Newsroom
Yahia Barzaq, a Cypriot-born photojournalist who spent his career documenting life in Gaza, was killed Tuesday night in an Israeli airstrike, according to Turkish Cypriot media and his employer, TRT World.
Barzaq, a father of two and a freelance journalist, was preparing material in a café in the city of Deir al-Balah when the strike occurred. He had become known for his intimate portrayals of civilians living under siege, including his acclaimed documentary Gaza Through My Lens and striking portraits of newborn Gazan children.
“Even if I do, we won’t be able to live safely in a tent on the street,” he had written recently, reflecting on the impossible choices facing families in the conflict. “We have neither tents nor transportation to get to what the military calls the ‘safe zone.’ Moreover, the place they want us to go is constantly being bombed.”
Barzaq’s work sought to capture the human toll of the war. In a previous interview, he spoke candidly about the fear and anger that comes with documenting life amid conflict. “All the places that are threatened are now inhabited areas,” he said. “I don’t want to live on the street, in a tent. I have already suffered a year and a half of displacement. Now I don’t want to go through this nightmare again.”
TRT World expressed deep sorrow at his death, calling Barzaq a “talented photojournalist whose work brought the stories of ordinary Gazans to the world.” Colleagues described him as committed to showing the human face behind the headlines, often putting himself in harm’s way to document the reality on the ground.
Barzaq’s death is a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face while covering conflicts, and of the civilians whose lives are entwined in the crossfire. His images, which captured both the suffering and resilience of the people of Gaza, are now a lasting testament to his courage and humanity.
