In the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, tragedy struck on Sunday as an Israeli air strike near Rafah in southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of two Palestinian journalists, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union. The victims, Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, were both freelancers actively reporting on the conflict. Another freelancer, Hazem Rajab, was injured in the attack.

Al-Dahdouh, who had previously contributed to Al Jazeera, was the son of Wael Al-Dahdouh, the chief correspondent in Gaza for the Qatar-based TV station. Mustafa Thuraya was also known for his freelance work. Expressing outrage over the incident, Al Jazeera Media Network denounced the killings, claiming it was a deliberate attack. The network called on the International Criminal Court, governments, human rights organizations, and the United Nations to hold Israel accountable for their actions and demanded an end to the targeting and killing of journalists.

The Israeli Defence Forces have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the strike or the allegations made by the TV network. However, in a statement made on December 16, in response to the death of another Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, the Israeli army declared that they have never intentionally targeted journalists.

The Israel-Hamas conflict, which began on October 7, has had devastating consequences for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international watchdog, reported that 77 journalists and media workers have lost their lives since the start of the conflict. The casualties include 70 Palestinians, four Israelis, and three Lebanese individuals.

The Gaza government's media office, which is run by Hamas, has disclosed that the deaths of Al-Dahdouh and Thuraya bring the total number of journalists killed by the Israeli offensive to 109.

Heartbreaking footage was released on an Al Jazeera-affiliated YouTube channel, showing Wael Al-Dahdouh, visibly distraught, grieving the loss of his son while holding his hand. In a televised statement after his son's burial, he expressed his determination that journalists in Gaza will continue to fulfill their duties.

This distressing incident adds to the list of journalists who have lost their lives while reporting on the conflict. Notably, Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah, a Lebanese citizen, was killed on October 13 by an Israeli tank crew while documenting cross-border shelling in Lebanon, according to a Reuters investigation.