Gaza video correspondents Belal Alsabbagh and Youssef Hassouna won a Rory Peck award for their “powerful” coverage of the brutal war in the Palestinian territory for Agence France-Presse.

Alsabbagh, 33, and Hassouna, 47, were presented the “News” award for their work on the devastating conflict set off by last year’s October 7 attack on Israel.

“Belal and Youssef’s work is remarkable for its range of emotions, we understood the dreadful scale of destruction in their drone shots and in the relentless attack,” the jury said in a tribute.

“This is visual reporting of the highest order. It’s not just a checklist of breaking news events, but powerful storytelling with empathy, courage and talent,” it added.

Alsabbagh, who left Gaza in April with his wife and daughter, was in London for the ceremony.

“Despite my overflowing joy tonight, I have a heavy heart because members of my family and friends are still in Gaza, facing hunger, fear and still facing bombs,” said Alsabbagh, who has worked for AFP since 2017.

Hassouna, who has contributed to AFP since 2014 and is still in Gaza, has had to move home 10 times since the start of the bombardment.

He has been one of the key independent video journalists working for AFP during the conflict.