On Monday, August 25th, the Israeli military launched two consecutive attacks on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of rescue workers, medical personnel, and journalists. The Israeli military stated that the operation aimed to target a camera suspected of being remotely controlled by Hamas to monitor Israeli military movements.
According to eyewitnesses and on-site footage, the first airstrike hit the upper levels of the hospital building. As medical personnel, journalists, and family members rushed to the rescue along external stairs, a second strike immediately followed, causing further casualties.
The local health department reported at least 20 fatalities and dozens injured, though the exact numbers could not be independently verified.
The Netanyahu government swiftly expressed deep regret over the incident, labeling it a “tragic mishap,” and ordered a comprehensive investigation.
On August 26th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement indicating that a preliminary investigation revealed that the Golani Brigade discovered a camera set up near Nasser Hospital by Hamas for monitoring Israeli military operations and aiding in terrorist activities against the IDF.
The statement clarified that concerns were heightened due to “terror organizations repeatedly using hospitals for military purposes during wartime, with intelligence indicating that Hamas had been using Nasser Hospital for terrorist activities since the outbreak of the conflict.”
The IDF stated that in light of the situation, the device was targeted and destroyed to eliminate the threat. The investigation results confirmed that the purpose of the operation was indeed to neutralize the threat posed by the camera.
The military further pointed out that some individuals killed in the airstrike were Hamas members, including those involved in the October 7, 2023 attack. The army expressed regret over civilian casualties and pledged to continue investigating the entire decision-making process and the types of weapons utilized.
According to Palestinian health officials, Reuters’ longtime collaborator photographer Hussam al-Masri tragically lost his life near the Reuters live broadcast point during the first strike.
The second attack resulted in the deaths of multiple journalists, including freelance journalist Mariam Abu Dagga (who previously worked for the Associated Press and other media outlets), Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Salama, freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha (contributed to Reuters and various media outlets), and Middle East Eye journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz.
Moreover, Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was injured in the attack.
The IDF emphasized that they would continue investigating the attack, including the decision-making process, authorization procedures, and the types of weapons used.
On August 25th, Reuters and the Associated Press jointly issued an open letter to Israeli officials, urging a “swift, transparent” investigation into the Nasser Hospital airstrike incident, underscoring that journalists were performing their duties, documenting the truth of the conflict.
The letter highlighted that under international law, the IDF has an obligation to protect journalists and civilians and take all feasible steps to prevent harm, raising questions about whether the consecutive attacks on the hospital fulfilled that duty.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) based in New York reported that since the eruption of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 197 journalists and media workers have died in Gaza, with 189 of them being Palestinian journalists, making this conflict one of the deadliest for journalists in recent history.