EditInternational outcry grows over Israeli strike on Gaza hospital killing journalists, civilians
Concerns over Israel’s conduct in Gaza are growing, with critics demanding urgent accountability
A deadly Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza on Monday (25 August) has drawn sharp international condemnation for killing at least 20 people, including five journalists, prompting accusations of war crimes and violations of international law.
The attack, which targeted a key medical facility in southern Gaza, has intensified global criticism of Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict, with countries and organizations demanding accountability and protection for journalists and civilians.
Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed near a live broadcasting position operated by Reuters on an upper floor just below the roof of the hospital in Khan Younis in an initial strike, Palestinian health officials said.
Officials at the hospital and witnesses said Israel then struck the site a second time, killing other journalists as well as rescue workers and medics who had rushed to the scene to help.
The strike killed journalists Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer for the Associated Press and others, Moaz Abu Taha, who occasionally contributed to Reuters, Ahmed Abu Aziz, and Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Salama. Reuters contractor Hatem Khaled was wounded.
A separate attack the same day killed journalist Hassan Douhan, shot in his tent in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
The international community swiftly condemned the strike. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate labelled it a “heinous massacre” by Israeli forces, accusing them of deliberately targeting media crews to suppress reporting on the conflict.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced the attack on the “only partially functioning public hospital in the south of Gaza,” noting that its staff were forced to shelter in a laboratory as Israel struck the building repeatedly during rescue efforts.
Countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait issued statements condemning the strike, urging investigations and protection for civilians and journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that 197 journalists and media workers, including 189 Palestinians, have been killed in Gaza since the war began on 7 October 2023. CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg accused Israel of deliberately targeting a Reuters camera position, describing the attack as a “double tap” strike that killed first responders, including journalists, in a second wave.
“In both instances, it looks like Israel has committed unlawful killings, war crimes,” Ginsberg told CNN’s Becky Anderson, citing violations of the Rome Statute and Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting civilians and journalists in conflict zones.
Al Jazeera, which lost correspondent Mohammed Salama in the strike, called it a “horrific crime” and part of an ongoing campaign against journalists. The network stated, “The Israeli occupation has violated all international norms and laws, amounting to war crimes.” The Palestinian presidency in the West Bank called on the UN Security Council and United Nations to provide protection for journalists and hold Israel accountable.
The Associated Press expressed being “shocked and saddened” by Abu Dagga’s death, noting her reports on starving children at Nasser Hospital, while MSF mourned her as a frequent collaborator.
Israel’s military acknowledged the strike, stating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff ordered an inquiry. The IDF expressed regret for harm to “uninvolved individuals” and emphasised that it does not target journalists, citing efforts to mitigate civilian harm while countering Hamas, which it accused of hiding behind civilians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the incident a “tragic mishap,” stressing that Israel values journalists and medical staff and is fighting Hamas, not civilians. Brigadier General Effie Defrin promised a transparent investigation, noting the risks of reporting in an active war zone.
U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about the strike, expressed displeasure, stating, “I didn’t know that. Well, I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare.”
The U.S. response, however, stopped short of formal condemnation, reflecting its broader support for Israel.
Israel’s ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza since 2023 has left Palestinian journalists, many working for outlets like Reuters and AP, as the primary reporters in the territory. The strike follows other incidents, including the killing of Al Jazeera’s Anas Al-Sharif two weeks ago, which Israel justified by alleging his involvement with Hamas – a claim the network denied.
Israel kills four Al Jazeera journalists, says one of them was Hamas leader
The international outcry underscores growing concerns over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, with critics arguing that repeated journalist deaths and attacks on civilian infrastructure demand urgent accountability. As investigations unfold, the global community faces mounting pressure to address the escalating toll on journalists and civilians in the conflict.
Sources: Reuters, CNN
Caption: People pray in front of the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, 25 August 2025. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the airstrike hit the fourth floor of the Nasser Medical Complex, followed by a second attack upon the arrival of ambulance crews to retrieve the injured and the dead, leaving at least 20 killed, including 5 journalists. EPA/HAITHAM IMAD
Updated: August 26, 2025 - 06:41
