Duaa Sharaf
Duaa Sharaf | |
|---|---|
دعاء شرف | |
| Born | 1990 or 1991 (age 33–34) |
| Died | October 26, 2023 (aged 32) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist Radio presenter |
| Years active | ?–2023 |
| Employer | Radio Al-Aqsa |
| Known for | Journalism during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war |
Duaa Sharaf (1991 – October 26, 2023) was a Palestinian journalist and radio presenter who worked for Radio Al-Aqsa in the Gaza Strip. She became a symbol of the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones after she and her young daughter were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in Al-Zawaida, central Gaza.[1]
Early life
[edit]She resided with her family in Al-Zawaida, a town located in the central region of the Gaza Strip, where she built both her personal and professional life.[2] Sharaf played an active role in the Palestinian media landscape and was employed as a radio presenter at Radio Al-Aqsa, a broadcasting outlet linked to Hamas. Through her work, she became a recognizable voice in local journalism, contributing to the station's coverage of political and social affairs in Gaza.[3]
Career
[edit]At Radio Al-Aqsa, Duaa Sharaf served as both a presenter and a reporter, covering local developments and producing programs aimed at raising public awareness. Her journalism centered on delivering news and shedding light on pressing social matters and the ongoing humanitarian challenges faced by the people of Gaza.[4]
Death
[edit]On October 26, 2023, amid one of the most intense phases of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, an Israeli airstrike targeted the area where Duaa Sharaf lived. The strike hit her home, resulting in the tragic deaths of both Sharaf and her young daughter. Their loss underscored the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children, and brought renewed attention to the dangers faced by journalists and their families in active war zones.[5][6][7]
Reactions
[edit]Sharaf's killing was met with widespread international criticism. Organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ), and the International News Safety Institute (INSI) reported on and denounced the incident.[8]
Legacy
[edit]Duaa Sharaf is remembered as one of numerous Palestinian journalists who lost their lives during the conflict. Her passing intensified international demands for safeguarding journalists in war zones and for conducting impartial inquiries into assaults targeting media workers.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Duaa Sharaf – INSI". International News Safety Institute. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Palestinian journalist killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza". Middle East Monitor. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "IFJ mourns Palestinian journalist Duaa Sharaf". International Federation of Journalists. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Gaza Radio Presenter Duaa Sharaf Killed By Israeli Airstrike on Her Home". Coalition For Women In Journalism. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Journalists killed in Israel-Gaza war". The Washington Post. 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Palestinian journalist, her child killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza". TRT World. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Palestinian journalist, her child killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza". Anadolu Agency. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Committee to Protect Journalists – Duaa Sharaf". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2025-05-21.