I Grant You Refuge.
Photo above: Jehad Al-Sharafi.
After a whole year of war, children from a Palestinian family gather around a fire on the roof of their destroyed home in Khan Yunis. Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo Exhibition Photographers:
Jehad Al-Sharafi.
Mahdy Zourob.
Mohammed Hajjar.
Omar Naaman.
Saeed Mohammed Jaras.
Shadi Al-Tabatibi.
"I GRANT YOU REFUGE is a collective photo exhibition featuring extraordinary images by six photographers from the Gaza Strip, representing the dozens of photojournalists who live and work in the area, eyewitnesses to one of the most devastating conflicts of our time.
The exhibition aims to give voice and visibility to the suffering and atrocities that the Palestinian people are enduring, in the deafening silence of the Western media.
The exhibition takes its name from one of the last poems by Palestinian poet, novelist, and teacher, Hiba Abu Nada. The poem was written on October 10th just ten days before she died a martyr, killed in her home in south Gaza by an Israeli airstrike on October 20th, 2023. She was 32 years old.
Being a Palestinian is a story of resilience, pain, and hope intertwined. Every frame captured carries the weight of a nation struggling for justice and peace. Photographers document not just destruction, but also the unyielding spirit of the Palestinian people, the children playing amidst rubble, the silent strength of mothers, and the steadfastness of a community that refuses to be broken.
Being a journalist in Gaza is not just about holding a camera; it’s about risking everything to show the world the truth. Photographers are not immune to the violence they document, standing in the line of fire, they are targeted just like the people they stand among.
Every click of their cameras could be the last one, but they press on because their stories, their voices, and their existence matter. Through their lenses, they strive to preserve truth and humanity, hoping that the images can break the barriers of indifference and spark solidarity.
In Gaza, where life and death are often separated by moments, these photographers don’t just take photos, they live them. Every shutter click is a heartbeat, every image is a testimony. These stories, raw and unfiltered, must be shared to remind the world of the struggles, the sacrifices, and the unwavering hope of every photojournalist, of every Palestinian."
- Shadi Al-Tabatibi.
Curated by Paolo Patruno.
www.paolopatrunophoto.org
https://www.instagram.com/i_grant_you_refuge
Photo above: Jehad Al-Sharafi.
A number of injuries arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Yunis. Gaza Strip, 2023.
Photo above: Jehad Al-Sharafi.
Some Palestinian residents start to return to their homes after Israel’s withdrawal leaving behind a huge destruction in Khan Yunis. Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Mahdy Zourob.
The little girl returned after hours of waiting for her turn at the water, carrying the heavy water bottle. Her eyes were filled with a gaze that reproached the world, carrying questions with no answers and pain that is unbearable. Gaza Strip - Khan Younis, 2024.
Photo above: Mahdy Zourob.
Since dawn, the siblings go every day on a strenuous journey to gather paper for their mother, who relies on it to light the fire at home. These simple moments tell the story of their patience and determination, as they struggle together to provide warmth and food for their family amid harsh living conditions, defying challenges and pain for the sake of their loved ones' survival. Gaza Strip - Rafah, 2023
Photo above: Mohammed Hajjar.
Doctors treat the wounded in Deir al-Balah, using cell phone lights, as hospitals run out of fuel and have no electricity. Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Omar Naaman.
Smoke rises after an explosion following an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Nuseirat. Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Omar Naaman.
Palestinian teenager, Diaa Al-Adini, who was severely wounded in an Israeli army attack targeted an apartment on the al-Qastal Towers east of Deir al Balah, loses both of his arms in Deir al Balah. Doctors are forced to amputate the limbs of many patients in order to keep the wounded alive due to medical shortages in hospitals. While trying to cope with the difficulties of life with the help of her sister Aya, Al-Adini dreams of the day he will get a prosthetic arm.
Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Omar Naaman.
Relatives, colleagues and loved ones of Palestinian journalists Sari Mansour and Hasona Saliem, who were killed while working, mourn during funeral ceremony in Deir al-Balah. Gaza, 2023.
Photo above: Saeed Mohammed Jaras.
A Palestinian child attempts to take a last farewell glance at his father and siblings, who were killed by Israeli aircraft in an airstrike that targeted their tent west of the Nuseirat refugee camp. Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Saeed Mohammed Jaras.
Palestinians gather near a mass grave following the release of bodies by the occupation army of Palestinian individuals it had detained since October 7, 2023. Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Saeed Mohammed Jaras.
