Draft:Hassouna family
The Hassouna family (Arabic: حسونة) is a noble and wealthy Palestinian family with deep historical roots in the village of Hiribya that was depopulated in 1948 and is now the site of Zikim—with its family seat in the Rimal neighborhood of the Gaza Strip, becoming influential residents and one of the wealthiest families in Gaza. The family has played a significant role in Gaza, with many of its members recognized for their contributions to the social and civic landscape of Gaza.
History and prominence
[edit]Originating from the village of Hiribya prior to 1948, the family established themselves in Gaza after the Nakba. They gained influence in healthcare and social sectors, and over time, extended into political and cultural fields. Some members relocated internationally, residing in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and other countries.
Cultural and political resonance
[edit]The suffering of the Hassouna family during the Gaza War has become emblematic of the broader civilian toll of the war, with many members of the family being killed. The deaths of young children, including seven-year-old twins and a 15-month-old baby, sparked widespread outrage and were widely circulated across global media platforms. The image of Sidra Hassouna’s body, found hanging from the rubble, was described as a powerful symbol of the humanitarian cost of modern urban warfare.
Following the 12 February 2024 Rafah strikes that killed multiple members of the family, Dr. Husam Zomlot, Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom and husband to a member of the Hassouna family, publicly condemned the attack, stating that eight of his wife’s close relatives had been killed. His remarks received extensive coverage in international media and intensified diplomatic scrutiny over Israel's military tactics.[1]
In May 2024, pro-Palestinian student activists at Harvard University unofficially renamed Holworthy Hall as “Hassouna Hall” in tribute to the family, especially the children..[2] The act became a widely publicised moment within the broader wave of campus protests against the war in Gaza, drawing both support and controversy across U.S. media and academia.
The death of Fatima Hassouna, a photojournalist and subject of the 2025 Cannes -selected documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, further deepened the family’s symbolic significance. Her death drew strong reactions from press freedom organisations, film festivals, and human rights groups, who raised concerns about the targeting of journalists and artists in conflict zones. Her work, described by peers as “the eye of Gaza,” became part of the cultural memory of the war, capturing daily life and loss amid destruction.
The family also suffered extensive property loss. Multiple residential homes and towers belonging to the Hassouna family.
Together, these events positioned the Hassouna family as both victims and witnesses to the conflict—humanising the broader statistics of the war and fuelling international conversations about proportionality, human rights, and the role of media in war zones.
See Also
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Notes
[edit]- ^ "Palestinian ambassador to UK says eight relatives killed in Israeli strikes in Rafah". The Guardian. 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Protesters Rally Against Involuntary Leave, Rename Harvard Yard Buildings Amid Move-Out". the crimson. 11 May 2024.