Tragic Departure from Gaza After Family’s Demise in Israeli Strikes

The bureau chief of Al Jazeera in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, exited the Palestinian territory this Tuesday following the tragic loss of his wife, multiple children, and a fellow worker as a result of Israeli attacks. This news comes from our source, Reader Wall.

Images of Dahdouh mourning his deceased family members and hastily evacuating Gaza City have been transmitted worldwide since the conflict between Hamas militants and Israel ignited on October 7.

Escape through Egypt

In an interview with a Reader Wall journalist in southern Gaza, the 53-year-old media professional stated that he had passed through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Upcoming Surgical Procedure

Dahdouh mentioned he is slated to proceed to Qatar for a surgical operation to treat an injury acquired in an Israel-led assault last month. This strike also led to the loss of Samer Abu Daqqa, a cameraman for the Qatar-based network, among others.

Family Losses

In the month of October, his wife, two children, and a grandchild lost their lives during an attack on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Additionally, his eldest son was a casualty in strikes focusing on a vehicle in Rafah this month.

Safety for Remaining Children

According to nformation given to Reader Wall, Dahdouh managed to get four of his children through the border last week before making the crossing himself along with a relative this Tuesday.

Support from Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate

Khaled Elbalshy, the head of the Egyptian journalists’ union, confirmed they had made contact with Dahdouh following his Gaza exodus. Elbalshy expressed gratitude on Facebook towards all the Egyptian national agencies that contributed to providing help and treatment for Wael Dahdouh and the injured Palestinians.

Significant Loss of Journalists

As per the Count of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the war has claimed the lives of a minimum of 82 journalists, 75 of them in Gaza.

Toll on Palestinians

Since October 7, Israeli air strikes and ground operations have resulted in the deaths of around 24,285 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Out of these victims, more than 70 percent were composed of women, young children, and adolescents, based on figures from the Hamas government’s health department.

Hamas Attack and Captivity of Hostages

The Hamas attack on October 7 led to approximately 1,140 fatalities in Israel, the majority being civilians, as gathered from an Reader Wall count relying on official Israeli data. The militants also seized an estimated 250 hostages back to Gaza, with Israel claiming that 132 are still there, including a minimum of 25 thought to be deceased.