The New York-based nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists issued an official statement after Al-Jazeera cameraperson Samer Abu Daqqa was killed, and Al-Jazeera correspondent Wael Al Dahdouh was injured in a drone attack in Khan Yunis. Also, Qatar-based Al Jazeera News strongly condemned the killing of another network journalist in Gaza.

CNN International and other US networks reporting about the Gaza conflict have not reported on this incident so far. eTurboNews could not find any comments from a news source in Israel but will add relevant feedback once it becomes available.

Statement by the Committee to Protect Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply saddened by a drone strike that killed Al-Jazeera Arabic cameraperson Samer Abu Daqqa and injured reporter and Gaza bureau chief Wael Al Dahdouh and calls on international authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the attack to hold the perpetrators to account.

On December 15, Al Dahdouh and Abu Daqqa were covering the aftermath of the nightly Israeli strikes on a UN school sheltering displaced people in the center of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, when they were wounded as a result of a missile launched from what is believed to be an Israeli drone, according to reports by their outlet and the Middle East Eye. Al-Jazeera urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate Abu Daqqa from the school to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Al-Jazeera later announced that Abu Daqqa died, which was also reported by the Beirut-based press freedom group SKeyes.

In live coverage before his death, Al-Jazeera said Abu Daqqa wasn’t immediately evacuated from the school because he was trapped with other injured civilians. Al-Jazeera reporter Hisham Zaqqout said that Israeli forces were surrounding the school, and medics were unable to reach the hospital to evacuate wounded civilians, including Abu Daqqa.

“CPJ is deeply saddened and alarmed by a drone attack that injured Al-Jazeera journalist Wael Al Dahdouh and killed Samer Abu Daqqa in Khan Yunis, Gaza, and the pattern of attacks on Al-Jazeera journalists and their families,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna, from New York. “CPJ calls on international authorities to independently investigate the attack and hold those responsible to account.”

Many Gazans were taking refuge in the UNRWA-Khan Yunis school for girls, according to Al-Jazeera, which said the school was also hit by bombardment from Israeli tanks. Al-Jazeera aired footage of Al Dahdouh wearing his press vest and assured in its reporting that he was taking precautions and was identifiable as a member of the press.

Al Dahdouh was hit by shrapnel in his right hand and waist and transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment, videos shared by his outlet show. In videos at the hospital, Al Dahdouh continuously urged the evacuation of his colleague Abu Daqqa.

Israeli artillery is targeting the center of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, where many Palestinians displaced from the central and northern parts of Gaza are sheltering, Al-Jazeera correspondents say. Clashes with Palestinian fighters are also ongoing as the Israeli military tries to enter the city, according to Al-Jazeera.

On October 25, Wael Al Dahdouh, Al-Jazeera’s bureau chief for Gaza, lost his wife, son, daughter, and grandson when an Israeli airstrike hit the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to a statement from Al-Jazeera and Politico. Other Al-Jazeera journalists have been injured or lost family members during the war, CPJ previously documented.

CPJ’s email to the North America Desk of the Israel Defense Forces did not immediately receive a response.

Since October 7, CPJ has documented dozens of journalists and media workers killed while covering the war.

About the Committee to Protect Journalists

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Press Freedom Center
P.O. Box 2675
New York, NY 10108

The Committee to Protect Journalists promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. CPJ protects the free flow of news and commentary by taking action wherever journalists are under threat.

As an organization founded by journalists, we use the tools of journalism to protect those engaged in acts of journalism. Our credibility rests on a bedrock of accuracy, transparency, fairness, accountability, and independence. Journalist safety is our top priority.

“We believe freedom of expression is the foundation for all other human rights. Violations of press freedom often occur in a broader context — including discrimination and oppression based on political beliefs, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic standing.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

As enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, every person has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regardless of nationality or identity. Access to independent information enables all people to make decisions and hold the powerful to account. “

“CPJ is committed to values of equity and free expression in our internal practices as well. As an organization headquartered in the United States, we aspire to build a diverse workplace and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment. As an international organization, we strive for our people to be representative of the global community on which we report, and to equip them with the opportunities and resources they need to learn and succeed.’

Al Jazeera Condems Israel

“Al Jazeera Network holds Israel accountable for systematically targeting and killing Al Jazeera journalists and their families.

“In today’s bombing in Khan Younis, Israeli drones fired missiles at a school where civilians sought refuge, resulting in indiscriminate casualties.

“According to Al Jazeera, following Samer’s injury, he was left to bleed to death for over 5 hours, as Israeli forces prevented ambulances and rescue workers from reaching him, denying the much-needed emergency treatment.”

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eTurboNews is covering global news relevant to travel and tourism, and issues relevant to human rights. eTurboNews has been defending press freedom and has been speaking out on numerous important not directly travel-related stories involving the work of international journalists. eTurboNews journalists are members of various national and international organizations supporting journalists.