Rasmi Jihad Salem: The Martyr Who Carried a Camera Instead of a Weapon
A Life Lived for Truth, A Death Witnessing Injustice
Rasmi Jihad Salem was not a soldier. He did not carry a rifle, nor did he wear the armor of war. His shield was his camera, his battlefield the streets of Gaza, and his mission the pursuit of truth.
As a cameraman and coordination officer for Al-Alam TV, Salem dedicated his days and nights to documenting the suffering of his people, the cries of children, and the resilience of families under siege. In the midst of destruction, he became an eyewitness for the world — a voice for those whose voices were being buried beneath rubble.
On a September day in Gaza, as he returned from covering yet another scene of devastation, an Israeli airstrike struck Abu Al-Amin Street near Al-Jalaa Roundabout. The life of this young journalist was cut short. But with his death, Rasmi Jihad Salem joined the long line of martyrs who have refused to let silence triumph over truth.
A Camera Against Oppression
The IRIB World Service, to which Al-Alam belongs, called him a “brave and committed journalist,” one who “built his defence with a camera and became a storyteller of truth.” These words capture his essence. For Rasmi, journalism was never just a profession — it was resistance. Every image he captured was an act of defiance against occupation, every report a blow to censorship.
Israel may attempt to erase the witnesses, but as IRIB declared, “the blood of Gaza’s fallen journalists will never be in vain.” Their sacrifice has etched the story of Gaza into the conscience of humanity.
A Martyr Among Journalists
Rasmi is not alone. Since October 2023, more than two hundred journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza. Each name carries with it a shattered family, a broken newsroom, and a silenced camera. Yet together, they form a powerful testimony: that truth cannot be killed, even when its messengers are targeted.
A Legacy That Lives On
The martyrdom of Rasmi Jihad Salem is a reminder that in Gaza, to hold a camera is to walk with death. But it is also to walk with dignity, courage, and faith. His story is not just one of loss — it is one of honour. He stood where many would not, he filmed what others wished to hide, and he gave his life so that the world might see.
To his family, his colleagues at Al-Alam, and to the people of Gaza, his name will forever remain a source of pride. And for the global community, Rasmi leaves behind a legacy written not only in his footage but in his blood — the legacy of a martyr for truth.
Reference: PressTv