Doha-based Al Jazeera’s veteran Gaza correspondent Wael al-Dahdouh misplaced the fifth member of his household Sunday after his son and one other journalist have been killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Al-Dahdouh’s spouse, two different youngsters and a grandson had died earlier within the warfare.
He has continued to report on the preventing between Israel and Hamas even because it has taken a devastating toll on his family, changing into an emblem for lots of the perils confronted by Palestinian journalists, dozens of whom have been killed whereas protecting the battle.
Hamza al-Dahdouh, who was additionally working for Al Jazeera, and Mustafa Tharaya, a contract journalist, have been killed when a strike hit their automotive whereas they have been driving from Khan Younis to the southern city of Rafah, in response to the Gazan Media Office.
Amer Abu Amr, a photojournalist, mentioned in a Facebook submit that he and one other journalist, Ahmed al-Bursh, survived the strike.
There was no instant remark from the Israeli army.
Wael Al-Dahdouh, 53, has been the face of Al Jazeera’s 24-hour protection of this warfare and former rounds of preventing for tens of millions of Arabic-speaking viewers throughout the area, almost all the time showing on air within the blue helmet and flak jacket worn to establish journalists within the Palestinian territories.
Speaking to Al Jazeera after his son’s burial, Dahdouh vowed to proceed reporting on the warfare.
“The whole world must look at what is happening here in the Gaza Strip,” he mentioned. “What is happening is a great injustice to defenseless people, civilian people. It is also unfair for us as journalists.”
He was reporting on the offensive in late October when he acquired phrase that his spouse, daughter and one other son had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.
His grandson, wounded in the identical strike, died hours later. The Qatar-based broadcaster later aired footage of him weeping over the physique of his son whereas nonetheless carrying his blue press vest.
In December, an Israeli strike on a college in Khan Younis wounded al-Dahdouh and Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa.
Al-Dahdouh was capable of run for assist, however Abu Daqqa bled to loss of life hours later as ambulances have been unable to achieve him due to blocked roads, in response to Al Jazeera.
Earlier in December, a strike killed the daddy, mom and 20 different members of the family of one other Al Jazeera correspondent, Momen al Sharafi.
According to Gazan authorities over 100 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza.
Over 22,800 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s brutal warfare, largely ladies and minors, in response to the Health Ministry.
Israel denies concentrating on journalists and says it makes each effort to keep away from harming civilians, blaming the excessive loss of life toll on the truth that Hamas fights in densely populated city areas.
Some 85% of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million have fled their houses, with most looking for shelter in Israeli-designated secure zones in southern Gaza.
But Israel additionally repeatedly carries out strikes in these areas, main many Palestinians to really feel that nowhere within the besieged territory is secure.
Palestinian journalists have performed a vital function in reporting on the battle for native and worldwide media retailers, whilst many have misplaced family members and been pressured to flee their very own houses due to the preventing.
Israel and Egypt, which preserve a blockade on Gaza, have largely barred international reporters from getting into Gaza for the reason that warfare started.
Source: www.dailysabah.com