Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills five journalists, medics, civilians

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 3 months ago |  Reuters/Photo: AP

Israel struck Gaza’s Nasser hospital on Monday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists, Reuters reported. Among the dead was Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who was working near a live broadcast point when the first strike hit Khan Younis.

Witnesses and officials said a second strike killed more journalists, medics, and rescue workers rushing to help. Those killed included AP freelancer Mariam Abu Dagga, Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Salama, freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha, and reporter Ahmed Abu Aziz. Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was wounded.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mishap,” saying Israel does not target journalists. The military said it had launched an inquiry.

Reuters said it was “devastated” by the deaths of its contributors and urged urgent medical help for the wounded. The AP said it was “shocked and saddened,” while the Palestinian presidency and journalist unions accused Israel of waging “an open war against free media.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists said nearly 200 journalists have been killed since the war began in October 2023.

Photo caption: Mariam Dagga, 33, a visual journalist who freelanced for the AP and other news outlets during the war, was among those killed in the Israeli attack.