Moamen Al Sharafi, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, has lost 22 family members in an Israeli air attack on their home in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
The horrifying incident occurred early Wednesday morning when an explosive barrel hit the Al Sharafi family home, leaving a deep crater in its wake.
Moamen Al Sharafi, who was on duty reporting for Al Jazeera, received the news of the loss of his parents Mahmoud and Amina, siblings, their spouses, nephews, and nieces. The scale of the tragedy was exacerbated by the difficulty civil defence crews faced in reaching the site, leaving the bodies unrecovered.
A video captured after the attack depicted a relative of Al Sharafi wailing amidst the debris of the bombed house. The strike, believed to have occurred around 4 or 5 in the morning, claimed the lives of several children, adding to the anguish of the Al Sharafi family.
Moamen Al Sharafi shared a poignant voice message from his mother Amina, recorded just before the fatal bombing. In the message, Amina expressed her love and concern for her son's well-being amidst the ongoing conflict, praying for his safety and well-being.
Al Jazeera Media Network released a statement denouncing the Israeli attack, vowing to pursue legal actions against those responsible for the "crime." The network called on the international community and press freedom organizations to intervene, demanding an immediate end to such atrocities and swift justice for the innocent victims.
This incident is not isolated, as other Al Jazeera staff members have also suffered losses in previous Israeli air raids. Wael Dahdouh, another Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent, lost several family members in an Israeli raid on October 25.
Additionally, Mohamed Abu Al-Qumsan, a broadcast engineer with Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau, lost 19 family members on October 31 in a separate air raid on the Jabalia refugee camp.
As the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 16,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, the international community faces renewed calls to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and bring an end to the violence that has claimed so many innocent lives.