Al Jazeera Cameraman Fadi al‑Wahidi Shot by Israeli Forces in Gaza, Faces Life‑Threatening Injuries

During a reporting assignment in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi al‑Wahidi was critically injured by Israeli military fire. Fadi, wearing a marked press vest, captured drone footage before being struck in the neck by a bullet fired by an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft.

He and reporter Anas al‑Sharif were documenting the effects of displacement when the Israeli drone targeted their location. Al‑Sharif recalled how Fadi fell and collapsed, with colleagues unable to assist immediately due to ongoing gunfire. Fadi was rushed to al-Ahli Hospital, where doctors stabilized him, but unfortunately, the bullet had severely damaged his vertebrae and spinal cord. He soon fell into a coma and lost movement below the neck.

Due to the Israeli-imposed siege and refusal to authorize medical evacuations, Fadi’s condition deteriorated. Gaza hospitals lacked the resources to treat his paralysis and complications like hypotension and arterial damage, making evacuation essential to save his life. Despite appeals from the UN, Reporters Without Borders, and other rights groups, Israel blocked evacuation permits, leaving him confined to a critical condition.

Fadi’s case highlights a wider tragedy affecting journalists in the Gaza conflict. According to CPJ, at least 160 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon since October 2023—the deadliest period for the press in decades. RSF reports over 145 journalists killed by Israeli forces, describing the situation as an “unprecedented bloodbath”.

The deliberate targeting—or collateral damage—of journalists wearing press identification violates international humanitarian law. The denial of medical evacuation further compounds the threat, drawing condemnation from global rights advocates calling for accountability and immediate intervention.

Fadi al‑Wahidi’s plight embodies the perilous environment for journalists in Gaza. Facing life-altering injuries and denied life-saving care, his story emphasizes the urgent need for international protection of media workers, both on the front lines and in crisis zones worldwide.