Palestinian journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh received the “Freedom of the Press” Award for 2024 from the Egyptian Press Award as a symbol of the steadfastness of Palestinian journalists, in the face of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, said Egypt Today on Monday.
The journalist lost his son, Hamzah Al-Dahdouh, who was also a journalist, alongside AFP’s cameraman Mustafa Thuraya, on Saturday after the Tsahal strike hit the car they were situated in while on assignment near Rafah.
Palestinian journalist Dahdouh lost his entire family in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip in late October. The aerial attack targeted the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing over 25 people.
Al-Dahdouh’s nomination is in commemoration of the Palestinian press martyrs who gave their lives to uncover the truth and expose Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
Also, the award was bestowed in recognition of Al-Dahdouh’s personal sacrifice and professional involvement in revealing the truth, established inherently by virtue of the loss of his wife, two of his children, and his grandson, all of whom became martyrs.
Despite his horrific losses, Al-Dahdouh maintained his professional integrity as a journalist for the Al-Jazeera network. He and his colleague, martyr Samer Abu Daqqa, were personally targeted, as well as his son, fellow journalist Hamza Al-Dahdouh, who was assassinated, as previously mentioned.
To date, 79 journalists have been killed since October 7–including 72 Palestinians, 4 Israelis, and 3 Lebanese–while 16 have been wounded, 21 have been arrested, and 3 are unaccounted for, according to Committe to Protect Journalists CPJ.
It is worth noting that the “Freedom of the Press” Award is given to journalists who play an instrumental role in safeguarding freedom of the press, whether through their writing, journalistic activities, positions held, intellectual and union activities, or simply by virtue of being victims of authoritarian forces in their attempts to defend freedom of the press and journalists’ rights.
The honor may also be conferred to non-journalists who fulfill these criteria, such as a public or private figure who actively advocates for a free press and journalistic transparency.