Israeli Airstrikes Kill Al Jazeera Reporter’s Family In Gaza

Israeli shelling in Gaza has killed a number of relations of a reporter for the information outlet Al Jazeera, highlighting the rising violence towards Palestinian civilians and the heightened threat journalists face in attempting to cowl the disaster.

Wael Dahdouh, one of many chief correspondents for Al Jazeera Arabic and the Gaza bureau chief, misplaced his spouse, 15-year-old son Mahmoud and 7-year-old daughter Sham on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike that devastated the Nusseirat refugee camp within the central Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based community, later confirmed that Dahdouh’s toddler grandson was additionally killed within the assault. Different members of his household had been believed to nonetheless be buried within the wreckage, in keeping with Al Jazeera.

“He was broadcasting reside reporting concerning the very Israeli airstrike believed to have hit the constructing the place his spouse, son and daughter had been in search of shelter,” the Nationwide Press Membership stated on Wednesday. “He discovered whereas on the air that each one three had died.”

Majdi Fathi, a contract photographer in Gaza, posted a video on Instagram of Dahdouh crying over his son’s bloody and partially wrapped physique. Fathi additionally posted a separate video of Dahdouh carrying his daughter’s small, bloody physique. Video uploaded by Gaza photojournalist Motaz Azaiza exhibits Dahdouh holding his grandson’s corpse whereas two girls and a person Azaiza says are kinfolk cry and kiss the boy.

In line with Israeli officers, greater than 1,400 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its assault on the nation Oct. 7.

Israel’s navy on Wednesday raised the variety of hostages believed taken captive by Hamas to 222. 4 hostages have been launched.

In line with the Gaza Well being Ministry, almost 7,000 Palestinians have been killed and almost 17,500 others wounded since Israel retaliated for the Oct. 7 assault. Within the occupied West Financial institution, which doesn’t home Hamas, greater than 100 Palestinians have been killed and greater than 1,600 wounded.

Tamer Almisshal, an Al Jazeera Arabic journalist and an in depth good friend of Dahdouh’s, claimed that the correspondent and his household had been a goal for Israel.

“He has been focused. A household of a journalist has been focused. And he’s not the one one throughout this warfare,” Almisshal stated, in keeping with Al Jazeera. “We’re speaking about greater than 20 journalists [who] have been killed with their households.”

“His daughter [and] grandson had been civilians. … from my expertise and data of this nice good friend and colleague, Wael will proceed his protection,” he stated. “Al Jazeera protection received’t cease. That is our accountability.”

Every week earlier, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi proposed new emergency laws that may give him the power to halt media broadcasts and take away associated tools if an outlet’s content material is taken into account “enemy propaganda.” The proposal gave the impression to be a direct menace to Al Jazeera ― one of many few worldwide media retailers that had a bodily presence in each Gaza and Israel ― which Karhi accused of harming nationwide safety.

“We’re deeply involved by Israeli officers’ threats to censor media protection of the continued Israel-Gaza battle, utilizing imprecise accusations of harming nationwide morale,” stated Sherif Mansour, the Center East and North Africa program coordinator for the Committee to Defend Journalists.

“CPJ urges Israel to not ban Al-Jazeera and to permit journalists to do their jobs. A plurality of media voices is important to carry energy to account, particularly in occasions of warfare.”

In 2017, Israel threatened to shut Al Jazeera’s bureau in Jerusalem and to expel the broadcaster. In 2021, Israel bombed a media tower in Gaza that was house to Al Jazeera’s workplace. In 2022, an Israeli soldier shot and killed Palestinian American correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, a veteran Al Jazeera correspondent who was overlaying an Israeli military operation within the occupied West Financial institution city of Jenin.

On Oct. 13, an airstrike on southern Lebanon wounded six journalists, together with Al Jazeera’s Eli Brakhya and Carmen Joukhadar. Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah was killed within the strike.

In line with CPJ, at the least 24 journalists have been killed within the violence this month ― 20 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese. Practically a dozen journalists have been reported injured, lacking or detained.

“Al Jazeera is deeply involved concerning the security and well-being of our colleagues in Gaza, and maintain the Israeli authorities answerable for their safety,” Al Jazeera stated in an announcement.