ماذا حدث لأبناء مراسل الجزيرة وائل الدحدوح خلال تغطيته للعدوان الإسرائيلي الأخير على غزة؟

Summary

Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's Gaza correspondent and bureau chief, shares his deeply personal journey, highlighting the devastating impacts of war on his family and his own life. Despite losing many relatives to Israeli airstrikes and facing immense challenges, he remains committed to his role in journalism. Originally aspiring to study medicine, his path shifted after his imprisonment by Israeli forces in 1988 for his involvement in the First Intifada. Beyond the newsroom, he finds solace in farming, rooted in his family’s agricultural background. Through it all, his resilience and dedication to telling the Palestinian story shine through.

Takeaways

• 😀 Wael al-Dahdouh is a prominent journalist and the head of Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau, known for sharing stories of people in Gaza and their struggles.
• 😀 Despite being a well-known journalist, al-Dahdouh's personal life has been shaped by deep loss, with around 20 of his relatives, including siblings and cousins, martyred in Israeli airstrikes.
• 😀 One of the most difficult moments for al-Dahdouh as a journalist was covering a news event only to discover that it involved his own family members, including his brother or cousin.
• 😀 During times of danger, al-Dahdouh took precautionary measures, sending his children to live in different homes with relatives to protect them from potential Israeli attacks.
• 😀 The emotional toll of being a journalist in Gaza is significant, as al-Dahdouh highlights the absence of the father figure for his family, especially during moments of crisis.
• 😀 Al-Dahdouh initially wanted to become a doctor and had even secured a scholarship to study medicine abroad, but his path shifted dramatically after his arrest by Israeli forces in 1988 during the first Palestinian Intifada.
• 😀 After spending seven years in an Israeli prison, al-Dahdouh found a new calling in journalism, seeing it as an extension of his culture and a way to carry a message of humanity and professionalism.
• 😀 Despite the destruction of Al Jazeera's office during an Israeli airstrike, al-Dahdouh emphasizes that the spirit of the newsroom and its mission to keep broadcasting remained unshaken.
• 😀 Al-Dahdouh finds peace and solace in working on his family's land, an agricultural activity that he grew up with and continued after his release from prison.
• 😀 Even on regular days when he is not engaged in journalistic work, al-Dahdouh enjoys managing the agricultural activities on his land, from watering crops to overseeing plant growth, which connects him to his roots.

Q & A

Who is Wael al-Dahdouh and what is his role?

Wael al-Dahdouh is a reporter for Al Jazeera and the director of its Gaza office. He is known for covering news and telling the stories of people in Gaza.

What personal loss did Wael al-Dahdouh experience in relation to his work as a journalist?

Wael al-Dahdouh lost nearly 20 of his relatives, including brothers and cousins, most of whom were killed in Israeli airstrikes. This personal tragedy adds an emotional dimension to his reporting work.

How did al-Dahdouh react when he learned that a news event he was covering involved his own family?

While covering a live event, al-Dahdouh learned that the event involved his brother or cousin. This emotional connection is one of the painful moments of being a journalist in Gaza.

What significant difficulty did Wael al-Dahdouh face while working as a journalist in Gaza?

One major difficulty was the constant danger of airstrikes and military operations. During such times, al-Dahdouh had to ensure his family's safety while still covering the news.

What did Wael al-Dahdouh do to protect his family during times of conflict?

Al-Dahdouh had to disperse his children between three different relatives' homes, hoping that if one house was targeted, the others would remain safe.

What did Wael al-Dahdouh initially want to do before becoming a journalist?

Initially, Wael al-Dahdouh aspired to become a doctor, and he even received a scholarship to study medicine in Iraq. However, his life took a different turn after he was arrested by Israeli forces.

How did Wael al-Dahdouh’s life path change due to his arrest by Israeli forces?

In 1988, Wael al-Dahdouh was arrested by Israeli forces for his participation in the First Palestinian Intifada. After being imprisoned for seven years, he shifted from pursuing medicine to journalism, finding it to be a closer fit to his culture and values.

What emotional and symbolic significance did the destruction of the Al Jazeera office in Gaza have for Wael al-Dahdouh?

The destruction of the Al Jazeera office was a deeply emotional event for al-Dahdouh. Although the building and equipment were destroyed, he emphasized the importance of the mission of journalism and the persistence of the voice of truth, despite the physical destruction.

How does Wael al-Dahdouh find peace and comfort outside of his work as a journalist?

Outside of his work, al-Dahdouh finds comfort in working on his family's agricultural land. He has a strong connection to farming, which he grew up doing, and it helps him manage stress, especially during non-conflict times.

What is Wael al-Dahdouh’s relationship to farming, and how does it contribute to his life?

Wael al-Dahdouh comes from a farming family and worked on the land from his early years through high school and even after his release from prison. He enjoys managing agricultural tasks, such as watering plants and overseeing crops, as a source of relaxation and a way to connect with his roots.