A Palestinian artist and photojournalist, who served as the central figure in a documentary slated for its grand premiere at Cannes in May, has tragically perished in an Israeli aerial assault. Fatima Hassouna, along with nine other family members, lost their lives in a direct hit on their Gaza City residence on Wednesday. Renowned internationally for her photojournalism that poignantly captured the ramifications of the Israeli military offensive on Gaza Strip's civilian populace, Hassouna featured prominently in "Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk," directed by the French-Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi.
Just 24 hours prior to the documentary's announcement of its selection for ACID, a parallel section at Cannes running concurrently with the main festival from May 14 to 23, Hassouna's life was brutally cut short. The film, centered around heartfelt video conversations between Farsi, whose credits encompass the Berlinale-selected animated feature "The Siren," and Hassouna, served as a testament to their profound connection forged during Farsi's research for a broader documentary on the unfolding events in Gaza.
"She was a beacon of light, incredibly talented. Watching the film will make it evident," Farsi expressed to Deadline, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I had spoken to her mere hours before, sharing the exhilarating news of our Cannes selection and extending an invitation for her to attend. She was receptive to the idea, provided she could return to Gaza afterward." Farsi recounted how Hassouna's openness to the possibility of attending the screening painted a poignant picture of her hope and resilience amidst the turmoil.
She declared, "I shall come, yet I am obliged to return to Gaza. The thought of abandoning it tears at my heart," Farsi recounted. "I had initiated contact with the French Embassy, just embarking on the procedural journey. My mind was troubled with the logistics of ensuring her safe exit and re-entry. The last thing I wanted was the burden of tearing her away from her kin."
"Now, the entire family has perished. I am still striving to ascertain the fate of her parents, but with certainty, Fatima, her sisters, and brothers are no more. One of her sisters, heavy with child, had shown me her burgeoning belly during a video call mere days ago. The tragic scene is beyond horrifying, utterly devastating. Fatima herself had recently become engaged, just a few months prior."
Farsi confessed her present fear that Hassouna might have been deliberately targeted due to her photojournalism endeavors. Statistics released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on February 16th revealed that since the war commenced, at least 157 journalists and media personnel have been killed in Gaza, with countless more injured. "I sought to amplify her voice, to bring her story to light, but now I am uncertain. I even harbor guilt... Perhaps she was targeted because of the film's announcement. I don't know. We may never know," she lamented.
"The Israeli army claims it bombed the house harboring a Hamas officer, a blatant falsehood. I am acquainted with the family; such assertions are nonsense. The devastation is immeasurable."
Israel's bombing campaign and invasion of Gaza commenced in October 2023, a retaliatory response to Hamas's October 7th assault on southern Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives and led to the taking of 251 hostages. Eighteen months hence, figures endorsed by the United Nations and released by the Hamas-administered Gaza health authority report at least 51,065 fatalities. However, statistical research published by The Lancet medical journal in February suggests the death toll could be 15,000 higher. An additional 116,505 individuals have been injured in Gaza, while 90% of the strip's 2.1 million-strong population has been displaced. Of the 251 hostages taken, 59 remain in Gaza, with approximately 24 believed to still be alive.
France's Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema, which organizes the ACID sidebar at Cannes and promotes these films year-round across French cinemas, issued a statement expressing its "horror" upon learning of Hassouna's demise. "We encountered Fatima Hassouna when we discovered Sepideh Farsi's film, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk. Her smile was as enchanting as her resilience: bearing witness, capturing Gaza through her lens, distributing food amidst bombs, sorrow, and starvation. Her story touched us, and we rejoiced with each of her appearances, confirming her vitality; yet, we feared for her," the statement read. "Yesterday, with horror, we learned that an Israeli missile struck her building, claiming Fatima and her family."
"We had watched and programmed a film where this young woman's life force seemed almost miraculous. The film we will now carry, support, and present in theaters, starting with Cannes, will forever bear the shadow of her absence."
