Al Jazeera journalist loses entire immediate family in Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Screengrab/Aljazeera

Wael al-Dahdouh, the Al Jazeera correspondent and bureau chief in Gaza, is in mourning following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of his entire immediate family. They were victims of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Among those killed in Israeli airstrikes include Al-Dahdouh's wife, son, daughter and grandson.

In an attempt to protect his family, Al-Dahdouh had relocated them to the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza after receiving evacuation warnings from Israeli authorities, who advised residents in the northern part of the territory to evacuate immediately.

While leaving the hospital, Al-Dahdouh spoke to Al Jazeera, expressing his anguish and making a plea for international attention to the situation. "What happened is clear. This is a series of targeted attacks on children, women and civilians. I was just reporting from Yarmouk about such an attack, and the Israeli raids have targeted many areas, including Nuseirat.

"We had our doubts that the Israeli occupation would not let these people go without punishing them. And sadly, that is what happened. This is the ‘safe' area that the occupation army spoke of."

In a statement, the media network based out of Qatar, denounced the attack and extended "condolences and sympathy to our colleague".

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"The Al Jazeera Media Network extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to our colleague Wael Al-Dahdouh on the loss of his family in an Israeli airstrike.

The indiscriminate assault by the Israeli Occupation forces resulted in the tragic loss of his wife, son, and daughter, while the rest of his family is buried under the rubble.

Their home was targeted in the Nuseirat camp in the centre of Gaza, where they had sought refuge after being displaced by the initial bombardment in their neighborhood, following Prime Minister Netanyahu's call for all civilians to move south.

Al Jazeera is deeply concerned about the safety, and well-being of our colleagues in Gaza and hold the Israeli authorities responsible for their security.

The Network strongly condemns the indiscriminate targeting and killing of innocent civilians in Gaza, which has led to the loss of Wael Al-Dahdouh's family and countless others.

We urge the international community to intervene and put an end to these attacks on civilians, thereby safeguarding innocent lives." (With inputs from agencies)