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Summary: Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi was deliberately targeted and killed for his work documenting the atrocities of the occupation in Gaza. His lawyer is now pursuing justice through international courts, arguing his assassination was an act to silence the truth and must not go unpunished.
We thank Sara Segneri for today’s newsletter. Sara is a partner at Confinium Strategies, focusing on international criminal law, business and human rights due diligence, and sanctions, particularly in armed conflict. She also serves as vice-chair of the International Bar Association’s War Crimes Committee.
This photograph of Saleh Aljafarawi celebrating the ceasefire was taken just before he was kidnapped and murdered.
“All I have is my camera, my conscience, and a deep belief that what I do is nothing more than an attempt to document my people’s suffering and expose the ugliness of this occupation to the world.”
Those are the words of Saleh Aljafarawi, profound, wise reflections from a young man whose smile captured the world. A young man who should have been pursuing his dreams, yet instead faced the horrors of war far too early, taking on the immense burden of documenting its crimes. Born in Jabalia and gifted as an artist, Saleh knew only a life under occupation, yet never stopped dreaming of a different, freer future, one he will tragically never see.
I met Saleh in early 2025, when he sought pro bono legal counsel amid growing threats and persecution in Gaza, compounded by efforts from Meta and other platforms to censor or silence his reporting on atrocities committed by Israeli forces. Despite everything, he radiated positivity and compassion, carrying a deep love for humanity. His voice had a playfulness and innocence I will never forget.
Saleh was among the courageous few who stepped forward when Israel banned journalists from Gaza. Each day, he documented life under siege, sharing stories, bearing witness, and preserving truth through his reporting. Because of this, in early 2024, Israel began an incitement campaign against him, widely circulating his image with a red circle around his face and labeling him a “terrorist” in bold red letters, placing Saleh on list for assassination.
He and his family endured harassment, threats, and violence. His brother was imprisoned by Israeli authorities, only released the day after Saleh’s death. Yet nothing deterred him. He remained committed to telling the stories of Gazans living under blockade, famine, and bombardment, reporting fearlessly despite the grave risks to his life.
As part of this campaign, many of Saleh’s Meta-based social media accounts were suspended, likely due to pressure from Israeli or U.S. officials. His only “crime” was reporting from Gaza, sharing truths that mainstream outlets often ignored. The accusations against him were easily disproven, yet the targeting persisted. Even as journalists were killed at unprecedented rates by Israeli airstrikes and sniper fire, Saleh continued to broadcast wherever he could.
To anyone who followed the real stories from Gaza, Saleh’s face became instantly recognisable, his videos revealing joy, sorrow, fear, and resilience. It was easy to forget that behind the journalist was a kind-hearted young man, playful and hopeful, even as he watched his homeland reduced to rubble and tens of thousands of civilians killed.
The news of Saleh’s enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing has left us shattered. Amid fragile hopes for peace, Israeli-linked militias kidnapped, tortured, and shot Saleh seven times. Months of public incitement and targeting by Israeli officials culminated in his murder: a deliberate act to silence one of Gaza’s most beloved voices. Amidst the outpouring of grief and love for Saleh as news of his death spread, we also saw the hate and vitriol as Israelis posted celebratory remarks that Saleh had been killed.
But Saleh will not die in vain. His voice will not be silenced. Within twenty-four hours of his killing, as his lawyer, I filed evidence, complaints, and requests for investigations with the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor and four UN investigatory bodies, seeking justice for Saleh and for all journalists killed for telling the truth. These complaints focused on the deliberate targeting of civilians and journalists, incitement, and the complicity of Meta in the censorship and vile attacks on journalists. We demand that those responsible, including those in positions of command, be held accountable. The international community must send a clear message: attacks on journalists will not be tolerated, and impunity for those who silence truth must end.
Saleh once wrote, “I am a Palestinian working for freedom and justice, documenting the horrors of war in the hope that one day it will end, and that the evidence I’ve collected will help bring war criminals to justice.”
We owe it to him to make that vision a reality, to ensure that his courage and sacrifice lead to justice, accountability and a world where truth cannot be buried.