was killed alongside freelance journalist Mustafa Thuraya while travelling to a reporting assignment in southern Gaza. Al-Dahdouh had already lost his wife, two children and grandson in October.

A Voice for Journalism

Al-Dahdouh’s story became inseparable from the risks faced by Palestinian journalists. In 2024, the National Press Club honoured him with its International John Aubuchon Award for press freedom. Al Jazeera continues to identify him as its Gaza bureau chief.

His story is not only about personal loss. It is also about the role of journalists as witnesses, documenting events that might otherwise remain unseen and preserving the human stories behind the statistics.

Iyad Khayri al-Hallaq was a Palestinian man with autism and other disabilities who lived in East Jerusalem. He attended the Elwyn Centre, a special-needs center in the Old City, and worked in its kitchen as part of his rehabilitation.

His Final Journey

On 30 May 2020, Iyad was walking toward the center near the Lions’ Gate when Israeli Border Police officers ordered him to stop. He fled and hid in a nearby garbage room. His teacher, who was with him, repeatedly tried to tell the officers that he was disabled.

Iyad was shot and killed. He was unarmed. Human-rights documentation records that officers suspected he might be carrying a weapon, but no weapon was found on him.

Justice and Accountability

The case went through an Israeli criminal process. In 2020, the officer who fired the fatal shots was charged with reckless manslaughter. In July 2023, the Jerusalem District Court acquitted him after accepting his claim of perceived self-defense. The acquittal was criticized by Palestinian and human-rights organizations.

Legacy

Iyad’s story became a powerful symbol of the vulnerability of Palestinians with disabilities and of the consequences of lethal force in occupied East Jerusalem. His mother, Rana Hallaq, publicly called for her son not to be forgotten.

Hiba Kamal Abu Nada was a Palestinian poet, novelist, educator and nutritionist. Born in 1991 to a Palestinian refugee family, she built a literary career connecting poetry, memory, identity and life in Palestine.

A Writer of Gaza

Hiba studied at Palestinian universities and became known for poetry and fiction. Her novel Oxygen Is Not for the Dead received recognition through the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity in 2017.

Her Final Words

During the opening weeks of the 2023 Gaza war, Hiba continued writing. On 10 October 2023, she wrote “I Grant You Refuge,” reflecting on fear, children, prayer and the violence surrounding Gaza.

On 20 October 2023, Hiba was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, according to Palestinian literary and cultural sources.

Legacy

Her death turned her writing into a record of a generation living through war. Her poems continue to be translated and published, keeping alive the voice of a young Palestinian writer who documented fear, love, displacement and hope.

Hamza al-Dahdouh was a 27-year-old Palestinian journalist and camera operator working for Al Jazeera. He was the son of Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh, whose family had already suffered devastating losses during the war.

The Final Assignment

On 7 January 2024, Hamza and freelance video journalist Mustafa Thuraya were traveling in a car after an assignment in southern Gaza. An Israeli drone strike hit the vehicle and both journalists were killed.

Questions Over the Strike

Israel said the men had been operating a drone and alleged links to armed groups. Al Jazeera and the men’s families rejected the allegations. CPJ called for an independent investigation and said journalists must be protected as civilians while doing their work.

A Family of Journalists

Hamza’s death came after his father had lost his wife, daughter, son and grandson in an earlier Israeli strike. Wael continued reporting from Gaza despite these personal losses, making Hamza’s death part of a much larger story of the risks faced by journalists documenting the war.

Legacy

Hamza is remembered as one of the journalists whose camera work helped document Gaza during an unprecedented period of destruction. His case remains part of the wider debate over the protection and accountability of journalists in war.

Thomas Peter Hurndall was a British photography student and volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement. He went to Gaza in 2003 to document life under occupation and to work alongside Palestinian civilians.

Rafah, April 2003

On 11 April 2003, in Rafah, Tom saw children trapped under fire. Wearing a bright orange ISM vest, he moved toward them and carried a young boy to safety. When he returned to help other children, he was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier.

The injury caused severe brain damage. Tom remained in a persistent vegetative state for nine months before dying in London on 13 January 2004.

