By Mohammad Majed
GAZA, Palestine (AA) - Palestinians and journalists in the Gaza Strip on Thursday mourned the death of the Al Jazeera correspondent Wael al-Dahdouh's wife and two children in an Israeli airstrike.
Standing with scores of fellow Palestinians, al-Dahdouh led the funeral prayer for his wife Amina, his son Mahmoud, and his young daughter Sham at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip.
Nine more of al-Dahdouh's relatives were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a home they had sought refuge in at the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp.
Al-Dahdouh had received the news of their death while covering the ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza from the Qatari broadcaster's local office.
"It's evident that the series of targeting children, women, and civilians continues. I had been reporting on Israeli airstrikes that targeted all areas, including the Al-Nuseirat area," said the seasoned journalist, according to Al Jazeera.
"We had some suspicions that the Israeli occupation would not leave them without punishment, sadly, that's what happened. This is the area that the 'ethical' Israeli occupation claimed to be safe," he added.
The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood — a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.
Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Nearly 8,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul