GAZA, Aug 26 — On Monday, Israel targeted Nasser hospital located in the southern region of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, among whom were five journalists affiliated with Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other organizations.
GAZA, Aug 26 — On Monday, Israel targeted Nasser hospital located in the southern region of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, among whom were five journalists affiliated with Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other organizations.
Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who was a contractor for Reuters, lost his life near a live broadcasting location managed by Reuters on an upper floor just beneath the hospital's roof in Khan Younis during an initial strike, according to Palestinian health officials.
Hospital officials and witnesses reported that Israel subsequently targeted the site again, resulting in the deaths of additional journalists, as well as rescue workers and medics who had hurried to the location to provide assistance.
The journalists who lost their lives included Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer for the Associated Press and various other media outlets, Mohammed Salama, an employee of the Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist who collaborated with multiple news organizations, including occasional contributions to Reuters, and Ahmed Abu Aziz.
Photographer Hatem Khaled, who is also a contractor for Reuters, sustained injuries.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that Israel profoundly regretted what he referred to as a "tragic mishap".
Israel held the contributions of journalists and medical personnel in high regard, he stated, emphasizing that Israel's conflict was with Hamas.
The Israel Defence Forces, which is the military of Israel, confirmed that they targeted the vicinity of Nasser hospital and stated that the chief of the general staff has mandated an investigation.
The IDF expresses regret for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals and clarifies that it does not specifically target journalists. The IDF strives to minimize harm to uninvolved individuals to the greatest extent possible while ensuring the safety of its troops, as stated.
A spokesperson for Reuters stated: "We are heartbroken to hear that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who was a contractor for Reuters, lost his life this morning due to Israeli strikes on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Additionally, Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work has been published by Reuters on occasion, was also killed, and photographer Hatem Khaled, another contractor for Reuters, sustained injuries."
"We are in immediate need of additional information and have requested assistance from the authorities in Gaza and Israel to facilitate urgent medical aid for Hatem," the spokesperson stated.
US President Donald Trump conveyed his dissatisfaction when requested to provide a response.
"When did this occur?" he inquired of a journalist at the White House. "I was unaware of that. Frankly, I am displeased. I do not wish to witness it. Nevertheless, we must put an end to that entire ordeal."
Increasing number of fatalities
The Associated Press expressed that it was "shocked and saddened" upon receiving the news of the fatalities of Abu Dagga and several other journalists. It further noted that Abu Dagga frequently stationed herself at the hospital for her reporting, which recently encompassed narratives regarding starving and malnourished children.
In the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation, the Palestinian presidency has called upon the international community, especially the U.N. Security Council and the United Nations, to ensure the safety of journalists and to hold Israel responsible.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate denounced Israel for the attacks, stating that it constituted "a blatant assault on free media, intended to intimidate journalists and hinder them from carrying out their professional responsibility of revealing its atrocities to the global community."
The syndicate reported that over 240 Palestinian journalists have lost their lives due to Israeli gunfire in Gaza since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has reported that the total number of journalists and media personnel who have lost their lives since the onset of the war stands at 197, which includes 189 Palestinians in Gaza. The organization has urged the international community to ensure that Israel is held accountable for its ongoing illegal assaults on the press.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin stated in a declaration late on Monday that the military was required to conduct an investigation in accordance with international law.
"As is customary, we shall disclose our findings with the utmost transparency," he stated.
"Covering an active war zone involves significant danger, particularly in a conflict with a terrorist group like Hamas, which insidiously conceals itself among the civilian populace," he stated.
In a different occurrence on Monday, physicians at Nasser Hospital reported that Israeli gunfire directed at a tent encampment in the Mawasi region of Khan Younis resulted in the death of local journalist Hassan Dohan and injured several others.
Two weeks prior, Israel executed a strike that resulted in the death of notable Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif along with four other journalists. In this incident, Israel admitted to specifically targeting Sharif, asserting that he was affiliated with the Hamas militant organization, a claim that the broadcaster refuted.
On Monday, the live video feed from the hospital, managed by Masri, abruptly ceased at the time of the first strike.
Reuters and various news agencies frequently provide live video streams to media organizations globally during significant news occurrences, allowing viewers to witness events as they unfold on the ground. Throughout the Gaza conflict, Reuters has consistently transmitted a feed from Nasser hospital, and for several weeks, it has been supplying daily broadcasts from the location of the Nasser hospital that was struck
.Since the onset of the war in 2023, Israel has prohibited all foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip. Throughout the conflict, reporting from the region has been conducted by Palestinian journalists, many of whom have extensive experience working for international media organizations, including wire services like Reuters and the Associated Press.
Israel has additionally stated that it is looking into the death of Issam Abdallah, a journalist from Reuters who was killed in southern Lebanon by Israeli tank fire in October 2023, following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. Israel has yet to disclose any conclusions. — Reuters
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