Israel Kills 5 Journalists in Strikes on Gaza Hospital, Sparking Global Condemnation
Israel struck the main hospital in southern Gaza twice on Monday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists and medical workers, and injuring dozens.
The attack has sparked fierce condemnation worldwide, as Israel has intensified its targeting of medical facilities and journalists in Gaza throughout the war. Meanwhile, Israel said that its military was investigating what it described as a “tragic mishap.”
Double-Tap Strike
The Israeli military carried out back-to-back strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis within a matter of minutes, reported the Associated Press (AP) citing Gaza’s health authorities. The initial strike hit the top floor of the building – a location where reporters from different outlets had regularly set up live TV shots. As journalists and rescue workers rushed to the scene to offer help, another strike hit the same spot.
According to the head of the records department at the Gaza Health Ministry, Zaher al-Waheidi, the initial strike targeted an upper floor housing operating rooms and doctors’ residences, killing at least two people, while the second strike hit the stairwell and killed another 18.
A live video streaming from Al Ghad TV showed emergency workers on a damaged staircase at the hospital when the second attack hit the building.
Israeli Acknowledgment
The Israeli military acknowledged the strikes on Nasser Hospital, saying that it was investigating the incident. In a statement on Monday evening, the military’s spokesperson, Effie Defrin, said they were “aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists.” He added that the Israeli military “does not intentionally target civilians,” accusing Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as bases.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Israel “deeply regrets” what he called a “tragic mishap.” In a statement, he said that “Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation.”
Demanding Accountability
The five journalists killed in the Israeli strikes worked for reputable news agencies, such as the AP, Reuters and Al-Jazeera, most on a contractor or freelance basis. They are Mohammad Salama, a cameraman from Al Jazeera; Hussam Al-Masri, a contractor for Reuters; Mariam Abu Dagga, who has worked with the AP and other outlets throughout the war; and freelance journalists Moath Abu Taha and Ahmed Abu Aziz.
In a joint letter to Israeli officials, the AP and Reuters expressed outrage over the killing of their journalists, demanding “urgent and transparent accountability.”
“We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law. These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing critical work bearing witness. Their work is especially vital in light of Israel’s nearly two-year ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza,” they said.
The two organizations also questioned the Israeli military’s capability of investigating itself in such incidents. “We have found the (Israeli military’s) willingness and ability to investigate itself in past incidents to rarely result in clarity and action, raising serious questions including whether Israel is deliberately targeting live feeds in order to suppress information,” they noted.
Similarly, the Foreign Press Association in Israel and the Palestinian Territories described the strikes as “among the deadliest Israeli attacks on journalists” since the Gaza war began, adding that it should be regarded as a “watershed moment.” It also urged Israel to “halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists.”
Global Condemnation
Throughout its war on Gaza, Israel has killed 189 Palestinian journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The war has also killed over 1,500 health workers, according to the UN.
The recent attack on Nasser Hospital has sparked outrage worldwide, with several countries condemning the strikes, including Saudi Arabia, the UK, France, Canada, Qatar, Kuwait, Germany, and Switzerland.
In the light of this, Saudi Arabia expressed its condemnation of the Israeli targeting of medical, relief and media personnel at the Nasser Hospital. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed the Kingdom’s rejection of Israel’s ongoing violation of international law and norms, urging the international community to put an end to these crimes and protect medical and media personnel.
Similarly, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, denounced the attack. “Horrified by Israel’s attack on Nasser hospital. Civilians, healthcare workers and journalists must be protected. We need an immediate ceasefire,” he posted on X.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, described the attack as “intolerable,” while the US President, Donald Trump, said he was “unhappy” about it, adding that there might be a “conclusive ending” in Gaza in the coming weeks, without providing further details.
Moreover, the UN condemned the attack, calling for a “prompt and impartial investigation” into the killings. The UNRWA head, Philippe Lazzarini, also condemned the attack, saying the strikes amounted to “silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently amid famine.”
