Al Jazeera reports journalist's family killed in Gaza airstrike

Al Jazeera reported that the wife, son, daughter, and grandson of their bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al Dahdouh, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday. The explosion occurred at a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where the family had sought shelter after being displaced. Al Jazeera expressed their condolences in an on-air message, stating that members of Wael Al Dahdouh's family were tragically lost in the Israeli bombing.

CNN is unable to verify the origin of the explosion at the residence, and there is no evidence presented by Al Jazeera linking it directly to an Israeli attack. The IDF has not yet responded to CNN's inquiries for a statement.

Al Dahdouh was captured on video, his emotions overwhelming as he grieved for his son and grandson at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza. Clutching his son's lifeless body, draped in a pure white sheet, the devastated journalist also tenderly held his grandson. Al Jazeera stated that Mahmoud, aged 15, and Sham, aged seven, were the young victims of this heart-wrenching tragedy.

Al Jazeera anchor Abdisalam Farah tearfully reported the deaths live on air, struggling to maintain his composure.

According to Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, the Al Dahdouh family had been forced to flee from Tal El Hawa and sought refuge in the Nuseirat refugee camp, believing it to be a secure location, CNN reported.

Israel's leadership has made a pledge to eradicate Hamas, the extremist organization ruling Gaza, in retaliation for the deadly acts of terror and kidnapping spree on October 7. This rampage resulted in the deaths of 1,400 individuals, predominantly civilians, and over 200 being held captive. The prolonged blockade of Gaza has created a dire humanitarian situation within the region, as aid organizations report that it is now isolated from the rest of the world due to a nearly complete restriction of goods and services. Moreover, Israeli airstrikes have devastated entire residential areas, demolishing homes, schools, and mosques.

CNN's drone footage on Monday revealed the extent of devastation in various areas of the strip. In the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, entire streets were flattened, while the central Gaza witnessed a row of demolished buildings referred to as al-Zahra towers.

According to the most recent statistics provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, more than 6,400 individuals have lost their lives, and an additional 17,000 have been injured in Israel's continuous aerial bombardment of the densely populated enclave. These figures were reported by the health authorities in Gaza, which are under the control of Hamas.

Horrifying

The death of Al Dahdouhs family members on Wednesday has been strongly criticized by advocacy groups. The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed their dismay and anger, labeling it as "shocking and unacceptable news" in an official statement. "We strongly denounce the targeting of innocent civilians and extend our heartfelt sympathies to Wael Dahdouh."

As of Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that 24 journalists have lost their lives during this ongoing conflict. Out of the total, 20 fatalities were Palestinian journalists, three were Israeli journalists, and one was a journalist from Lebanon, as stated by CPJ. Palestinian press agency WAFA confirmed the inclusion of journalist Roshdi Sarraj among the casualties, stating that he was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Sarraj, who had been collaborating with Radio France's correspondents since May 2021, worked as a fixer at the prominent French national public radio broadcaster. Upon CNN's inquiry regarding Sarraj's death, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded on Monday, asserting that unlike Hamas's deliberate assaults on Israeli civilians, the IDF adheres to international law and implements practicable measures to minimize harm to non-combatants.

CNNs Mihir Melwani, Pierre Meilha and Sophie Jeong contributed to this report.