Anadolu photographer loses 47 members of his extended family in Israeli airstrike

GAZA CITY - Montaser Al-Sawwaf, a freelance photographer for Anadolu, shared his harrowing experience on Wednesday, recounting how he was wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City.

The strike also claimed the lives of 47 members of his extended family, with others still trapped under the rubble.

"Last Friday night, Israeli warplanes targeted my family's home, completely destroying it while my family was inside," Montaser said.

"The bombardment resulted in the tragic loss of my parents, two of my brothers, several of their children, and other cousins," he added. "I sustained a moderate injury to my face."

Montaser's father, Mustafa, a well-known journalist and political analyst, was mourned by the Gaza-based Ministry of Culture.

"The airstrike caused an injury to my eye," Montaser explained, mentioning his struggle to find an eye doctor in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli war.

"Currently, I am self-treating with guidance from doctors outside Gaza through online consultations or telephone calls," he said. "While my injury is not life-threatening, it still requires specialized treatment by eye specialists.”

The number of casualties from Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct 7 has reached 14,532, including over 6,000 children and 4,000 women, as reported by the media office in the besieged enclave on Wednesday. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU