The number of Palestinian journalists killed in the Israeli genocide shot up to 174 in less than a year
GAZA CITY – The Israeli occupation forces assassinated a prominent journalist Wafa al-Udaini in a treacherous bombardment of her home in Deir Al-Balah.
Wafa, her husband Munir Attia Darwish al-Adini, and their two children, Tamim and Balsam, were martyred after the bombing of their home in central Gaza.
In a statement, the Palestinian Media Forum (PMF) blamed Israeli attacks for the martyrdom of the media activist who was at the forefront of conveying the Palestinian narrative and story to the foreign media, adding the family was killed as a result of a treacherous Israeli bombardment.
The forum said Wafa al-Udaini devoted her life and efforts to working with the international media via writing articles, dialogue and interaction with foreign activists, online conferences, photo exhibitions, and short film competitions to explain the Palestinian perspective.
“With the martyrdom of this prominent media figure, the national media has lost a free voice for Palestine and its people struggling for freedom and self-determination,” the PFM said in a statement.
Founder of the October 16th group, Wafa dedicated her life to mentoring young media professionals in Gaza, emphasising the importance of truth in reporting.
Wafa gained prominence for her coverage of the Great March of Return, courageously reporting for several media platforms, including the Palestine Chronicle, where she captured the pain, resistance, and hope of her people.
Through her words and actions, she stood as both a storyteller and a symbol of the Palestinian struggle for freedom.
Wafa al-Udaini joins the caravan of media martyrs whose number swelled to 174 journalists since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip soon after 7 October, 2023 and which resulted in the killing of over 41,000 and injuries to over 96,000 people.
The Palestinian Media Forum renewed its call to protect journalists and enable them to perform their professional duty in accordance with international laws and humanitarian charters, and called for holding the Israeli occupation accountable for its ongoing crimes.
The Palestinian Media Forum stressed the continuation of the message and media coverage, no matter how great the sacrifices and challenges, indicating that the deliberate Israeli targeting of Palestinian journalists will not weaken their resolve or divert their compass from Palestine. – Agencies
