At least 20 individuals, including five journalists working for international media outlets, have reportedly been killed in an Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
The journalists, comprising both contracted and freelance personnel, were affiliated with Reuters, AP, Al Jazeera, and the Middle East Eye, the respective news organizations have confirmed.
Footage from the scene of the attack indicates a second strike occurred after the initial impact, targeting rescue personnel attending to the site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident on Monday, characterizing it as a “tragic mishap” that Israel “deeply regrets.” He stated that military authorities are “conducting a thorough investigation” into the matter.
These recent fatalities bring the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since the commencement of the conflict in October 2023 to nearly 200.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a prominent organization advocating for press freedom, has stated that the Gaza conflict represents the deadliest period for journalists ever documented. The CPJ reports that the number of press members killed in Gaza over the past two years exceeds the worldwide total for the preceding three years.
Since the onset of the war, Israel has prohibited independent entry into the Gaza Strip for international journalists.
While some journalists have been granted controlled access to Gaza by the IDF, international media organizations largely depend on local reporters for their coverage within the territory.
Video footage from the site of Monday’s attack depicts a doctor standing at the entrance of the hospital, the primary medical facility in southern Gaza, displaying bloodied clothing to journalists following the initial strike. Subsequently, an explosion occurs, prompting individuals to seek cover as glass shatters. A man injured in the blast is shown attempting to crawl to safety.
Another graphic video, captured via livestream by al-Ghad TV, shows emergency responders attending to the initial strike near the top floor of Nasser hospital, with journalists documenting the scene in the background.
The footage captures a staircase, a common vantage point for journalists seeking views across Khan Younis. A subsequent strike directly impacts the emergency workers and journalists, resulting in smoke and debris. At least one body is visible in the aftermath.
Reuters news agency confirmed that its cameraman, Husam al-Masri, was among those killed. He had been operating a live TV feed on the roof, which ceased transmission at the moment of the initial strike. Hatem Khaled, another contractor working for Reuters as a photographer, sustained injuries in the second strike, according to witnesses.
The agency expressed its devastation and stated that it was “urgently seeking more information.”
AP reported that Mariam Dagga, a freelance journalist working for the agency, was also killed. The news agency conveyed its “shock and sadness” at the 33-year-old’s death.
Others killed include Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Salama, Middle East Eye freelancer Ahmed Abu Aziz, and photographer Moaz Abu Taha. US TV network NBC clarified that Taha did not work for them, as had been initially reported. Reuters noted that he had collaborated with several news organizations, including Reuters.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence reported that one of its members was also among the deceased, according to AFP news agency.
The head of the World Health Organization stated that four health workers were killed in the strike and condemned the incident.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the affected area housed the hospital’s emergency department, inpatient ward, and surgical unit, in addition to the damaged emergency staircase.
Hadil Abu Zaid, a programme officer for British-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, stated that she was visiting the ICU “when explosions tore through the operating theatre right next to us”.
“The killed and injured were everywhere,” she said, adding that the scene was “unbearable”.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “horrified” by the deadly strike and repeated the government’s call for “an immediate ceasefire”.
Monday’s attack follows an incident two weeks prior in which six journalists, including four from Al Jazeera, were killed in an Israeli targeted attack near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The UN’s human rights office condemned that attack, calling it a grave breach of international law.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it had targeted Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera reporter, alleging he had “served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas”.
The CPJ has stated that Israel has failed to provide evidence to substantiate its allegations.
The conflict was initiated by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals taken to Gaza as hostages.
Israel responded with a substantial military offensive, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 62,686 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN deems reliable.
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