Blogger Documenting Life in Gaza Killed in Alleged Israeli Airstrike

A Gaza-based blogger who gained a large following on Instagram and TikTok by depicting daily life in Gaza has been killed in an Israeli strike.

Mohammad ‘Medo’ Halimy, 20, was hit by shrapnel from an Israeli rocket blast in Khan Younis on Monday, according to two youth organizations he had previously worked with.

The Tamer Community Education Institute told the BBC that Halimi was in a shelter near the beach when he was fatally injured by debris from the blast.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC it could not confirm a strike in Khan Younis on Monday, but said it was continuing to “counter threats while trying to minimize civilian harm” in Gaza.

Halimy had over 250,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok after his family was forced to flee their home due to Israeli military operations following the October 7 attacks.

His videos featured everything from simple cooking recipes made with limited supplies to tutorials on creating his content.

In an interview last year, he said each video cost him about $3, a significant sum in Gaza.

He posted his last video on Monday, hours before his death, introducing his scene and detailing his day’s activities.

Both Palestinian organizations that confirmed his death to the BBC said the fatal strike occurred on a nearby road, with Halimi injured by flying debris.

He succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Spark, a Gaza-based charity that Halimy had worked with in the summer of 2023, confirmed his death to the BBC, praising his “ability to add beauty and brilliance to a place wherever he is.

“His sister, Rahaf, announced his death on Instagram, writing: “Mohammed, your kind spirit will remain with us and we believe you deserve a better world. May God accept you as a witness.”