The Legal Battle

The soldier who fired the shot, Taysir Hayb, was eventually convicted by an Israeli military court of manslaughter and obstruction of justice and sentenced to eight years. In 2006, a British inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

Legacy

Tom’s photographs and journals became an enduring record of his time in Gaza. His family continued campaigning for accountability, and his story remains closely associated with international civilian solidarity in Rafah.

Vittorio Arrigoni was an Italian journalist, writer and activist who became closely associated with Gaza’s civil society and international solidarity movement. He lived in Gaza from 2008 and reported on the territory during periods of intense conflict.

“Stay Human”

Arrigoni wrote for the Italian newspaper il manifesto and published accounts of life in Gaza. His phrase “Restiamo umani” — “Stay Human” — became associated with his writing and his appeal to view Palestinians as people rather than statistics.

Kidnapping and Death

On 14 April 2011, Arrigoni was kidnapped in Gaza by a hardline Salafist group that demanded the release of a detained leader. His body was found the following day. He was 36.

Legacy

Arrigoni’s books, journalism and years living alongside Palestinians made him a prominent international voice for Gaza. His story also shows the dangers faced by international activists from multiple actors in a conflict zone.

Omar Muhammad Assad was a 78-year-old Palestinian-American resident of Jiljilya, north of Ramallah. He had lived in the United States for years before returning to his village.

The Night of 12 January 2022

In the early hours of 12 January 2022, Israeli soldiers stopped Assad’s car during a military operation. According to human-rights documentation, soldiers forcibly removed him, handcuffed and blindfolded him, and took him to the courtyard of a house under construction.

After the soldiers left, other detainees found Assad unconscious on the ground. A local doctor attempted CPR and used a defibrillator, but Assad could not be revived.

Investigations

An autopsy by Palestinian forensic doctors attributed his death to cardiac arrest associated with severe mental stress and external violence. The Israeli military called the incident a “moral failure” and disciplined commanders. The U.S. State Department demanded a thorough criminal investigation and accountability.

In 2023, the U.S. State Department reported that Israeli military prosecutors had closed the investigation without charges against Israeli security personnel, a decision criticized by rights groups.

Legacy

Assad’s death became a major case in discussions of detention practices, accountability and the treatment of Palestinians at military checkpoints. His U.S. citizenship also brought the case direct attention from the U.S. government.

Beyond the well-known names are tens of thousands of individuals whose lives and sacrifices deserve remembrance. Each was a unique human being with dreams, families, and a story that should never be forgotten.

International Activists

• 2004 Tom Hurndall — British activist shot in the head by an Israeli sniper while rescuing Palestinian children in Rafah. Died 9 months later. Israel initially denied responsibility; the soldier was eventually convicted of manslaughter.
• 2004 James Miller — British filmmaker shot dead by Israeli forces in Rafah while filming a documentary. His family fought for justice for 18 years.

Children of Gaza (2023–2025)

• Hind Rajab — 5-year-old girl martyred in January 2024 (see dedicated memorial page)
• Layan Hamadeh — 15-year-old cousin of Hind Rajab, also killed while trying to seek help
• 17,000+ Children — Killed in Gaza between October 2023 and 2025

Journalists & Media Workers

• 150+ Journalists Killed — In Gaza since October 2023 (CPJ data)
• Mohammed Abu Hatab — Palestinian journalist killed with 11 family members
• Samer Abu Daqqa — Al Jazeera cameraman killed by drone strike

Medical & Humanitarian Workers

• 300+ UNRWA Staff Killed — Teachers, healthcare workers, aid workers
• 500+ Medical Personnel Killed — Doctors, nurses, paramedics
• Yusuf Zeino & Ahmed al-Madhoun — Paramedics killed while trying to rescue Hind Rajab

Why Every Story Matters

Behind every statistic is a human being. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has documented the names of tens of thousands of martyrs. Organizations like Palestine Remembered and Zochrot work to preserve these stories for future generations. Each name represents a life that mattered, a family that grieves, and a community that refuses to forget.