Dying for peace: Gaza journalist and Japan
The 18 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas has been catastrophic for journalists covering the conflict, with at least 178 killed in Gaza. NHK explores the life, and death, of one correspondent for a Japanese newspaper who was also a worker of a Japanese NPO in Gaza.
Memorial service held to remember one young life
After a fragile two-month ceasefire, Israel relaunched its barrage of attacks on Gaza. And the death toll continues to climb.
On March 24, an Israeli missile attack killed 29-year-old journalist Mohammed Mansour, a correspondent for major Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun.
At his memorial service in Japan, more than 50 people gathered to pay their respects.
Kuwayama Norihiko, a psychiatrist and CEO of the non-profit Frontline, said, in deep grief and shock, "I wanted to see what kind of person he would be when he turned 30, 40, and 50."
Mohammed was family
Kuwayama and his NPO have supported young people in Gaza dealing with trauma. When the two first became acquainted, Mohammed was just 14. The psychiatrist had been treating him for his emotional scars and they formed a special bond.
Mohammed had ambitions to study at university. Kuwayama not only helped with his tuition, but also invited him to join his NPO after graduating. For him, Mohammed was family.
Kuwayama said: "He was like a true son to me. At some point he found himself calling me 'father.' He was honest with a sense of justice. He was a person who wouldn't give up."
Mohammed continued to report amid chaos
In October 2023, the Israeli military operation got underway and intensified, making it difficult for Kuwayama to enter Gaza.
Mohammed kept Kuwayama up-to-date on the situation by sending photos and videos.
Through the NPO, he and others also delivered food and medicine to children wards in hospitals. He said: "People in Gaza are crying out to the entire world for help. We have to stop this war."
In March, Kuwayama received the news that Mohammed had been killed.
He said: "My state of mind is likely to get worse, because when I think about it I can't bear it. It's too painful. I can't accept his death in this war of hatred. I can't accept any death, but war is something we don't have to wage. We can't stop earthquakes and tsunamis, but I think war can be stopped."
Pouring over Mohammed's images and words, Kuwayama was reminded all the more of their significance as portraits of people struggling to live amid the chaos. Throughout it all, Mohammed remained resilient. He said: "I saw the blood, the bodies, the unfairness, and the airstrikes. I still have hope, and love life and peace, even when death is close. I have great hope and ardor that people can live in freedom."
Mohammed's hopes for peace passed on
During the memorial service, Mohammed's younger sister, Alaa, spoke via zoom. She told the mourners of her determination to carry on her brother's work with Frontline, and vowed to do her best for Kuwayama and his team at the NPO. Alaa also said she was ready to shoulder Mohammed's duties and keep his spirit alive, while building on his efforts. Kuwayama thanked her.
Kuwayama said: "It's not easy to improve the situation in Gaza, which has been in a dire state. But people there say that they can get by through their connection with Japan. They can't make it alone, but they can have hope for tomorrow by feeling that they share a lifeline, a network with Japan. I want to continue our support as much as possible. "
He said he hopes people will remember Mohammed and his message. "When I reflect on what he wanted most, I think he hoped for a world where people would never die the way he did. He wanted to stop people from dying due to the violence. I'd like to continue pushing for peace and a world without war according to his wishes."
Kuwayama is planning an exhibition featuring Mohammed's photos in June. Living for peace: dying in conflict... Mohammed's images framing the human cost of war live on.
What Mohammed captured in Gaza
*Click here to watch the related video:
Dying for peace: Gaza journalist and Japan (May 14, 2025)
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