JOURNALIST Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi were adhering conflict-zone-reporting best practice as they drove from their assignment at the end of July.

Having documented issues facing the displaced of northern Gaza, they were departing the scene of greatest danger. They wore blast vests bearing the insignia PRESS and minutes earlier had updated the Al Jazeera newsroom with their location. 

However, it was not enough to save their lives. An Israeli drone strike hit their car, with such an explosion that al-Ghoul’s head was blown off. Grisly images of his corpse were subsequently shared on social media. Al-Rifi, and Khalid Shawa, a boy who was passing on a bicycle, also died instantly.