Location: GAZA

“I GRANT YOU REFUGE” is a collective photo exhibition, curated by the photographer Paolo Patruno, 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 Hiba Abu Nada. The poem was written just ten days before she died a martyr, killed in her home in south Gaza by an Israeli airstrike on October 20th, 2023.

“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.

Through their lenses, they strive to preserve truth and humanity, hoping that the images can break the barriers of indifference and spark solidarity.”

by Shadi Al-Tabatibi

ABOUT Jehad Al-Sharafi, Omar Ashtawy, Mahdy Zourob, Mohammed Hajjar, Saeed Mohammed Jaras, Shadi Al-Tabatibi  

Jehad Al-Sharafi is a photojournalist and humanitarian worker currently living in Gaza, striving to capture the suffering of people and the reality of life under continuous bombardment and danger.

Omar Ashtawy is photojournalist based in the Gaza Strip, covering the ongoing developments and events that document the stages of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mahdy Zourob is a photojournalist from Gaza City. 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.

Mohammed Hajjar is photographer and journalist based from Gaza Strip, he has covered all events in Gaza and Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

Saeed Mohammed Jaras is a photojournalist from Gaza City, who has been covering the ongoing conflict since October 7 until today, defying all the difficult circumstances and personal injuries as well.

Shadi Al-Tabatibi is a professional photographer from Gaza, initially focused on capturing the beauty of Gaza City. He later expanded into photojournalism, skillfully combining both photography and videography.