Asaad is a 21-year-old photographer and biomedical engineering student from Al-Maghazi. Asaad, along with his family, has been displaced several times due to the ongoing conflicit over the years. In 2021, the family home was destroyed. Yet, like so many, they rebuilt, only to have it destroyed again.
Asaad has six siblings: Yasser (19), Raghad (17), Zeina (15), Asil (13), Reemas (9), and Kenan (1).
Despite the destruction, Asaad remains wise beyond his years. His compassion, strength, and deep roots within his community inspire us to be better ourselves.
He spends his days taking care of others - from keeping the spirits up of children displaced in UN schools through regular activities to helping rebuild a local photography studio in time for Eid so the community could have a small taste of normalcy for a few hours.
Asaad continues to document the ongoing struggle of every day people to survive in the most cruel of environments.
He recently received an Honorable Mention for his work from the International Photography Awards. His photograph, “The presence of hope among the rubble,” was awarded the One Shot - Searching for Peace Official Selection in the Calm in Conflict category.
The presence of hope among the rubble, Photographed by Asaad Nateel, 2024
Artist statement:
“Despite the ongoing conflict and pain we face daily, we persevere and never give up.
“Resilience is in our DNA and our community spirit is strong, as is our ability to find hope, even in the midst of unimaginable pain. Our faith is our strength and a form of resistance. There is always hope, even in the darkest of days and we look for peace in the tiny reminders sent from above.”
Photography has allowed us a near-instant glimpse into the world, both near and far. With cameras in our pockets, we have all become documentarians of our daily lives, whether you are an avid photographer or an expert finger-framer. Photography allows us to freeze precious moments, capture our OOTD, explore new places, and see the world’s horrific and terrifying beauty. And like the ancient olive groves in Palestine, we too can weather what we face as long as we remain deeply rooted in ourselves, our families, and our communities.