Wafa Al-Udaini, a 39-year-old Palestinian journalist who wrote for The Guardian newspaper and the pro-Palestinian Middle East Monitor and worked as an English-language media coordinator at the Gaza-based Al-Thuraya Media and Communications Foundation, was killed along with her husband and two of her children when an Israeli airstrike hit their home in the central Gazan city of Deir Al Balah, her brother Hani Al-Udaini told CPJ.
Al-Udaini reported on the day-to-day reality of the war in Gaza, the challenges that journalists there face, and the deaths of her colleagues since October 7, 2023.
Diana Al-Maghribi, who worked with Al-Udaini at the Al-Thuraya Media and Communications Foundation, told CPJ that Al-Udaini studied English at university and loved working for English-language media.
“She was very committed to her work, and she had achievements that made an impact,” Al-Maghribi said, adding that Al-Udaini mentored many younger journalists in writing for English-language outlets. “She never got tired of her work and her message, even during the most difficult circumstances,” she said.
Al-Maghribi said the last time they communicated was a few days before her death, when she asked Al-Udaini why she remained at home when it was so dangerous. “She told me that there is no safe place in the Gaza Strip, and that everywhere is exposed to bombing,” Al-Maghribi said.
CPJ emailed the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) North America Media Desk for comment on October 3 but did not receive an immediate response.
In CPJ’s late September email to the IDF about other journalists killed in Gaza, their North America Media Desk asked CPJ for the journalists’ IDs and "relevant coordinates," which CPJ explained it could not provide due to research limitations. The IDF said it takes "all operationally feasible measures" to prevent harm to journalists and other civilians.