Palestinian Journalist named ‘Person of the Year’ by Indian Academy

The Kerala Media Academy in India has announced that Palestinian journalist Wail Al-Dahdouh has been honored with the Academy’s Person of the Year Award in the field of journalism in recognition of his extraordinary professional courage.

Al-Jazeera Television’s Gaza bureau chief al-Dahdouh has been reporting on Israeli attacks and deaths in the besieged area since October.

According to Arab News, al-Dahdouh has also become a symbol of courage as he continues to report on what is happening in Gaza despite suffering immense personal loss.

The Kerala Media Academy, a higher education institution of the government of the southern Indian state of Kerala, said that it named Al-Dahdoh as the best journalist of the year on the recommendation of the Investigative Journalists Association and Media Magazine Editorial Board.

“Al-Dahdouh is a global icon of courage in the field of journalism” who continues to work despite the great loss to his family, the academy said in a statement.

Al-Dahdouh’s wife Amina, son Mahmoud, daughter Sham and grandson Adam died in October when an Israeli airstrike hit the house they were sheltering in the Nusirat refugee camp.

Al-Dahdouh’s other son, Hamza, who was affiliated with Al-Jazeera, was killed in a live Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis while on professional duty with videographer Mustafa Soraya.

Al-Dahdouh and his fellow cameraman Samer Abu Daqah were injured while filming an Israeli attack on a UN school in December. Medical personnel were unable to reach him due to Israeli shelling, and he bled to death.

In mid-January, al-Dahdouh arrived in Qatar for surgery on injuries sustained in an Israeli attack.

Anil Bhaskar, secretary of the Kerala Media Academy, told Arab News that al-Dahdouh was recognized for his fearless reporting that showed the world the true picture of the devastation in Gaza.

Bhaskar said: ‘His determination and bravery is exemplary and he has set an example for journalists not only in India but all over the world.’

According to United Nations reports, more than 122 journalists and media workers are among the more than 27,000 people who lost their lives in the Israeli offensive in Gaza for almost four months.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom watchdog, said last month that journalists in Gaza were being killed at a rate unprecedented in modern history and that “the Israeli army is targeting journalists and their families.” The pattern of targeting Khana is clear.’