Frans Alsalmi (Amna Al-Salmi), 36, was a prominent Palestinian visual artist and digital creator from Gaza. @francalsalmi
She was born in the Al Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza and had nine siblings. The nickname “Francia” was given to her by an uncle in honor of the French activist Francoise Kesteman, a volunteer nurse in southern Lebanon in the 1980s who later fought alongside the Palestinian resistance and was martyred in Lebanon.
She held a degree in photography from Al-Aqsa University and completed her studies at Birzeit University in the West Bank. She was recognized for her work in painting, murals, sculpture, and digital media.
She was a friend and collaborator of photojournalist Ismael Abu Hatab, who founded ByPa, a platform for Palestinian creators to tell their stories and amplify their voices. She also sold her work on Etsy. @bypa.bypalestine
She led support workshops for children and also participated in the “Reviving Gaza” initiative, a group of volunteers working to raise funds and provide basic assistance to displaced people throughout the Gaza Strip. @reviving.gaza
Frans Alsalmi was killed on June 30, 2025, by an Israeli airstrike that hit the crowded Al-Baqa café, located on the coast of Gaza City. The attack caused a powerful explosion that destroyed the café and fatally injured those inside.
Drawing by Carmen Fernández
Full history to print: 057_Frans_english.pdf
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