Friends mourned Al Jazeera photographer Samer Abu Daqa, recalling "their kind and beloved colleague," who had spent over twenty years as a producer and photographer at the network. According to reporters in Khan Younis, Abu Daqa's body was transferred to Nasser Medical Complex. In a previous footage, Abu Daqa wished health and wellness for his colleagues, noting that he only sleeps three hours a day. He spoke days ago about the challenges faced by journalists in Gaza, saying, "We don't sleep more than three hours... the situation is difficult."
Al Jazeera had previously reported that Abu Daqa was injured alongside their reporter Wael Al-Dahdouh while covering the shelling of a school. Rescue teams were unable to reach Abu Daqa to transfer him for treatment. It is noted that Abu Daqa's family lives in Belgium, but he insisted on fulfilling his duty by remaining in Gaza to report from within. When offered the chance to leave Gaza due to his foreign nationality, he refused and chose to stay.
A colleague indicated that "since the afternoon hours, our colleague Al Jazeera photographer Samer Abu Daqa has been injured and lying on the ground, being prevented by the occupying army from being transported to the hospital, while our colleague Wael Al-Dahdouh managed to reach the hospital injured after they were both wounded while covering Israeli shelling in Khan Younis." Despite his injury, Wael Al-Dahdouh inquired about his colleague Samer. This is what the criminal entity does by targeting journalists fulfilling their duty to convey the truth.