Palestinian youth raise the Palestinian flag amidst the rubble of their homes, destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on a residential block in Al-Bureij Camp.
Gaza Strip, 2024.
Photo above: Shadi Al-Tabatibi.
From a neighborhood that once thrived with life and beauty, surrounded by green trees and the sounds of children, to ruins of ash. The occupation has destroyed the buildings, institutions, and kindergartens, but the memories of this place, once a haven of peace and life, will never be erased.
Gaza Strip - Tal Al-Hawa, 2024.
Photo above: Shadi Al-Tabatibi.
Bulldozer transports the bodies of martyrs that were held by the occupation. Among them are those who were killed by its bullets and others whose graves were exhumed. They are laid to rest in a mass grave, without identity or names, and without a farewell. A painful scene reflecting the deprivation of the martyrs and their families of their most basic human rights. Gaza Strip - Rafah, 2024
Photographers Bio
Jehad Al-Sharafi - https://www.instagram.com/jehad_alshrafi
Jehad Al-Sharafi is a photojournalist and humanitarian worker currently living in Gaza, facing significant challenges due to the ongoing war for over a year. He has worked with several international organizations, striving to capture the suffering of people and the reality of life under continuous bombardment and danger. He has personally been exposed to bombings multiple times and lost most of his photography equipment, which has greatly impacted his work.
Jehad message to the world is: “Stop the killing of children and women, and stop the war”.
Mahdy Zourob - https://www.instagram.com/mahdy_zourob
Mahdy Zourob is a photojournalist from Gaza City. He studied media and mass communication at Al-Azhar University. He has participated in many local exhibitions and took part in the International Committee of the Red Cross competition for photography and blogging, Light in the Darkness. He has a great passion for photographing food, nature, and cars as well. In light of the brutal war waged by the occupation on the Gaza Strip, he turned to documenting the suffering and the violations Palestinian people face, including policies of starvation, killing, destruction, and displacement of innocent civilians.
He has worked on creating photojournalistic stories and sharing them with the outside world through different international platforms.
Mohammed Hajjar - https://www.instagram.com/mhmed_hajjar/
Mohammed Hajjar is photographer and journalist based from Gaza Strip, he won many of awards in local and international, and works as freelance with newspapers and press agencies since 2007. He has covered all events in Gaza and Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
Omar Ashtawy - https://www.instagram.com/omar_ashtawy
Omar Ashtawy is photojournalist based in the Gaza Strip, with three years of experience covering the ongoing developments and events that document the stages of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has worked as a staff photographer for APA Images, focusing on impactful storytelling in this complex region. Additionally, he has freelanced for the German Press Agency and Reuters, contributing to a diverse array of projects. His work aims to shed light on the realities of life in Gaza and the broader implications of the conflict.
Saeed Mohammed Jaras - https://www.instagram.com/said.m.jaras/
Saeed Mohammed Jaras is a photojournalist from Gaza City. He has been covering the ongoing conflict since October 7 until today, he has worked as a photographer for more than one local and international agency, including the Middle East Photography Agency. Saeed has been injured several times during his journalistic work, including an injury to his foot and one of his knees. This was during this war on March 31, 2024, when a missile was fired at a tent next to the tent of journalists present there. At that time, his photography equipment and laptop were damaged, and he felt that he would not be able to complete his journalistic and professional career in the world of photojournalism, as his foot was severely injured and his equipment was destroyed. He has continued his journalistic work, defying all the difficult circumstances as well. Saeed hopes that peace and stability will prevail and that we will see everything for the better.
Shadi Al-Tabatibi - https://www.instagram.com/shadi_tabatiby
Shadi Al-Tabatibi is a professional photographer from Gaza with extensive experience in photography since 2013. His passion for photography began when he purchased a camera with his own savings, and since then, this passion has transformed into a career filled with achievements. Shadi initially focused on capturing the beauty of Gaza City, including lives of its people. He later expanded into photojournalism, skillfully combining both photography and videography.
In 2020, Shadi specialized in drone photography, excelling in this field by showcasing the city’s beauty from fresh, innovative angles, reflecting his expertise in covering major events. His work has been recognized by prestigious international agencies.
In addition to his career as a photographer, Shadi has participated in numerous local and international competitions, demonstrating the value and impact of his work in the artistic arena. His work is characterized by a unique style that combines creative vision with technical precision, enhancing his ability to convey visual stories and human experiences in a powerful and moving way.
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