Israeli airstrike kills wife, children, grandson of Al Jazeera reporter Wael Dahdouh

The wife, son, daughter and grandson of an Al-Jazeera Arabic reporter in Gaza were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp late on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera Gaza City Bureau chief Wael Dahdouh was reporting from another location in Gaza as the news of his family members' deaths were announced. Other relatives remain missing.

Dahdouh appeared on Al Jazeera entering the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, where he saw their bodies.

The reporter could be seen touching the face of his 15-year-old son Mahmoud, as well as holding the shrouded body of his seven-year-old daughter Sham.

مراسل التلفزيون العربي باسل خلف يتحدث عن استهداف الصحفيين وعوائلهم بما فيهم عائلة الزميل الصحفي وائل الدحدوح@baselkhlaf pic.twitter.com/NnmZXidlLL

— التلفزيون العربي (@AlarabyTV) October 25, 2023

“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," Dahdouh said in an interview at the hospital.

“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.”

Dahdouh’s son Yehia suffered a serious head wound which doctors treated in a hospital corridor, using non-surgical thread to close the wound, Al Jazeera reported.

Colleagues of the veteran journalist have shared their condolences and messages of support.

“Wael has continued to report on Israeli atrocities despite the ongoing threats against him and his family, and he’s refused to leave Gaza in order to convey to the world what is happening there,” Al Jazeera Arabic presenter Tamer Almisshal said.

“His voice will go on – that we can guarantee. All our voices will go on, and we’ll continue to cover this assault to get the truth out every day.”

Israeli attacks have killed at least 23 journalists since October 7.

In May 2022, Israeli forces shot and killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank as she covered an Israeli raid on the area.