Saher Alghorra (Gaza, 1997) was born and raised amidst the tension and violence of the Gaza Strip. The tension of a blockade with which, at 28, he has coexisted almost his entire life. The violence that erupted with Israeli military attacks in 2008, 2012, 2014, and which has been the daily reality of the region for almost two years now. Since October 2023, according to various sources, more than 60,000 people have died there, approximately 90% Palestinians, following Hamas' brutal attack that triggered the Israeli offensive. Many of the images we see of the war daily bear the signature of this young man who has never been able to leave his homeland and has systematically documented the destruction and pain of his compatriots.
"Being besieged in the Strip and the provinces of Gaza, where one cannot move freely, is frustrating. It makes me feel that the only way out, the only escape, is to transmit the images I can capture," explains this photojournalist who has been displaced several times with his family since the conflict began, has slept for months in tents at the foot of hospitals to be close to the events, and has seen his family home turned into rubble. At the same time, his work has gained international recognition. In 2023, one of his photos was chosen among the top 100 of the year by Time and won two awards: the Lucie Award and the Picture of the Year. In 2024, he added five more awards and has now been recognized with the Visa pour l'Image award from the festival of the same name held in Perpignan. None of them have been able to collect them. "These awards are very important; they are the international recognition of my work and its strength, but above all, they are a great motivation to continue working," highlights Alghorra, chief editor in Gaza for the Zuma Press agency, in his responses via email. For him, recognition is "professional pride" and also "consolation" that "the problems of life and the suffering of civilians are shown in international forums." "I do not have a bittersweet feeling because what we do matters; we contribute to raising awareness about what is happening, and we must use all tools to spread the truth."
The truth of his images, published in The New York Times or The Guardian, depicts the massive displacement of Palestinians to the southern area of the Strip. The devastation of families facing the death of their children, crying over their bodies and their beds. The plight of a people plagued by famine, fighting every day for something to eat. "Despite the acceleration of events, the world must not get used to death and destruction. In each image, there is a story, and in each person killed, a dream is killed. The world must take action to stop this war as soon as possible," he explains. And continues: "If these images are drowned out by noise, that says a lot about the world. Every time I take photos of the victims and the bombings, my body trembles. When I see the photos on my laptop, my body trembles. Sometimes I feel oppression in my chest from those difficult photos I took. We have never gotten used to the scene. Those who die here are not numbers but families with dreams and lives."
But amidst the devastation, daily life also finds a way. A mother cooks with an improvised oven on the rubble for her children. A father, in a courtyard, washes his son in a bathtub. In front of the displaced camps, Palestinians bathe on the beach and play volleyball. All these images have also come from Saher Alghorra's camera. "These photos are like planting good scenes in the minds of Palestinians to remind them of how Gaza used to be. How their beautiful beach teeming with life was. I took these photos to send a message to the world that this is the life we lived and dream of returning to. It is not possible for life to be the same as before under military assault, but Palestinians have no other choice: either they practice some of their hobbies even under that pressure or they remain in tents under high temperatures. It is their way of escaping the bitter reality."
In recent weeks, Israeli attacks have also claimed the lives of journalists. On August 10, six died in a bombing in the city of Gaza; on August 25, another six in a bombing at the Nasser Hospital in Jan Yunis; and, since the start of the conflict, according to UN figures, at least 248 reporters have been killed, the highest number in a modern conflict. Saher Alghorra acknowledges that he could be next. "I cannot deny that, after repeated attacks on journalists, I fear for my life. However, my sense of responsibility and my human duty to report what is happening outweigh my fear and motivate me to continue conveying the real image without exaggeration or drama." Despite taking the necessary security measures. "In Gaza, everyone is in danger, and there is no safe place. However, when I go to cover a story, I inform the security team at work and send the coordinates of my location. I try to carefully assess the situation before moving anywhere and keep a reasonable distance. Even if I sense danger, I withdraw immediately. This is the most I can do to protect my safety."
And the consequences do not have to be only physical or related solely to death. The psychological toll is also present among those covering the conflict. Especially for someone who has seen their life shatter. Saher Alghorra graduated in Public Relations, Media, and Photography from the University of Palestine, got his first camera in 2017 with the intention of immortalizing his adventures and daily life. What he did not expect is that this life would end up becoming what it is now. "My body is very tired, my muscles are always tense, and I have serious difficulties sleeping, as anxiety and fear prevent me from resting enough." And there are still the aftermath of the conflict, when the adrenaline of daily life has faded. "I am sure that the trauma I have suffered over the past two years will continue to affect me in the long term. When this war ends, the first thing I will do is undergo psychotherapy sessions, hoping to heal. But I am also concerned about the collective trauma of my people, and although we are a resilient people, I fear that the wounds will take generations to heal."
Because, first, those citizens will have to face the losses of their family members, friends, neighbors... And then, the material losses: their homes, workplaces, or cities. "Every morning brings new and greater difficulties and challenges, such as searching for food, witnessing death scenes, the omnipresent smell of death, and seeing the black smoke of destruction in the Gaza sky. Your life becomes a limbo where you are neither dead nor alive. I do not want this life to define me; it is a state that will pass," details the photographer. Although that end still seems distant. The Netanyahu government has already announced that there will be new offensives against the Strip. "I lived through the wars of 2008 and 2014; they were also difficult wars, but nothing compared to this. In previous wars, we did not know what displacement meant! Nor did we suffer from famines or the lack of a healthcare or educational system. Despite the war, there was some life. And, most importantly, those wars did not last as long as this one, which has been going on for over 20 months."
Saher Alghorra is also dealing with her work as a photojournalist professionally and with the need to ensure the safety of her family personally. She has experienced displacement from Gaza City, the return to her hometown, and the destruction of all her material heritage. "I am covering the most dangerous place in the world while trying to take care of, maintain, and ensure the safety of my family, which is in danger, like all families here." Because her attachment to the territory, in this case, does not work in her favor. "I am not a photojournalist from a foreign country who can leave the field at any time. The distance you are supposed to keep with the subject blurs; I am a professional photojournalist, witness, and victim. I am here covering a fierce war in my homeland, documenting the suffering of my people while experiencing the suffering of my family."
However, this situation and having grown up in an area that has gone through different phases of a conflict - sometimes hidden and other times evident - has had a "significant impact" that has shaped the personality of this photographer, who rejects any questions about politics and European intervention in Gaza. "I have become a self-reliant person, who trusts herself and never despairs. To give a simple example, if this war ends while I am still alive, I will continue my work as a photojournalist and start traveling to various countries to cover events worldwide. Now I have the experience, the skills, and the strength to adapt to any place and any situation."
And then, Saher Alghorra will be able to leave the Strip for the first time.