Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based media network, reported on Sunday the tragic death of two of its Palestinian journalists, Hamza Wael Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuria, in an Israeli strike on their car.
The media network described the incident as a “targeted killing.”Hamza and Mustafa, who also worked as a video stringer for AFP and other news organizations, lost their lives while on their way to fulfill their duties for Al Jazeera in the Gaza Strip.
A third freelance journalist, Hazem Rajab, traveling with them, was seriously injured.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza confirmed the deaths, attributing them to an Israeli strike. Witnesses reported that two rockets were fired at the car, causing fatal injuries.
During a visit to Doha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the journalists’ deaths an “unimaginable tragedy.” Al Jazeera strongly condemned the Israeli forces, accusing them of targeting journalists and violating the principles of freedom of the press.
Several hours after the strike, the Israeli army had not responded to AFP’s request for comment. Hamza’s father, Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, who was recently wounded in a strike, expressed his grief on television, stating, “Hamza was everything for me.”
AFP’s global news director, Phil Chetwynd, condemned the attack, emphasizing the need for a clear explanation of what happened.
Mustafa Thuria, in his 30s, had worked with AFP since 2019 and collaborated with other international media outlets. The tragic incident occurred while Thuria and Hamza were filming the aftermath of a strike in Rafah.
Crowds gathered for the journalists’ funeral, where Wael Dahdouh, in tears, kissed the hand of his deceased son. He called for the world to see the plight of the Palestinian people.
The Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, has resulted in the loss of three Al Jazeera journalists. Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas, labeled a terrorist group by the US and EU, leading to continuous bombings in Gaza.
The media advocacy group highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by journalists, recalling the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in May 2022 during an Israeli raid in the West Bank. The Israeli army later admitted the mistaken shooting of the journalist, who was clearly marked as “Press”.
