Translated Content:
Gaza – Iman Shabeer – Sanad News Agency
"I dream that my photos will reach the world, that I will convey the suffering of my people, and that this nightmare we are living will end." These were Areej's words, summing up her passion and her great dream. Little did she know that the camera lens she used to document the lives of the bereaved would witness her own end.
On January 3, as Areej continued to document the moments of suffering with passionate eyes, that camera lens became a martyr, a witness to her final moments. An Israeli bombardment targeted photographer Areej Shaheen's home in the Al-Da'wa neighborhood, northeast of the Nuseirat refugee camp. It took her life and left us with a legacy of her photographs, which she dreamed would raise Gaza's name to the world.
Areej, who toured hospitals and sites of destruction, documenting moments that words cannot describe, saw photography as her message to the world. She won a $200 prize for an exhibition of her photographs in Belgium, but her dreams, which touched the sky, failed to transcend barriers and borders. The prize remained stuck on her way, and her hopes remained suspended in a reality that didn't allow her enough time.
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"An Exceptional Talent"
Amira Shaheen, the sister of martyred photographer Areej, begins her story with pride, saying, "Areej was my sister, my friend, and my twin. Our close age made us a repository of each other's secrets. All our memories were filled with warmth; our clothes were similar, and our steps were the same. She encouraged me to hope and live, and I encouraged her to excel and become famous, for I found in her an exceptional talent."
She proudly adds to Sanad News Agency, "Areej achieved a global accomplishment when she participated in a photo exhibition in Belgium, where she displayed her shots that captured the beauty of human details and the suffering of displaced people. She won the exhibition and received a $200 prize, but she was unable to receive it due to difficult circumstances and commissions. Despite this, she was proud of this achievement, which confirmed to her that her talent had reached the world."
Ameera recounts how Areej began her journey with photography: "Areej was distinguished by her talent for arrangement and photography, and for creating beauty from nothing. With her first iPhone, we encouraged her to enroll in an urgent photography course, through which she mastered the profession and began working as an unpaid volunteer. She always said, 'The important thing is to gain experience, develop my talent, and get to know people.'"
Ameera points to Areej's unique talent: "I trusted her ability and saw her distinction in every photo. Her style was simple and attractive, expressing her feelings with sincerity. Everyone loved and praised her work."
She explains how photography influenced Areej's personality: "Photography increased her energy and love for life. She began to plan each session meticulously, paying attention to details to achieve the most beautiful images. Photography was her passion, which she carried with her at every moment."
Ameera continues sadly: "Before her martyrdom, she dreamed of traveling and becoming an international photographer. She began saving money to achieve her dream, but fate didn't give her enough time. Perhaps that was for her."
Ameera adds details of Areej's humanitarian work: "Areej documented the tents of the displaced and their struggle to obtain food and drink. She was pained by what she saw, but she continued photographing to convey the truth. Someone from abroad trusted her and sent a sum of money, which she distributed to the displaced people herself."
She recounts the last moments she spent with Areej: "She sat next to me, showing me photos she had taken of a groom during an engagement photoshoot. She was very happy with her creativity. She spoke to me about a new photoshoot she was preparing for. She was indescribably excited, to the point that she forgot one of her photography tools and had to ask for help to bring it."
With tears streaming down her face, she says, "She was moved by the stories of the displaced. She would return home saddened by what she saw, but she always tried to hide her grief. For her, photography was a message that conveyed people's suffering and documented it truthfully."
Ameera concludes by saying, "Areej was strong-hearted and courageous. She was not afraid of bombing or fear. Photography was her dream and her life, and she intended to establish her own studio after the war. Everyone loved her photos and style. Even the groom she photographed on his last day said he was only convinced by her lens and creativity."
"Passionate about photography"
Areej, who left her mark on the hearts of those around her with her lens and love of life, would not have told her story without the voice of her brother, Ihab, who witnessed every step of her journey; from her small dreams with a camera to her photography of people's suffering amidst pain and war.
Ihab Shaheen, the brother of the martyr, Areej Shaheen, recalls: "She loved to gather with us at home, especially with my sisters, and she would ask my wife to prepare certain dishes she loved. She had a strong friendship with my only daughter, and she would always consult me and ask me about her work and her occupation. Areej appreciated advice, especially regarding photography, and she loved learning the details of the profession and developing her skills. She was able to seriously master photography and earned a certificate from the Palestinian actor, Basil Shaheen. She had been passionate about photography since she was young, which led her to seek out a camera, and we supported her in achieving this dream." Ihab adds about her passion for her profession: "She goes to hospitals and hotspots during the war, documenting the suffering and difficult moments. On her last day, she was working in my mother's kitchen at six in the evening. After work, her hands would come in cold from the water, and she would place them in mine and my mother's, saying, 'Your hands are warm, and I'm cold.' She would make us laugh as she sat next to the charcoal stove to warm up. Minutes before the evening call to prayer, she asked me about a place in Khan Yunis she intended to go to for a photoshoot. I told her the location, and she replied, 'It's far away and I'll figure it out.' That was the last thing we talked about."
Ihab discusses the details of her work: "Areej always prefers to photograph in enclosed spaces, such as hospitals or indoor conflict sites. She is keen to truthfully convey the suffering of the afflicted people, to convey her message to the world about the pain and exhaustion that people here are experiencing. Despite the dangers, she continued her work with courage and determination."
He adds about her hopes: "At the beginning of the new year, she hopes for the war to end and for life to return to Gaza. She always dreamed of opening her own studio after the war ended, to document the crimes and suffering of the people through her lens."
Ihab recalls her beginnings in photography: "From a young age, she showed a great passion for photography. She would urge us to buy a camera, and she would collect part of the money, while we would complete the rest to help her. Areej never stopped striving to achieve her dream, and she faithfully fulfilled her mission until the very last moment."