The journalists, Hamza Wael Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuria, who also served as a video stringer for AFP and other news organizations, lost their lives while en route to fulfill their duties for Al Jazeera in Gaza. A third freelance journalist, Hazem Rajab, sustained serious injuries in the same attack.

The health ministry in Gaza, under the administration of Hamas, confirmed the deaths and attributed them to an Israeli strike. Witnesses revealed that two rockets were launched at the journalists' car, with one hitting the front of the vehicle and the other striking Hamza, seated next to the driver.

Describing the grim aftermath, a witness recounted, "We later found the body parts (of those in the car). The ambulance then came and carried those who were in the car."

The international community, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressed sorrow over the journalists' tragic deaths. Blinken referred to it as an "unimaginable tragedy" during a stop in Doha as part of his new regional tour, acknowledging the broader impact on innocent Palestinian lives.

AFP's video footage captured the scene of the incident, depicting a crowd inspecting the mangled remains of the journalists' car, with pools of blood on the road. At present, there is no indication of other visible damage in the surrounding area. The incident highlights the challenges faced by journalists operating in conflict zones and raises concerns about press freedom in such environments.