Obituary: Hussam al-Masri, the Reuters journalist killed by Israeli fire in Gaza

HUSSAM AL-MASRI, the Reuters journalist killed by Israeli fire on Monday while operating a live video feed at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, reported on the war’s civilian suffering while himself living in a tent and struggling to find food for his family.

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Mr. Masri, 49, was an experienced cameraman whose positive approach in the most dangerous situations made him popular among Gaza’s tight-knit community of reporters, journalist colleagues said.

“Tomorrow will be better,” he would say, even as conditions in the Palestinian enclave descended further into hunger and desperation in the months leading up to his death.

That was how he ended his last conversation with Mohamed Salem, a senior visuals journalist for Reuters who had known Mr. Masri since 2003 and worked alongside him in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, last year.

Mr. Salem, who left Gaza later in 2024 but was in daily touch with Mr. Masri until Monday morning, said his optimism and smiles made him a pleasure to work with.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said “Hussam was deeply devoted to telling the story of Gaza to the world.”

“He was strong, steady and courageous in the most challenging of circumstances. His loss is deeply felt by all of those in this newsroom who worked with him.”