Israeli Airstrikes on Nasser Hospital Kill at Least 20, Including Five Journalists in Gaza

Deadly Attack on Khan Younis Medical Facility

An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 20 people on Monday, including five journalists, according to Palestinian health officials. The attack struck the facility in Khan Younis in two successive waves, first hitting a cameraman near a broadcast position and then targeting those who had rushed in to assist.

The initial strike claimed the life of cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who was covering the conflict from an upper-floor position in the hospital. Minutes later, a second strike struck the same location, killing additional journalists, medics, and rescuers already gathered around the wounded. Photographer Hatem Khaled was seriously injured.

Among the journalists killed were:

• Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer who contributed to several regional and international outlets.
• Mohammed Salama, a correspondent for a Qatar-based broadcaster.
• Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist with contributions to multiple media organizations.
• Ahmed Abu Aziz, a local reporter.
• Hussam al-Masri, the cameraman killed in the first strike.

The incident adds to the growing toll of journalists killed in Gaza since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, raising urgent concerns over press freedom, civilian safety, and the humanitarian conditions facing the enclave’s hospitals.

Official Responses and International Repercussions

Israel’s military acknowledged responsibility for the strikes near the hospital, announcing that the incident is now under formal review following an order from the chief of the general staff. In its statement, the military expressed regret for what it called “harm to uninvolved individuals.” It reiterated its long-standing position that journalists are not targets and that the military aims to minimize civilian casualties during operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump, asked about the incident while addressing reporters, expressed dissatisfaction over the strike. “I am not happy about it,” he said, underscoring his desire for an end to the continuous cycle of violence.

In the West Bank, the Palestinian presidency issued a condemnation, calling upon the United Nations Security Council and the wider international community to take immediate action to protect journalists in conflict zones. Officials also called for accountability measures against Israel, arguing that the strikes represent a violation of international humanitarian law.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate described the incident as “a deliberate assault on free media.” It accused Israeli forces of attempting to suppress coverage of events in Gaza by targeting press workers.

Rising Toll on Journalists in Gaza

The deaths at Nasser Hospital highlight a staggering trend: more than 240 Palestinian journalists have lost their lives in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to figures released by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.

Independent verification from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) places the death toll at 197 journalists and media workers since the war’s outbreak. Of these fatalities, 189 were Palestinians, alongside four Israelis and four Lebanese journalists. The CPJ condemned the strike and urged international agencies to push for more robust protections for press freedom.

The tragedy comes only two weeks after the killing of well-known Gaza correspondent Anas Al-Sharif, who died alongside four other reporters during an airstrike. Israel had claimed Al-Sharif was connected to Hamas, a charge vehemently denied by his employer.

Medical Infrastructure Under Siege

The attack has once again placed Gaza’s fragile medical system under international scrutiny. Already under immense pressure after months of conflict, hospitals like Nasser now face direct threats from airstrikes.

Doctors in Khan Younis report that hospital wards are filled with war-wounded patients and displaced civilians seeking refuge. The strikes further erode trust in the safety of medical facilities, which under international law are protected spaces in times of conflict.

Humanitarian organizations warn that targeting or striking near hospitals deepens the crisis in Gaza, where medical supplies, electricity, and clean water remain severely restricted. Aid groups insist that safe zones must be maintained to protect doctors, nurses, and patients caught in escalating rounds of bombardment.

Historical Context of Journalists in Conflict Zones

The deaths of media professionals in Gaza reflect a decades-long pattern of journalists being caught — or directly targeted — in Middle Eastern conflicts. From the Lebanon wars of the 1980s to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, journalists covering regional wars have routinely faced fatalities disproportionate to their global colleagues.

Gaza has consistently ranked among the most dangerous locations for media coverage worldwide. During previous conflicts in 2008–2009, 2014, and 2021, international watchdogs recorded repeated cases of media offices and correspondents being hit by missiles. The 2021 Israeli airstrike on a tower housing Associated Press and Al Jazeera offices drew international condemnation and underscored the hazards journalists face while attempting to report on wars in the densely populated enclave.

Regional and Global Comparisons

Compared with other conflict zones, Gaza’s press casualty rates are unprecedented. In the Syrian civil war — one of the deadliest environments for journalists in the past two decades — around 200 media deaths were recorded in more than a decade. Gaza has reached a similar toll in less than two years.

In Afghanistan, over two decades of war claimed the lives of fewer than 100 journalists. Iraq’s war years often ranked as the deadliest for reporters worldwide, yet casualty levels in Gaza are approaching those numbers in a fraction of the time.

This sharp escalation heightens concerns about whether international humanitarian conventions on the protection of journalists are failing under the conditions of modern asymmetric warfare.

Economic and Social Impact in Gaza

The targeting of journalists and hospitals also has broader societal repercussions beyond immediate casualties. With dozens of media professionals killed, communications infrastructure is weakened, and local populations are deprived of accurate and timely information about conditions on the ground.

The economic impact extends to media families, many of whom lose their primary breadwinners in an environment where unemployment already exceeds 50 percent. News networks dependent on local freelancers face increased difficulty gathering verifiable news, further straining the flow of information from Gaza.

For Gaza’s civilians, these strikes deepen a climate of fear. With hospitals perceived as unsafe and journalists silenced, individuals find themselves with fewer places of refuge and fewer voices amplifying their daily hardships to the outside world.

Calls for Accountability and Next Steps

The incident at Nasser Hospital has already sparked calls for international investigations. Advocacy groups are pressing for inquiries into whether the attack constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

While Israel has launched an internal inquiry, global organizations argue that transparent international investigation is necessary to restore confidence in rules governing the conduct of war. The United Nations, the International Federation of Journalists, and multiple human rights organizations have called for stronger safeguards to ensure the protection of medical facilities and media workers.

Public Reaction and Growing Outrage

News of the attack spread rapidly across social media, where images and survivor testimonies circulated widely. Hashtags demanding accountability trended across the Middle East and in major Western capitals. Protests erupted in several Arab cities, with marchers carrying images of the fallen journalists.

Journalist unions in Europe and Latin America issued statements of solidarity, warning that if Gaza reporters remain unprotected, press freedoms globally are at risk.

Conclusion

The airstrikes on Nasser Hospital highlight the escalating dangers facing both civilians and journalists in Gaza. With at least 20 lives lost, including five members of the press, the tragedy underscores the broader humanitarian crisis gripping the enclave. As international pressure mounts, the incident could prove pivotal in shaping debates over accountability, press freedom, and the role of international humanitarian law in modern warfare.

The deaths of these journalists add to an ever-rising toll that places Gaza at the forefront of modern war zones where media workers bear extraordinary risks. In the wake of this latest incident, questions remain over whether the international community will take meaningful steps to protect those whose mission is to bear witness to conflict.