Al Jazeera s bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh (C) prays during the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with the Al Jazeera television network, who was killed in an Israeli air strike on Rafah in the Gaza Strip. AFP
The award is a symbolic tribute to Al-Dahdouh and all Palestinian journalists who face the risk of losing their lives in pursuit of the truth, the syndicate said in a statement.
Al-Dahdouh's son Hamza – also a journalist with Al Jazeera - was killed in an Israeli strike on Sunday.
Hamza and Mustafa Thuria, a video stringer for AFP and other news organizations, were killed “on their way to carry out their duty” for the channel in the Gaza Strip.
Hazem Rajab, a freelance journalist travelling with them in the vehicle, was seriously injured.
Hamza was killed a few weeks after Wael Al-Dahdouh's other son, daughter, wife, and 90-day-old grandson were killed by Israeli shelling.
Despite his ordeal, Wael Al-Dahdouh insisted on pursuing his work, appearing on screen after each tragedy to report on the Israeli war on the Strip.
The Journalists Syndicate said Israel targeted Al-Dahdouh’s family, adding that he paid the price for being loyal to his profession.
Palestinian journalists continue to expose Israel's genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people, confronting the false Zionist narratives, and debunking the lies disseminated by the Western media, the statement added.
The Freedom of Press Award is granted to journalists who play a significant role in defending press freedom through their journalistic work or those facing pressures for defending journalistic freedom and journalists' rights.
It can also be awarded to non-journalists contributing to the cause.
Israel has killed 110 journalists and media workers, targeted dozens of their family members, destroyed more than 65 Palestinian media outlets and arrested 18 colleagues since 7 October, the syndicate noted.
Israel attempts to obliterate the truth but the courage of Palestinian journalists has become a shield against these challenges, read the statement.
The syndicate warned that the Zionist occupation will continue killing journalists as long as it remains unaccountable.
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