Wael Al-Dahdouh is a Palestinian journalist and Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Gaza. He is an veteran award-winning journalist, and has more than 27 years of experience covering Gaza and occupied Palestine.  

Numerous members of Wael’s family were targeted and killed by the Israeli occupation forces during the genocide in Gaza. His wife, eight-month-old infant grandson, seven-year-old daughter, 16-year-old son, and nine other nephews and relatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp on 25 October 2023, which also injured many of his other relatives. 

On 15 December 2023, while covering near Haifa School in Khan Younis with cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, they were hit by an Israeli missile, sustaining serious injuries and killing Abu Daqqa. His eldest son, journalist Hamza Al-Dahdouh, was also killed by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis on 7 January 2024. He became known as “the Mountain of Gaza” and “the Jacob of his era” for his patience, resilience, and determination to continue reporting despite these tragedies. Moreover, many institutions and newspapers named him Person of the Year during 2023–2024. 

On 11 November 2024, the National Press Club in Washington D.C. awarded him as the 2024 John Aubuchon International Press Freedom Award, the highest honor from National Press Club. He also received awards from Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, and numerous other prestigious recognitions in countries around the world.