A pair of Israeli airstrikes on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killed at least five journalists along with medical personnel and rescue workers. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the initial strike targeted the hospital’s fourth floor, followed minutes later by a second strike that hit ambulance crews and emergency responders arriving on the scene.
The journalists who lost their lives include Mohammad Salama, an Al Jazeera cameraman; Hussam Al-Masri, a contractor for Reuters; Mariam Abu Dagga, affiliated with the Associated Press; and freelance journalists Ahed Abu Aziz and Moaz Abu Taha. The attack resulted in a total death toll exceeding 20 people, with many others injured.
Witnesses described the strikes as a “double-tap” assault, where the second attack deliberately targeted rescuers responding to the first. Footage from the hospital showed smoke and panic as the strikes occurred, prompting widespread condemnation internationally.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deaths as a “tragic mishap” and said the military would conduct a thorough investigation. The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged targeting a Hamas surveillance camera on the hospital roof but denied intentions of harming civilians, holding Hamas responsible for using civilian structures for military purposes.
The killings have drawn sharp criticism from journalist organizations, the United Nations, and international human rights groups. The UN human rights office called the incident “shocking” and urged accountability for the deliberate targeting of journalists and medical workers, which is forbidden under international law.
Journalists in Gaza protested the killings, demanding protection for media workers and continued coverage of the conflict despite the dangers. Al Jazeera condemned the strikes as a violation of international norms and an effort to silence the truth.