As he lived in a tent and battled to provide for his family, Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters journalist killed by Israeli fire on Monday while running a live video feed at Gaza's Nasser Hospital, covered the suffering of civilians during the conflict. According to journalist colleagues, Masri, 49, was a seasoned cameraman who was well-liked by Gaza's close-knit community of reporters because of his upbeat demeanor in the most perilous circumstances. In the months before his death, he would say, "Tomorrow will be better," despite the fact that the Palestinian enclave was becoming increasingly desolate and hungry. That was the conclusion of his final discussion with Mohamed Salem, a senior Reuters visuals journalist who had collaborated with Masri in Rafah, in southern Gaza, last year and had known him since 2003. Salem, who left Gaza later in 2024 but stayed in daily contact with Masri until Monday morning, said he was a pleasure to work with because of his smiles and o...
As he lived in a tent and battled to provide for his family, Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters journalist killed by Israeli fire on Monday while running a live video feed at Gaza's Nasser Hospital, covered the suffering of civilians during the conflict.
According to journalist colleagues, Masri, 49, was a seasoned cameraman who was well-liked by Gaza's close-knit community of reporters because of his upbeat demeanor in the most perilous circumstances.
In the months before his death, he would say, "Tomorrow will be better," despite the fact that the Palestinian enclave was becoming increasingly desolate and hungry.
That was the conclusion of his final discussion with Mohamed Salem, a senior Reuters visuals journalist who had collaborated with Masri in Rafah, in southern Gaza, last year and had known him since 2003.
Salem, who left Gaza later in 2024 but stayed in daily contact with Masri until Monday morning, said he was a pleasure to work with because of his smiles and optimism.
According to Alessandra Galloni, editor-in-chief of Reuters, "Hussam was deeply devoted to telling the story of Gaza to the world."
"Even under the most trying conditions, he remained brave, strong, and steady. Everyone who worked with him in this newsroom is very saddened by his passing.
According to a Reuters video, Masri was broadcasting the view across Khan Younis when the Israeli strike occurred, and his body and camera were found together in an exterior stairwell at the hospital. Minutes later, a second explosion on the stairwell killed at least 19 people, including four journalists who had worked for the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other media, as well as rescue workers. Moaz Abu Taha, one of the four, supplied Reuters and others with images.
Hatem Khaled, a Reuters photographer who was on the stairs documenting the aftermath of the first explosion, was hurt in the second attack.
The Associated Press and Reuters journalists were not "a target of the strike," Israel's military informed Reuters on Tuesday. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, expressed his country's deepest regret for the "tragic mishap" that occurred at the hospital.
The international community has been urged to hold Israel accountable by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which stated following the strikes that it had recorded 189 Palestinian journalists killed by Israel during the war in Gaza. The committee stated on Monday that "the perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity."Before he was killed, Masri was attempting to get his 39-year-old wife, Samaher, out of Gaza for treatment for her cancer. Shahd, 23; Mohammed, 22; Shatha, 18; and Ahmad, 15, are the couple's four children.
Masri grew up in the southern Gaza Strip's Khan Younis. Before beginning work as a freelancer in 1998, including for the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, he obtained a diploma in journalism. According to his wife, he became passionate about journalism because he wanted to show the world what was going on in Gaza.
Masri grew up in the southern Gaza Strip's Khan Younis. Before beginning work as a freelancer in 1998, including for the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, he obtained a diploma in journalism. According to his wife, he became passionate about journalism because he wanted to show the world what was going on in Gaza.
According to his brother, Ezzeldin al-Masri, "Hussam's role in the media was to deliver the truth to the outlets." "Whether for or against us, the camera is recording. The camera captured whether Israeli occupation forces or Palestinian gunmen were present.
Shortly after the war began, Israel's military launched an offensive in Khan Younis in response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks, forcing all civilians to evacuate, forcing the family to flee their home.
Later, the family found out that their house had been destroyed.
In a video he recorded of himself and posted to a WhatsApp group shared with other journalists last year, Masri described his grief at the loss of his home and neighborhood.
Shortly after the war began, Israel's military launched an offensive in Khan Younis in response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks, forcing all civilians to evacuate, forcing the family to flee their home.
Later, the family found out that their house had been destroyed.
In a video he recorded of himself and posted to a WhatsApp group shared with other journalists last year, Masri described his grief at the loss of his home and neighborhood.
He remarked, "There are only ruins left—ruins we cry over." In July of last year, the family went back to Khan Younis and set up a tent.
LIVE BROADCASTS
In May 2024, eight months into the war, Masri started working for Reuters as a contractor in Rafah, close to the Egyptian border. As part of his job, he recorded the arrival of humanitarian aid at the Rafah border crossing and broadcast live from camps for displaced people.
Since coming back to Khan Younis, he has been in charge of the feed that Reuters broadcasts every day from Nasser Hospital. This feed gave Reuters media clients worldwide a continuous, real-time view of Gaza.
LIVE BROADCASTS
In May 2024, eight months into the war, Masri started working for Reuters as a contractor in Rafah, close to the Egyptian border. As part of his job, he recorded the arrival of humanitarian aid at the Rafah border crossing and broadcast live from camps for displaced people.
Since coming back to Khan Younis, he has been in charge of the feed that Reuters broadcasts every day from Nasser Hospital. This feed gave Reuters media clients worldwide a continuous, real-time view of Gaza.
According to Labib Nasir, Reuters' visual editor for the Middle East and North Africa, "Hussam has been doing this demanding task day in and day out for months, mainly from Nasser Hospital but also from Rafah when the story merited it."
Using contacts he had made at the hospital, Masri also covered stories about southern Gaza, including reports on famine-officially declared areas of the territory suffering from malnutrition.
His most recent such story, which was captured on camera on Saturday, featured families lamenting the bodies of family members—including children—killed in Israeli strikes that have claimed at least 62,000 Palestinian lives during the conflict.
Using contacts he had made at the hospital, Masri also covered stories about southern Gaza, including reports on famine-officially declared areas of the territory suffering from malnutrition.
His most recent such story, which was captured on camera on Saturday, featured families lamenting the bodies of family members—including children—killed in Israeli strikes that have claimed at least 62,000 Palestinian lives during the conflict.
Salem, who spoke to Masri every morning as he set up his camera, explained that he had decided to oversee the live feed at Nasser Hospital, partly because he thought it was the safest location from which to operate.
Masri talked about how hard life had gotten in Gaza and how hard it was to find food during their last conversation.
His body was spread out on a stretcher in a picture taken by Reuters hours later.
Masri talked about how hard life had gotten in Gaza and how hard it was to find food during their last conversation.
His body was spread out on a stretcher in a picture taken by Reuters hours later.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES