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 members of the family in an Israeli strike in October – mentioned his final goodbyes to his eldest son immediately. Hamza, like his father, was a journalist and killed when the automobile 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 car was close to al-Mawasi – a “protected space” – when it was struck, Al Jazeera reported.
“Hamza was every thing 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 circulate of journalists in addition to individuals 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 preventing again tears.
Hamza Dahdouh’s spouse of 1 yr mourns over his physique.
Al Jazeera has condemned the killing and “focusing on” of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. “Al Jazeera Media Community strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces’ focusing on of Palestinian journalists’ automobile,” the corporate mentioned in a press release, accusing Israel of “violating the rules of freedom of the press”.
Mr Dahdouh turned the face of all journalists reporting from Floor Zero on Israel’s conflict on Gaza when he discovered that various his members of the family have been killed in the identical bombing he was masking 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 youngsters at a hospital in Deir el-Balah within the southern Gaza Strip.
His household was staying in a short lived house, once more a “protected space”, after evacuating Gaza Metropolis following Israel’s warning for residents to maneuver south as its forces intensified strikes focusing on Hamas.
At the least 113 individuals have been killed previously 24 hours in Israeli bombardments, mentioned the well being ministry within the besieged territory run by Hamas.
The conflict 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 line with Israel. At the least 24 are believed to have been killed.
In response, Israel is finishing up a relentless bombardment and floor invasion which have killed not less than 22,835 individuals, most of them girls and youngsters, in line with 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 won’t occur once more.
