Palestinian Influencer Saleh al-Jafarawi Killed Amid Intra-Palestinian Clashes

Saleh al-Jafarawi, a well-known Palestinian social media figure recognized for documenting the Gaza conflict and celebrating the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, was reportedly killed on Monday during clashes between Hamas and rival Palestinian factions.

His death garnered mixed reactions: many Israelis viewed him as a Hamas propaganda supporter and celebrated his demise, while numerous pro-Palestinian activists expressed mourning. Notably, Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, shared an emotional post mourning Jafarawi’s death, describing him as “beloved” with broken heart emojis.

At 27 years old, Jafarawi was dubbed “Mr. FAFO” in Israeli media for his enthusiastic promotion of Hamas-related activities. He posted a video of himself tearfully reacting to Israeli strikes on Gaza, displaying a press vest and depicting the human toll of the conflict. His social media account on X (formerly Twitter) had over 250,000 followers.

Jafarawi was a controversial figure in Israel—respected for his influence but widely reviled for his messaging. Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy described him as a charismatic and inventive content creator who could have had a different life, had he chosen paths other than advocacy for Hamas.

“For the past two years, I followed Saleh al-Jafarawi (‘Mr. FAFO’), watching with a mixture of horror and fascination. His energy, charisma, and creativity were extraordinary. He was always in a different guise—medical professional, jihadist, foreign correspondent, ham actor—yet consistently with flair,” Levy shared. “It’s tragic because he could have used his talents differently, not for evil, but to inspire peace or change.”