Veteran journalist Waed Al Dahdouh was covering violence in Gaza. His family was reportedly in the United Nations-recognised Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, which was called a “safe area” by Israeli forces.
GAZA CITY – Three members of Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al Dahdouh’s family – his wife, son and daughter – were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza, the network said Wednesday in a live broadcast. Shortly before their deaths were confirmed Dahdouh was, in fact, live on air reporting on Israeli strikes in the area.
“We note this breaking news that we transmit on the Al Jazeera network. A number of family members of our colleague, Wael Al Dahdouh were martyred, including his wife, son and daughter,” an anchor said as he fought back tears, “.. in an Israel bombing that targeted (his) house …”
“He was with us a little while ago… and he was reporting the bombing that targeted the area where a number of his family members were martyred,” a tearful anchor said.
Dahdouh’s family was reportedly in the United Nations-recognised Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, which was called a “safe area” by Israeli forces.
Speaking to the network after grieving over the death of his family members, Dahdouh said, “… a big tragedy is perpetrated against women and children… no less than a calamity.”
“Large numbers of people’s houses (are being) bombarded. However, this is a custom of the Israeli occupation. (But), at the end of the day, we are on this land. This is our destiny… this is our destiny and this is our choice and this is our patience… and we won’t deviate from this path.”
Dahdouh, 53, well-known journalist who has covered armed conflicts in the area, was helping broadcast live images of the war in Gaza when he received the devastating news.
The Qatari broadcaster later aired visuals of a grief-stricken Dahdouh at the morgue in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Palestine’s Deir el-Balah, to see his 15-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter.
His two-year-old grandson also died. Others, including an infant granddaughter, escaped.
Several other members are still missing, Al Jazeera has reported.
Also on Wednesday the network shared a video message from Dahdouh’s two older children, in which they begged the global community to “help us stay alive”.
Dahdouh’s family are among the millions of civilians displaced by Israel’s war on Gaza.
The broadcaster said Dahdouh’s family were in a temporary home after evacuating Gaza City following Israel’s warning for residents to move south as its forces intensifies strikes on the Hamas.
Al Jazeera said it “strongly condemns the indiscriminate targeting and killing of innocent civilians in Gaza”.
“The indiscriminate assault by Israeli occupation forces resulted in the tragic loss of his (Dahdouh’s) wife, son and daughter, while the rest of his family is buried under rubble. We urge the international community to intervene and put an end to attacks on civilians…” the network said. – Agencies
