She attained martyrdom — life was for those she loved: the story of martyred journalist Mariam Abu Daqa

The story of martyr journalist Maryam Abu Daqa.. Press Moons Produced by: Sahar Dehleez

In every photo she took, she stole from death a moment for life. But in the last picture she was not behind the camera… she was the story, and it was the end.

Maryam Abu Daqa, a Palestinian journalist, did not only report the pain — she lived it. She gave life to those she loved, shielded her son from war, and stood in front of danger with a lens and a heart… until she was struck down by an occupation missile, writing with her blood a new line in Gaza’s tragedy.

Maryam was born in November 1991 in the town of Abasan al-Kabira east of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Her career

She studied journalism and media at Al-Aqsa University and launched her media career, seeing the camera as a mission, not a job.

Despite the challenges, she continued her journalistic work until the last moment. On the morning of August 25, 2025, she was killed in an Israeli strike on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, along with several of her journalist colleagues.

Maryam worked with international media outlets such as “Independent Arabia” and the “Associated Press”. She was known for her humanitarian coverage and for conveying the suffering of civilians in Gaza. Her killing sparked a wave of anger, especially after the Associated Press omitted her name from its official statement despite her work with them, prompting many to demand recognition and honors for her sacrifice.

This was not the first time Maryam faced danger to convey the truth. In previous reports she spoke about the weak protection for journalists in the field and had to stitch a makeshift “jacket” resembling a bulletproof vest marked “PRESS” to try to distinguish herself from Israeli sniper fire.

Hours before her death, Maryam posted a video on her Instagram account in which she said: “Paradise is waiting and I am here for my Lord and His pleasure”, a moving reference to her deep faith and readiness to sacrifice for her mission.

Martyr of the lens and the heart in Gaza

“Her eyes preceded the lens”, summarized Ikhlas, the sister of martyr journalist Maryam Abu Daqa, describing her career: “Maryam chased every moment worth telling. From the Return Marches to every war that hit Gaza, she was always in the heart of the field… the first to arrive and the last to leave. But this time, she did not leave the field except as a martyr, as she always wished.”

She added: “She carried the camera as if it were a message and ran after the truth without fear… until an occupation missile ambushed her as she performed her duty to deliver the image.”

Ikhlas continued in a voice weighted with grief:
“Maryam was not just a journalist; she was a mother, a sister, and an irreplaceable tenderness. She left behind her only child, Ghaith, who kept waiting for her return from documenting the genocide in Gaza, not knowing that this time her journey was to the sky.”

Riad Abu Daqa says, choking back tears: “Maryam never thought of herself for a day; she always thought of me, her siblings, her son, and all the people… she used to say: ‘Your life is more important than mine’.”
He adds: “She saved me and gave me the greatest thing she had”. As the Israeli aggression escalated, Maryam made sure to protect her only child, “Ghaith”, by sending him to his father outside Gaza, while she stayed behind with her camera to document the pain and destruction. She knew the price truth could demand, but she did not retreat.

Her last will

Before she was killed, she left an emotional message to her son asking him to pray and supplicate for her, to excel in his life, and not to forget her name, but to one day name his daughter “Maryam”. Despite her early departure, Maryam Abu Daqa will remain a symbol of heroism and sacrifice — a woman born from suffering who made a place for herself in the pages of history, carrying her camera to document the truth with

No fear — she gave her body to save those she loved, then gave her soul in sacrifice for freedom and dignity.

Her image will remain alive in the hearts of all who knew her, and her story will inspire generations of women and men to continue the struggle for their right to life and dignity. No matter how darkness tries to silence her, her words and photos will testify that the truth does not die, and that martyrdom is the beginning of a new life written by heroes who are not forgotten.