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Al Jazeera’s Gaza Bureau Chief Wael al-Dahdouh said the genocide in Gaza has halted but the war continues in other forms, stressing that the humanitarian situation remains critical.
Speaking at the TRT World Forum 2025 in Istanbul, Dahdouh shared his assessment of the ongoing crisis in Gaza and criticized the global media’s response.
Dahdouh, who lost his wife, son, daughter, and other relatives in an Israeli strike on Oct. 25, and his journalist son Hamza in a Jan. 7 attack in Khan Younis, said conditions in Gaza remain dire.
“The humanitarian situation has not changed much. The only thing that changed is that the genocide has temporarily stopped,” he said. “The massacre may have stopped, but the war has not ended.”
He said Israel continues to block aid deliveries, including food, medicine, and medical equipment, as well as reconstruction materials. “Patients are not allowed to receive treatment abroad, and the entry of tents and materials for shelter is prevented,” Dahdouh noted.
“More than 100 people are still being killed every day, hundreds are injured, and Israel controls more than half of the Gaza Strip while carrying out daily attacks.”
The journalist said Israel’s continued violations cast doubt on the sustainability of the cease-fire. “Although the Palestinian people and mediators remain committed to the agreement, Israel’s control and violations continue,” he stated.
Dahdouh described the conditions of Gaza’s residents as “catastrophic.”
“People are still living in the streets, in tents, or in the remnants of destroyed ones. About 90 percent of homes in Gaza are partially or completely destroyed. Around 2.3 million people are without shelter, food, or clean water,” he said.
He added that Israel “controls the entry of all basic needs; fuel, gas, water, and shelter materials. Nothing is allowed to enter. This shows the tragedy and the consequences of war continue and deepen every day.”
Dahdouh sharply criticized international media outlets for their coverage of the war. “I believe world media failed in this genocidal war, one of the most difficult periods in history,” he said.
“They failed to report objectively and professionally, and they failed to show solidarity with journalists under attack,” he continued. “Despite risking their lives to inform the world, Gaza’s journalists faced silence.”
He said Israel sought to “plunge Gaza into darkness and hide the genocide,” adding that “the world failed twice: first, in reflecting the truth, and second, in standing with journalists.”
Dahdouh emphasized that change is happening globally, but not at the scale of the suffering. “No one can defend these crimes anymore, but this change has not yet matched the blood and suffering of journalists and civilians in Gaza,” he said.
Dahdouh praised Anadolu Agency’s (AA) coverage of Gaza, describing it as “a model of professional and humane journalism.”
“AA followed this process with great care and human sensitivity,” he said. “This is the kind of journalism we need; one that stands by humanity and justice.”
He also lauded Türkiye’s role in supporting Gaza, noting the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Türkiye’s role is crucial and powerful; at the government, public, and presidential levels. This role must continue in the future,” Dahdouh said.
“Türkiye, with its influence and resources, should continue bringing this issue to international platforms,” he added.
“What is happening in Gaza is not just a conflict but an unprecedented war crime. Every role must match the magnitude of this genocide and injustice so that it can be stopped and rights restored.”
In Gaza City, the former home of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, a cultural and national symbol, has become a refuge for the displaced Abu Salim family after it suffered heavy damage during Israeli attacks.
Eshref Nafiz Abu Salim and his family fled Beit Lahiya under heavy bombardment, leaving everything behind. “It was an inhuman and deliberate destruction, an attempt to erase Palestinian identity,” Abu Salim said.
Once a site for cultural and intellectual gatherings, Arafat’s house now shelters the displaced. Abu Salim said, “This house symbolized Palestinian unity, freedom, and resistance. It carried the memory of our people’s struggle.”
He added that Gaza’s universities, cultural centers, and hospitals, including Al-Quds and Shifa, were all targeted, aiming to “erase Palestinian memory and culture.”
Amid the destruction, Abu Salim found strength in Arafat’s library. “Even as I tried to protect my children from bombs and hunger, I found inner refuge in reading about Abu Ammar’s life and the history of resistance,” he said.
Reflecting on the war, he stated, “This war shows the world that we will not sell our land. We will continue to exist here, even if our homes and dreams are destroyed.”
He emphasized that Palestinians will not surrender what he called “the weapon of resistance,” describing it as “the last balance between Palestinians and Israel.”
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