On September 30, Wafa Al-Udaini became the 174th Palestinian journalist killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, a harrowing milestone made even more appalling by the chilling circumstances that preceded her death. Following her appearance on the U.K.’s TalkTV, where she faced hostile interrogation, Al-Udaini received direct threats from the Israeli military, targeting both her and her family.

Al-Udaini was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike that struck her home in Deir al-Balah. The same attack claimed the lives of her husband and two young daughters, including a seven-month-old infant. Her two sons, Malek and Seraj, were left injured and must now face the unimaginable task of growing up without their parents, as orphans in a war-torn region.

Al-Udaini was a dedicated journalist who regularly contributed to outlets such as Palestine Chronicle and Middle East Monitor. She also founded the October 16th Media Group, where she devoted much of her time to educating students and mentoring young media professionals in Gaza.

As a journalist, al-Udaini rose to prominence through her coverage of the 2018-2019 Great Return March, working tirelessly to conduct interviews, document the events, and highlight the historical context behind the mass non-violent protest movement. A UN report on the Great Return March concluded that Israeli snipers had « intentionally targeted » women, children, journalists, disabled people, medical workers, and the elderly, resulting in hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.

When the war in Gaza began, al-Udaini worked tirelessly to report on the humanitarian crisis and the massacres of civilians. However, everything changed on October 16, when she was invited to appear on a TalkTV show hosted by Julia Hartley-Brewer.

On the show, Hartley-Brewer first invited Israeli military spokesperson Peter Lerner, who made a series of unsubstantiated claims that she did not challenge. She accepted his use of the word « massacre » to describe the Hamas-led October 7 attack against Israel without issue. However, when al-Udaini appeared after him, Hartley-Brewer’s demeanor shifted from one of respect to visible disgust.

When al-Udaini described Israeli attacks across Gaza as “massacres,” Hartley-Brewer quickly interrupted, questioning why she would use that term and mocking her characterization of the strikes. However, by that time, the death toll in Gaza had already reached 2,750, with nearly 10,000 injured—more than double the number of Israelis killed on October 7.

During the interview, Hartley-Brewer pointed out that the Israeli military had instructed people to move to southern Gaza « so that they can tackle the Hamas fighters. » She then pressed al-Udaini on why she hadn’t left her home in Gaza City. However, we now know that Israel continued to displace Palestinian civilians who fled the north, most of whom are now living in tents.

Al-Udaini responded by asking, « Why should I leave? This is my homeland. If someone asks you to leave, are you going to leave your home? » Hartley-Brewer condescendingly replied, « If someone said they were going to bomb me and my family to death, like you’re saying ‘a massacre,’ then yes, I would leave. »

By saying this, Hartley-Brewer insinuated that al-Udaini was actively endangering her family by choosing not to leave her home. This effectively shifted the responsibility away from the Israeli military’s indiscriminate bombing of residential buildings in northern Gaza, which they were threatening at the time and later carried out. Instead, the question was posed to al-Udaini and her family, asking why they didn’t simply follow Israel’s orders.

Israeli media quickly picked up on al-Udaini’s interview. That same night, al-Udaini received calls from individuals posing as members of humanitarian aid organizations, using foreign numbers. They inquired about the number of family members in her Gaza City home in the Rimal area. After hanging up, al-Udaini told me at the time that she suspected the callers were Israeli soldiers. When they failed to obtain information through this method, she began receiving direct threats against her family.

A few days later, I called al-Udaini to ask whether she believed the harassment was connected to her interview on TalkTV. She told me it happened immediately afterward, and it seemed she had been targeted because of the interview. Although she continued her journalism work, al-Udaini was clearly frightened by the situation. She went quiet for a while and had to evacuate from her Gaza City home.

For some time, when I asked out of concern where she was, al-Udaini would respond, “I can’t say sorry.” It wasn’t until months later when she felt safe enough, that she informed me she was living in a building in Deir al-Balah.

After the October TalkTV incident, I had the opportunity to interview al-Udaini about her experience. She reflected on how deeply she had been affected by the encounter, stating, “The anchor killed me.” She conveyed the profound sense of disrespect and marginalization she felt during the interview—a sentiment that now resonates with a haunting clarity. “I’m frustrated because I never had the chance to fully articulate my position,” al-Udaini explained. “She interrupted me, only to abruptly end the conversation with, ‘We don’t have much time.' »

When asked about her personal experiences during the war beyond her professional work, al-Udaini responded, “Words can’t really describe it. I’ve lost so many friends, so many colleagues, so much family. I genuinely fear for my children’s future.”

While it is impossible to definitively link the murder of al-Udaini, her husband, and two children directly to that interview, it undoubtedly contributed to the hardships they faced.

Julia Hartley-Brewer’s dismissive and interrogative treatment of al-Udaini, a journalist and victim of Israel’s assault, stands in stark contrast to her respectful and unquestioning interview with Israel’s military spokesperson. Hartley-Brewer’s approach granted legitimacy to Israel’s narrative while simultaneously undermining the lived experiences of a Palestinian journalist who would later be displaced and killed by Israeli airstrikes.

Unfortunately, al-Udaini’s murder barely registered among her fellow journalists, reducing her to a mere number—174—on the long list of members of the press whose deaths are overlooked by Western media and governments. Her life and work, like those of many others, have been met with silence, reflecting a broader indifference to the plight of Palestinians.

Wafa al-Udaini was more than just a casualty of a Western media landscape that dehumanized her; she was a devoted mother, educator, mentor, tireless journalist, and a fierce advocate for human rights. Above all, she was someone I had the privilege to call a friend over the past decade. In conflict zones like Gaza, journalists should be safeguarded, but tragically, Israel has made them deliberate targets.

Robert Inlakesh is a political analyst, journalist and documentary filmmaker currently based in London, UK. He has reported from and lived in the occupied Palestinian territories and hosts the show ‘Palestine Files’. Director of ‘Steal of the Century: Trump’s Palestine-Israel Catastrophe’. Follow him on Twitter @falasteen47

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