Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital Kills 20, Including Five Journalists

Israeli strike on Gaza hospital

At least 20 people, including five journalists, were killed on Monday after Israel carried out an airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. The attack targeted the upper floor of the hospital where media outlets, including Reuters, Associated Press, and Al Jazeera, were operating a live broadcast station.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, the victims included Hossam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman and contractor, who was killed during the first strike. Shortly after, a second attack struck the same location, killing more journalists, medics, and rescue workers who had rushed to help.

The journalists killed were identified as Mariam Abu Daga (freelancer for AP), Mohammed Salama (Al Jazeera), Muaz Abu Taha, and Ahmed Abu Aziz. Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was injured in the strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the incident as a “tragic accident,” stressing that Israel’s war was against Hamas, not civilians or journalists. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted carrying out the strike and announced a military inquiry.

Reuters issued a statement mourning the deaths and demanded urgent medical assistance for their injured photographer. The Associated Press called the attack “deeply shocking and heartbreaking,” noting that Abu Daga often covered stories on famine-hit children in Gaza.

The Palestinian presidency urged the United Nations and the UN Security Council to hold Israel accountable for attacks on journalists. The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the strike as “an open war against the free press.”

Since October 7, 2023, over 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, according to press unions. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) confirmed that at least 197 media workers have been killed since the war began.

International calls for accountability are growing, with critics demanding Israel face consequences for targeting journalists. Meanwhile, the IDF insists it will investigate the incident under international law, claiming that reporting in a war zone carries extreme risks.

Israeli strike on Gaza hospital

In a separate incident, local journalist Hassan Douhan was killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a tent camp in Khan Younis. Two weeks earlier, Israel killed prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, a strike Israel claimed was targeting a Hamas operative—an accusation denied by Al Jazeera.

The attack abruptly cut off Reuters’ live video feed from the hospital during the first strike, highlighting the risks faced by journalists bringing real-time coverage from war zones.

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