Four Journalists Among 15 Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital
At least 15 people, including four journalists, were killed on Monday when Israeli airstrikes struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, according to the territory’s civil defence agency.
Agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal confirmed the casualties, saying the dead also included a civil defence worker.
He explained that an explosive drone strike first targeted a hospital building, followed by an air raid as rescuers attempted to evacuate the wounded.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said the reporters were “martyred in the line of journalistic duty” while covering events at the hospital.
Those killed were named as photojournalists Hossam Al-Masri, Mohammad Salama, Mariam Dagga, and journalist Moaz Abu Taha.
Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera confirmed the death of its cameraman and photojournalist, Mohammad Salama. The other journalists were affiliated with Palestinian and international media outlets.
Associated Press said Mariam Dagga occasionally freelanced for the agency but was not on assignment at the time, while Reuters confirmed one of its contractors was among the dead and another was injured.
Footage from the aftermath showed thick smoke, bloodied bodies, and frantic rescue efforts, with medics rushing to treat the wounded. Witnesses described scenes of horror as victims, including a female health worker in scrubs and a blood-soaked white coat, were carried into the hospital.
The Israeli military, when asked about the strikes, said it was still “checking the reports.”
The attack comes amid a mounting death toll among media workers in Gaza. Advocacy groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders estimate that nearly 200 journalists have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023.
Earlier this month, six media workers — including four Al Jazeera staff — were killed in an Israeli strike near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Israel later alleged that one of the correspondents, Anas al-Sharif, was linked to Hamas, a claim widely condemned by press freedom organisations.
“Journalists are civilians. They must never be targeted in war. To do so is a war crime,” CPJ’s chief executive Jodie Ginsberg warned at the time.
The war began after Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians.
In response, Israel launched a massive offensive in Gaza, which has since killed at least 62,686 Palestinians, the majority civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry that the United Nations deems credible.
