Yazan, the son of the martyred Samer Abu Daqqa, a photographer for Al Jazeera in Gaza, stated that the news of his father’s martyrdom has been extremely difficult for the family, which has faced a tough time since hearing the news. He expressed pride in his father’s martyrdom, achieved while sincerely performing his duties. Abu Daqqa, as well as Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Dahdouh, were targeted during their coverage of Israeli shelling on the Farahana school in Khan Younis, located in the besieged southern part of the Gaza Strip. Abu Daqqa remained on the ground, bleeding for about 6 hours after being hit by shrapnel from a missile launched by an Israeli drone, with ambulance services unable to reach him due to the situation.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, the son of the deceased stated that describing his feelings following the assassination of his father by Israeli forces is difficult, adding that his father was a journalist devoted to his work, conveying the truth without engaging in actions that warranted targeting. He also mentioned that the last call his father had made to him was the day before his martyrdom, asking him to take care of his siblings, a request he made daily since leaving them, possibly feeling he might be martyred during the war.
Yazan highlighted his father’s beloved nature, always willing to help anyone who asked and known for his noticeable smile to all who interacted with him. In their relationship, Samer was “the friend and the father,” always fulfilling the needs of his children and ensuring they lacked nothing.
Determined to pursue justice, Yazan pointed out that his father, on his last visit, told him that he needed to return to the Gaza Strip to carry out his mission to report the events occurring there. Yazan emphasized that he would not abandon his father’s rights, and he plans to file a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court to hold the killers accountable, urging everyone to support this endeavor.
The Al Jazeera network vehemently condemned the assassination of Abu Daqqa by an Israeli drone strike on Friday, holding Israel “fully responsible for this heinous crime” and the systematic targeting of Al Jazeera employees and their families. Al Jazeera expressed its deep condolences to the family of the late colleague “in Gaza and Belgium,” asking the international community, journalist defense organizations, and the International Criminal Court to take action to hold the occupation accountable.
Abu Daqqa, a father of three sons and a daughter, was born in 1978 and resided in the town of Abasan al-Kabira near Khan Younis. He joined Al Jazeera in June 2004, where he worked as a cameraman and montage technician.
