Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief in Gaza, arrives at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah on Wednesday to visit the morgue where his wife, son and daughter were taken after they were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The media network offered its condolences and condemned the “indiscriminate assault.” Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera
The family of Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief in Gaza has been killed in an Israeli airstrike, the media network reported Wednesday as it condemned the “indiscriminate assault” on correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh’s wife, son, daughter and grandson.
“The indiscriminate assault by the Israeli occupation forces resulted in the tragic loss of Dahdouh’s wife, son and daughter, while the rest of his family is buried under the rubble,” Al Jazeera said in a statement. Advertisement
“The Al Jazeera Media Network extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to our colleague Wael Al-Dahdouh on the loss of his family in an Israeli airstrike.”
“Their home was targeted in the Nuseirat camp in the centre of Gaza, where they had sought refuge after being displaced by the initial bombardment in their neighborhood, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for all civilians to move south,” the network said.
Al Jazeera aired footage showing a shocked Dahdouh entering the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah on Wednesday to visit the morgue where his wife, 15-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were taken. His grandson was declared dead two hours later. Advertisement
“What happened is clear. This is a series of targeted attacks on children, women and civilians. I was just reporting from Yarmouth about such an attack, and the Israeli raids have targeted many areas, including Nuseirat,” Dahdouh told Al Jazeera as he exited the hospital.
“We had our doubts that the Israeli occupation would not let these people go without punishing them. And sadly, that is what happened. This is the ‘safe’ area that the occupation army spoke of,” he added.
Other members of Dahdouh’s family, including a granddaughter, survived the attack. Dahdouh’s other son was injured.
Since Hamas launched an attack against Israel on Oct. 7, and Israel declared war on the militant Palestinian group, 24 journalists have been killed in Gaza.
Al-Aqsa Radio reported Wednesday that one of its journalists, Dora Ashram, was killed in an Israeli air strike that struck her home in central Gaza’s al-Zawiya neighborhood.
“Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict in the face of a ground assault by Israeli troops, devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement.
Out of the 24 journalists confirmed dead nearly three weeks into the war, 20 were Palestinian, 3 were Israeli and 1 was Lebanese. Advertisement
“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.
“Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict,” Mansour said. “All parties must take steps to ensure their safety.”
