Renowned Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh has safely arrived in Egypt after enduring profound personal losses during the ongoing conflict, with multiple family members falling victim to Israeli airstrikes.
Earlier this month, Al-Dahdouh’s 27-year-old son, Hamza, also a journalist at Al Jazeera, tragically lost his life in an Israeli strike. Additionally, Al-Dahdouh experienced the devastating loss of his wife, a 16-year-old son, a seven-year-old daughter, and a grandson during an Israeli shelling incident in October.
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate, upon learning of Al-Dahdouh’s arrival in the country, expressed gratitude to the state for facilitating his entry. Al-Dahdouh, in turn, appreciated the support he received from the Egyptian state and fellow journalists, emphasizing their backing for both him and the Palestinian cause.
The purpose of Al-Dahdouh’s presence in Egypt remains undisclosed at this time.
Following Hamza’s passing on January 7, Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate honored Al-Dahdouh with the 2024 Freedom of Press Award for his coverage of the war. The award serves as a symbolic tribute not only to Al-Dahdouh but also to all Palestinian journalists who risk their lives in pursuit of the truth, the syndicate stated in a release.
Despite facing profound losses, Al-Dahdouh remained committed to his work, consistently appearing on-screen after each tragedy to report on the Israeli war in the region. The Journalists Syndicate condemned the targeted attacks on Al-Dahdouh’s family, asserting that he paid a price for his loyalty to his profession.
In mid-December, Al-Dahdouh was injured in an Israeli drone strike that claimed the life of 45-year-old Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. The two colleagues were reporting on an Israeli airstrike in a school being used as a shelter in the southern Gaza Strip.
The syndicate decried the drone strike as premeditated murder and a full-fledged war crime. It affirmed its readiness to join international efforts in prosecuting perpetrators of such crimes against numerous journalists before the International Criminal Court as war criminals.
