Roee Edan

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Roee Edan
רועי עידן‎
Born(1978-11-11)11 November 1978
Died7 October 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 44)
Kfar Aza, Israel
OccupationPhotojournalist

Roee Edan (Hebrew: רועי עידן‎; 11 November 1978 – 7 October 2023) was an Israeli photojournalist working for Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth who died during the Kfar Aza massacre.[1]

Career[edit]

Edan grew up in Kfar HaRif, relocated around 2006 to Nahal Oz and after his marriage moved to Kfar Aza.[2] As a news photojournalist for Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth he covered events in the Gaza Strip region for twelve years.[3] His video footage from the early hours of 7 October 2023 is considered to be the initial documentation of the attack on Israel.[4]

Edan was a member of the faculty at Camera Obscura Art School.[5]

In 2018 and 2019, his works of video art work were included in the "Local Testimony" annual exhibition for photojournalism in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.[6][7] The 2023 exhibition also showcased his work posthumously.[8]

In 2021 Edan was the cinematographer for the documentary "Aswat Acherim" depicting a story of friendship across the Gaza-Sderot war zone.[9]

The Union of Journalists in Israel established an annual award for photojournalists in his name and its first three recipients were announced in December 2023.[10] Edan was posthumously awarded the 2023 award for excelling journalists by the Israeli Press Institute.[11]

Death and the kidnapping of daughter[edit]

On 7 October 2023, his home at Kfar Aza was infiltrated by Hamas militants. Edan's wife Smadar was shot dead and their 3-year-old daughter Abigail was kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip, where she was one of over 30 children held hostage by Hamas.[12] Edan's two older children hid in the closet until their rescue hours later.[13]

Edan was considered missing until his body was identified ten days later.[14] He and his wife Smadar were buried on 20 October.[12]

Kidnapping of Abigail Edan[edit]

Edan was reportedly holding his 3-year-old daughter at the time of his death who then crawled from under his body, fleeing to the house of their neighbors covered in blood.[15]

Abigail Edan was taken in by the family's neighbors and was taken hostage from their home along with the neighboring family's mother and three children.[16] They were held in captivity with more than 250 people abducted from Israel and taken hostage by Hamas.[17]

Abigail Edan was one of 17 hostages freed after 50 days in captivity on 26 November as part of the 2023 Israeli–Palestinian prisoner exchange during a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.[18] Days prior to her release, she marked her fourth birthday while in captivity.[19]

US President Joe Biden acknowledged her release stating: "A little girl named Abigail who turned four years old. She spent her birthday, that birthday, and at least 50 days before that held hostage by hamas. Today, she is free...", further stating “I wish I were there to hold her".[20][21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Tzuri, Matan (18 October 2023). "Ynet photographer Roy Edan, wife murdered in Hamas massacre; Youngest daughter missing". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  2. ^ קמר, אסף; אל-חי, ליאור (19 October 2023). ""רועי היה מקצוען. קול שפוי בסיר לחץ". ynet נפרד מלוחם תקשורת עם מצלמה". Ynet (in Hebrew).
  3. ^ "פרס על שמו של צלם ynet רועי עידן שנרצח בכפר עזה" (in Hebrew). 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ Kamar, Assaf; El-Hai, Lior (20 October 2023). "'A professional, a sane voice': Ynet bids farewell to slain photographer". Ynetnews.
  5. ^ "צלמו כלניות, לא מלחמות: המורשת של רועי עידן" (in Hebrew). 25 October 2023.
  6. ^ "רועי עידן" (in Hebrew).
  7. ^ "רועי עידן" (in Hebrew).
  8. ^ "הרגעים שעשו לנו את השנה: אלו הצילומים שזכו בתערוכה "עדות מקומית"" (in Hebrew). 5 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Aswat Acherim (2021) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.
  10. ^ "לראשונה: פרס ע"ש הצלם רועי עידן ז"ל הוענק ל-3 צלמי עיתונות במוז"א" (in Hebrew).
  11. ^ "בין הזוכים בפרס המכון הישראלי לעיתונות: צלם ynet רועי עידן ז"ל". Ynet (in Hebrew). 15 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b Funk, Luke (27 October 2023). "3-Year-Old Was Taken Hostage After Her Parents Died in Hamas Raid. She Hasn't Been Heard From Since". The Messenger. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  13. ^ Tzuri, Matan (9 October 2023). "Ynet photographer missing; daughter, wife murdered". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  14. ^ "צלם ynet רועי עידן נרצח בכפר עזה עם אשתו, הבת הקטנה נעדרת, "חבר טוב ואדם מיוחד ויקר"". inn.co.il (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Who are the hostages released during the Israel-Hamas truce?". Jewish Chronicle. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Who is Abigail Edan, 4-year-old American released by Hamas in hostage deal? 5 things to know". Hindustan Times. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Israel's Attackers Took About 240 Hostages. Here's What to Know About Them". New York Times. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Who are the hostages released during the Israel-Hamas truce?". CNN. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  19. ^ "4-year-old American-Israeli girl Abigail Edan was among the hostages freed today, source says". CNN. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Biden says 4-year-old Abigail Edan was released by Hamas". americanpress.com. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  21. ^ "'I wish I were there to hold her,' Biden says of Abigail Edan, 4, released by Hamas". Cleveland Jewish News. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
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