(Mahasin from Gaza… steadfast in the north) This is how the Palestinian artist Mahasen Al-Khatib introduces herself on her account on the Instagram platform, an account full of drawings and artwork drawn by the young woman’s fingertips over the past years, which changed from childhood drawings inspired by Disney characters and favorite artists, to She conveyed the hell of reality in Gaza over the past year, until her last work was titled “We Are Burning,” which Mahasen commented on hours before her martyrdom and said, “Tell me how you feel when you see someone burning…”
A martyr mourns a martyr
Mahasen was martyred hours ago in the Israeli raids on Jabalia last night. A few hours before her martyrdom, she uploaded an artwork commemorating Shaaban al-Dalu, who was burned alive last week when an Israeli air strike caused a fire in the Al-Aqsa Hospital complex where displaced people were staying.
In another post that included a video clip of the fire, Mahasen wrote, “We saw people dying. We saw people dying in front of our eyes. May God have mercy on us.”
The Rawasy Palestine Foundation for Culture, Arts and Media mourned the Palestinian artist in a statement in which it said, “The Rawasy Palestine Foundation for Culture, Arts and Media mourns the visual artist Mahasen Al-Khatib, who became a martyr as a result of the occupation aircraft targeting her home in northern Gaza, where she remained steadfast, rejecting displacement and displacement.”
The statement added, “Before her passing and during the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip, the human artist left an immortal national artistic impact, and presented digital artistic works that touch our reality, our wounds, and our freedom. The artist Mahasen participated in important stages of the exhibitions and activities of the Rawasi Palestine National Foundation, and with her passing, we lost a creative and brilliant person in conveying a message.” His people and his cause through her artistic works.”
At the conclusion of the statement, the Rawasy Foundation affirmed, “Your colors will remain, O Mahasen, painting the picture of freedom.”
The Palestinian artist mourned her followers with sorrow, and Salman said, “We know that their real life has begun now, and their comfort and happiness began after their martyrdom… May God accept them and take revenge on everyone who wronged them.”
Mahasen was martyred, like thousands of others we do not know, because of the Jews and their injustice.
But we know that their real life began now and their comfort and happiness began after their martyrdom.
May God accept them and take revenge on everyone who wronged them.
We all know that every oppressor has an end throughout time and history.
—Salman | Designer (@salman_designe) October 19, 2024
One follower wrote, “I read that you were in northern Gaza, and I came to check your account and the stories are still there. Your death is so sweet that the echo of your digital voice is still vibrant! Only yesterday, you posted stories about your latest artwork! And today you are gone… It is strange that “You discover an artist, and at the same time you discover that she died unjustly.”
Another follower wrote, “The creative mahasin will go to heaven, God willing. The last drawing you drew, you did not know that you would be next! By God, we are not numbers, O world. Understand, God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.”
From joy to martyrdom
During the past years, Mahasen Al-Khatib spread joy with her artistic works. Even in dark moments, she used to draw a smile by publishing her family’s diaries under bombardment and harsh war conditions. However, the last thing the Palestinian artist published before her martyrdom carried a lot of pain, which she described as “difficult nights.”
Northern Gaza is subjected to a siege, a communications outage, and violent bombardment. The bodies of the dead are scattered in the streets, and many people are trapped under the rubble. The inability to communicate prevents ambulances from arriving to treat the wounded.
