Israeli army confirms airstrike in Gaza, where journalist’s relatives were killed
Jerusalem. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday confirmed airstrikes targeting “Hamas terrorist structures” in Gaza, where 12 members of an Al Jazeera journalist’s family were killed the previous day.
The attack targeted a house in the Nussirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where relatives of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh were taking refuge after being displaced, CNN reported, citing the Qatar-based news network.
Those killed included al-Dahdouh’s wife, son, daughter and grandson.
“Attacks on military targets are subject to the provisions of international law, including taking possible precautions to minimize civilian casualties,” the IDF said in a statement to CNN on Thursday.
“In connection with this specific case, the IDF targeted Hamas terrorist infrastructure in the area.”
The family’s displacement followed Israel’s evacuation call, which ordered about 1 million people to move to the southern part of the besieged area on October 13, Xinhua news agency reported.
Footage from the English news channel Al Jazeera showed al-Dahdouh entering a hospital to see his slain family members.
In a statement on Twitter, Al Jazeera confirmed the death and expressed condolences to al-Dahdouh’s family members.
“Al Jazeera Media Network expresses its condolences and sympathies to our colleague Wael al-Dahdouh over the death of his family in the Israeli airstrike,” the statement said.
It added, “Al Jazeera is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of our colleagues in Gaza and holds the Israeli authorities responsible for their protection.”
According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, 24 journalists have been killed, some along with their families, and dozens of others injured since the beginning of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip in response to a major Hamas offensive on October 7.
–IANS
