The Egyptian Journalists’ Union approved a recommendation from the Egyptian Journalism Awards Board on Sunday to nominate Al-Jazeera’s correspondent and bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh, for the “Freedom of Press” prize for the year 2024.
This recognition comes as a tribute to his steadfastness and the resilience of Palestinian journalists in the face of the relentless Zionist aggression and its brutal war machine.
The nomination of Al-Dahdouh follows a recommendation by the union’s board, led by the President of the Journalists’ Syndicate, Khalid Al-Balshi, in honor of Palestinian journalists who lost their lives during the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, which has lasted for over three months.
These courageous journalists paid the ultimate price to convey the truth, expose acts of genocide against the Palestinian people, and debunk the false Zionist narrative and Western media’s misrepresentations.
Wael Al-Dahdouh was awarded this prize as a tribute to his professional dedication. He set an example of self-sacrifice to convey the truth and paid a high personal price for his commitment to his profession.
His family suffered directly as his wife and two of his sons, along with his grandson, became martyrs. However, he remained steadfast in his journalistic duties.
He continued his work even after being directly targeted, along with his colleague Samer Abu Daqqa, who lost his life in an Israeli airstrike while covering the Israeli massacres in the region.
Tragically, Wael’s son, journalist Hamza Al-Dahdouh, also sacrificed his life in an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle carrying journalists during their coverage of the war. Hamza lost his life while Mustafa Abu Thraya, another journalist, was injured.
The “Freedom of Press” award is presented to journalists who play a prominent role in defending press freedom, whether through their writing, journalistic work, advocacy, intellectual and union activities, or those who face pressure due to their defense of press freedom and journalists’ rights.
It can also be awarded to public figures, both public and private, who have effectively supported press freedom and defended journalists.
