Mahasen al-Khateeb, a talented artist from Gaza, was killed in an Israeli air strike targeting her neighborhood in Jabalia refugee camp on October 19. Known for her illustrations and character designs, she used her art to document the impact of the war on Gaza, often depicting the horrors and raising awareness about Palestinian struggles. Just before her death, she shared an artwork honoring a victim of the conflict. Despite repeated evacuations, she remained in Gaza, stating there was no safe place left.

Mahasen supported her family through her work as a freelance digital artist and mentor, offering free online courses to help others earn income amid the conflict. Her friends and colleagues described her as professional, humble, and resilient. Her death has left a profound impact on those she taught and inspired, with many grieving her loss on social media. Her body remains at Kamal Adwan Hospital, as the ongoing bombardment has made it too dangerous for burial.

Source :

On Day 14 of Israel's ground invasion of the North Gaza governorate, the invasion expanded to Tal al-Zaatar area in Jabalia, and was accompanied with a violent escalation of Israeli massacres. Notably, two "firebelt" airstrikes were carried out during the day, leading to large scale slaughter of civilians in the order of 100.

Afternoon massacre:

Around 2 pm, Israeli airstrikes targeted a number of houses near Abu Qamar station in Tal al-Zaatar, Jabalia.

In the first moments of the massacre, 3 people were confirmed killed and more than 50 injured were taken to Al-Awda Hospital in Tal al-Zaatar.

Night massacre

Some time after 10 pm, Israel bombed a residential block at Nassar intersection in Tal al-Zaatar, destroying the houses of three families: Al-Hawajiri, Nassar, and Abu al-Aysh. The death toll kept rising and stood at 30 killed, including 20 women and children, and 70 injured.

Casualties overwhelm hospital

Al-Awda was already overwhelmed with the afternoon mass casualties, and by midnight, the hospital had received around 100 casualties, including many killed seen in footage being laid all over the hospital's corridors.

Artist killed

Young artist Mahasen Al-Khatib was killed in the night massacre. She specialized in drawing colorful joyful portraits of people. Since the war started she shifted focused to depict the reality of the Palestinian struggle, suffering and hopes. Her final published drawing was a tribute to Shaaban Al-Dalo who was killed a couple of days before, burning alive in his family's tent in Al-Aqsa Martyrs' hospital in Deir al-Balah following Israeli bombing. (source)

Photos

• Afternoon: Immediate aftermath scenes
• Night: corpses laid in every corner of hospital

Names of the martyrs (identified)

1. Samir Khamis Awad Al-Hawajiri
2. Faiza Mohammed Ghanem Al-Hawajiri (Samir's wife)
3. Mohammed Samir Khamis Al-Hawajiri
4. Fawzia Ziad Al-Hawajiri (Mohammed Samir's wife)
5. Alaa Samir Khamis Al-Hawajiri
6. Mervat Samir Khamis Al-Hawajiri
7. Houria Samir Khamis Al-Hawajiri
8. Rana Samir Khamis Al-Hawajiri
9. Hanan Samir Awad Al-Hawajiri
10. Hamza Nidal Samir Al-Hawajiri
11. Nour Nidal Samir Al-Hawajiri
12. Saja Nidal Samir Al-Hawajiri
13. Sara Nidal Samir Al-Hawajiri
14. Naheel Fayez Saeed Al-Hawajiri
15. Maria Mahdi Samir Al-Hawajiri
16. Maha Nabil Khamis Al-Hawajiri
17. Jana Ayad Samir Al-Hawajiri
18. Sham Iyad Samir Al-Hawajiri
19. Shadia Awad
20. Ibrahim Awad (Shadia's son)
21. Umm Karam Matar
22. Mahasen Al-Khatib (artist, Umm Karam's granddaughter)