Mohamed ‘Medo’ Halimy, a Palestinian content creator best known for his ‘tent life’ videos which chronicled life in the overcrowded al-Mawasi encampment in the south of the Gaza Strip, succumbed to the injuries he suffered in an Israeli air strike on Monday.
Medo Halimy, 19, had documented the harsh realities of life in besieged Gaza and was widely respected by both his audience and notable figures.
Israeli Airstrike Claims Life of Palestinian TikTok Creator Medo Halimy
His death adds another number to the rising human casualties in the Gaza Strip, which, according to sources, have reached 41,000, including children. His death was widely condemned across the globe, and tributes are pouring in from fans and prominent personalities.
In the first of his many ‘tent life’ diaries filmed from the sprawling encampment, he stated:
‘If you wonder what living in a tent is actually like, come with me to show you how I spend my day.’
Medo Halimy had a unique style of presentation and his humorous takes on the mundane—and sometimes traumatic—experiences of displacement endeared and horrified many, as can be gauged by the fact that he had more than two million views on TikTok.
He continued to create content in the most difficult situations, and even on the day he was killed, he was in an internet café inside a tent where he was meeting his friend and collaborator, Talal Murad.
Murad was also injured in the Israeli air raid and later stated,
‘Their work was a kind of resistance [he hoped] to continue.’
Describing the air raid, he said that he was catching up with his friend when he saw a flash coming from above his head, followed by an explosion.
Murad added,
‘We did everything together; we laughed, we cried, we walked for hours continuously, we ran a business together, but sadly we didn’t die together. Everyone who knew Medo loved him. He left a beautiful impression on everyone,’
Rahaf, Medo Halimy’s sister, said in a message on Friday.
‘He was an ambitious person with dreams. He was hardworking. He led many youth teams. He had many friends from all over the world. Everyone is affected by Medo Halimy’s death.’
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated, and over two million people, including children, are facing famine-like situations with an acute shortage of food, fuel, and medical supplies amid ongoing violence.
Medo Halimy’s social media campaign was aimed at making the world aware of the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza.
