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Qatar Press Center Visits Photojournalist Fadi Al-Wahidi in Hospital

A delegation from the Qatar Press Center visited Al Jazeera's photojournalist in the Gaza Strip, colleague Fadi Al-Wahidi, who has been receiving treatment at Al Rumaila Hospital since mid-March, following severe injuries sustained while covering the Israeli aggression.

The delegation checked on Al-Wahidi's health after a series of surgeries, conveying greetings from the Center's Chairman, board members, and journalists in Qatar, wishing him a speedy recovery. Al-Wahidi was presented with the Center's shield as a token of appreciation for his efforts.

Mr. Sadiq Mohammed Al-Amari, Director General of the Center, praised Al-Wahidi's efforts and those of all Palestinian journalists, photographers, and media personnel for their significant sacrifices in conveying the repercussions of the war on Gaza. He reiterated the Center's condemnation of the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against journalists during their professional coverage.

He affirmed the Center's support and solidarity with all journalists and media personnel in Gaza, commending their professional struggle and endurance under unprecedented and harsh conditions to report ongoing crimes resulting from the aggression.

He emphasized the Center's continued role in supporting journalists' rights in Gaza and all Arab countries, advocating for their safety, especially in conflict and war zones.

For his part, Al-Wahidi thanked the Qatar Press Center delegation for the visit, praising the Center's positions and support for international appeals that led to his travel and treatment in Doha, after months of being injured by Israeli forces and being denied travel for treatment, despite international and human rights appeals and those from international media organizations and human rights groups.

The delegation included colleague Faleh Al-Otaibi and Mr. Youssef Al-Jarjawi.

Al-Wahidi was injured on October 9, 2024, in northern Gaza when Israeli forces directly shot at him, leading to his injury and deteriorating health.Reporters Without Borders

The Qatar Press Center had previously condemned the Israeli occupation's refusal to allow Al-Wahidi to travel for treatment outside Gaza, disregarding all international laws and conventions that protect journalists' lives, after deliberately targeting Al-Wahidi and other Palestinian journalists during their work in Gaza, and preventing the injured from receiving appropriate treatment, leading to worsening health conditions and potentially fatal outcomes.

The Center emphasized in several statements that the Israeli occupation deliberately targets press crews, including the targeting of colleague Fadi Al-Wahidi (24 years old) by an Israeli sniper during his coverage of the ground incursion by Israeli forces in northern Gaza. The bullet that hit two vertebrae at the top of his spine caused a spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia and confining him to a hospital bed.

Israeli forces have deliberately targeted journalists and media institutions during their aggression on Gaza, with the number of journalist martyrs rising to 224, nearly 400 journalists injured, 100 detained, and the destruction of all local and international media institution headquarters in the sector. All local radio stations were forced to shut down due to displacement, lack of resources, especially electricity and internet, hindering journalistic work.

International Appeal

In mid-April, the Center issued an international appeal through official letters to international organizations, including "Reporters Without Borders," "International Federation of Journalists," and "Human Rights Watch," calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank and holding aggressors accountable.

The international appeal stated: In light of the unprecedented and ongoing attacks against Palestinian journalists and media personnel in Gaza and the West Bank, who have become direct targets of Israeli killing machines, the Qatar Press Center calls on UN, human rights, journalistic, and media organizations to take responsibility and act urgently to stop the bloodshed and provide legal and logistical protection for journalists and media personnel in the Palestinian territories.