International Press Institute Honors Gaza Journalist Mariam Abu Daqqa Posthumously

The International Press Institute (IPI) posthumously honored Palestinian journalist Maryam Abu Daqqa with the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero Award for her courageous reporting from Gaza during the ongoing conflict. Abu Daqqa was killed in an Israeli airstrike on August 25, 2025, while covering the aftermath of an attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, an incident that also claimed the lives of other journalists and civilians. The award ceremony, part of IPI's 75th anniversary celebrations in Vienna, recognized seven journalists worldwide for their dedication to press freedom under dangerous conditions, with Abu Daqqa and another journalist being honored posthumously. Her death highlighted the extreme risks journalists face in Gaza, where targeted attacks, displacement, and starvation persist amid the conflict. Independent Arabia, her employer, and her family emphasized her commitment to truth and the heavy toll of her loss, while IPI and other organizations called for greater protections and accountability for journalists in conflict zones. The recognition underscores the broader threats to press freedom globally, as authoritarianism and impunity grow, making the safety of journalists an urgent concern.