Samer Abu Daqqa was a Palestinian journalist who worked for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based media network. He was killed on December 14, 2023, when an Israeli airstrike hit his home in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. He was 32 years old and left behind a wife and two children.
A dedicated and courageous reporter
Abu Daqqa joined Al Jazeera in 2017 as a cameraman and producer. He covered many stories in Gaza, including the 2018-2019 Great March of Return protests, the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, and the 2023 Israel-Gaza war. He was known for his professionalism, dedication, and courage in reporting from the besieged and impoverished coastal enclave.
His colleagues and friends described him as a kind, generous, and humble person, who always had a smile on his face. He was passionate about journalism and loved his job. He also cared deeply about his family and his people.
“Samer Abu Daqqa’s death is a huge loss for Al Jazeera and for Palestinian journalism,” said Walid al-Omary, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Jerusalem. “He was a brave and talented journalist who risked his life to tell the truth to the world.”
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Samer Abu Daqqa: A victim of Israeli aggression
Abu Daqqa was one of the many victims of the Israeli aggression against Gaza, which lasted for 11 days in May 2023. The Israeli military launched hundreds of airstrikes and artillery shells on the densely populated territory, killing more than 250 Palestinians, including 66 children, and injuring more than 1,900 others. The bombardment also destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
According to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, Samer Abu Daqqa was the fourth journalist to be killed by Israel in 2023, after Yasser Murtaja, Ahmed Abu Hussein, and Shireen Abu Aqla. The syndicate condemned the Israeli attacks on journalists and media outlets, and called for international protection and accountability.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also denounced the Israeli violations of press freedom and human rights in Gaza, and demanded an independent investigation into the killings of journalists. “Israel must stop targeting journalists and media workers who are doing their job of informing the public about the situation in Gaza,” said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.
A martyr for the Palestinian cause
Samer Abu Daqqa’s funeral was held on December 15, 2023, in Khan Younis. Thousands of people, including his family, friends, colleagues, and fellow journalists, attended the ceremony. They carried his body, wrapped in a Palestinian flag and a press vest, and chanted slogans against the Israeli occupation and in support of the Palestinian resistance.
Abu Daqqa’s wife, Hiba, said that her husband was a martyr for the Palestinian cause, and that he died while doing his duty. “He loved his work and he loved his homeland. He always said that he wanted to document the suffering and the resilience of our people in Gaza. He sacrificed his life for that,” she said.
Samer Abu Daqqa’s children, Omar, 6, and Layan, 4, said that they were proud of their father, and that they hoped to follow his footsteps when they grow up. “My father was a hero. He taught me how to be brave and strong. He told me to always love Palestine and to never give up on our rights,” Omar said.
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Layan said that she missed her father very much, and that she wished he could come back to her. “My father was very kind and gentle. He used to hug me and kiss me and tell me stories. He gave me this necklace with his name on it. He said that he will always be with me,” she said, showing a silver pendant with the word “Samer” engraved on it.
A reminder of the Palestinian struggle
Abu Daqqa’s death is a reminder of the ongoing Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice, and dignity, and of the risks and challenges that journalists face in covering it. His work and legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of his family, friends, colleagues, and viewers, who will continue to seek and share the truth about Palestine.
As Al Jazeera said in a statement, “Samer Abu Daqqa was not only a colleague, but a brother and a friend to all of us at Al Jazeera. He embodied the spirit and the mission of our network: to give voice to the voiceless, to hold the powerful accountable, and to shine a light on the dark corners of the world. He will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.”
