Wael Dahdouh hugs his daughter throughout the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh
Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh – who misplaced his spouse, two youngsters and 9 different relations in an Israeli strike in October – stated his final goodbyes to his eldest son at present. Hamza, like his father, was a journalist and killed when the automotive he was in with one other journalist was struck in Rafah. The opposite journalist – Mustafa Thuria (a video stringer) – was additionally killed within the missile strike.
Their automobile was close to al-Mawasi – a ”protected space” – when it was struck, Al Jazeera reported.
”Hamza was every part for me, the eldest boy, he was the soul of my soul,” Mr Dahdouh, dejected, instructed Al Jazeera whereas talking from the cemetry the place his son had been laid to relaxation.
”I hope that the blood of my son Hamza is the final blood to movement of journalists in addition to folks within the Gaza Strip,” he added.
Distressing visuals on social media confirmed Hamza’s inconsolable spouse and siblings speeding to the cemetry for one final look earlier than he was buried. Wael Dahdouh stood by his head, attempting to consolation the remainder of his household. One other video confirmed him kissing his son’s hand whereas combating again tears.
Hamza Dahdouh’s spouse of 1 yr mourns over his physique.
Al Jazeera has condemned the killing and ”concentrating on” of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. ”Al Jazeera Media Community strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces’ concentrating on of Palestinian journalists’ automotive,” the corporate stated in a press release, accusing Israel of ”violating the rules of freedom of the press”.
Mr Dahdouh grew to become the face of all journalists reporting from Floor Zero on Israel’s warfare on Gaza when he discovered that a lot of his relations have been killed in the identical bombing he was protecting in October.
World watched as he rushed to the hospital the place the our bodies of his family members have been saved. Visuals confirmed him mourning over the our bodies of his spouse and kids at a hospital in Deir el-Balah within the southern Gaza Strip.
His household was staying in a brief house, once more a ”protected space”, after evacuating Gaza Metropolis following Israel’s warning for residents to maneuver south as its forces intensified strikes concentrating on Hamas.
No less than 113 folks have been killed previously 24 hours in Israeli bombardments, stated the well being ministry within the besieged territory run by Hamas.
The warfare began when Hamas on October 7 final yr launched an unprecedented assault on Israel which resulted in about 1,140 deaths, most of them civilians. The Hamas operatives additionally took round 250 hostages, 132 of whom are nonetheless in captivity, in response to Israel. No less than 24 are believed to have been killed.
In response, Israel is finishing up a relentless bombardment and floor invasion which have killed no less than 22,835 folks, most of them girls and kids, in response to the Gaza well being ministry.
In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed once more at a cupboard assembly that ”I’ve a transparent message for our enemies: What occurred on October 7 is not going to occur once more.