Link to Health officials and eyewitnesses report a deadly "double tap" Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s largest southern hospital, killing at least 20 people—including five journalists—during rescue efforts.Health officials and eyewitnesses report a deadly "double tap" Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s largest southern hospital, killing at least 20 people—including five journalists—during rescue efforts.
Israeli forces struck the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza twice in succession on Monday, killing at least 20 people, including journalists and emergency workers who had rushed to the scene after the first explosion. The incident has provoked international condemnation, with growing calls for accountability and an immediate ceasefire.
The initial airstrike hit the upper floor of the Nasser Hospital, one of the last functioning medical centers in southern Gaza. Among those killed in the first strike was Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters journalist. Minutes later, as responders and fellow reporters arrived to aid the wounded, a second missile struck the same location—known as a “double tap” strike—killing more.
Live footage from AlGhad TV captured the chilling moments before the second explosion, showing civil defense workers and journalists clearly identifiable in bright vests, some raising their hands moments before the blast engulfed the scene. A separate clip recorded the aftermath: bloodied bodies of rescuers and journalists collapsed atop one another in the rubble.
The five journalists confirmed killed are Hussam al-Masri (Reuters), Mariam Abu Dagga (Associated Press), Mohammed Salam (Al Jazeera), Moaz Abu Taha (photojournalist), and Ahmad Abu Aziz (Quds Feed). Another Reuters journalist, Hatem Khaled, sustained serious injuries.
The attack prompted swift international responses. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy denounced the bombing, demanding an immediate ceasefire and protection for civilians and press workers. French President Emmanuel Macron called the strike “intolerable.” U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked by reporters, said he was “not happy about it” but stopped short of a direct condemnation.
Israel’s military stated that the incident was under preliminary investigation and expressed "regret for injury to uninvolved personnel." A spokesperson added that Israel "does not target journalists as such," but did not address why a known hospital and press presence were bombed twice.
Critics argue that such statements offer little comfort. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack as part of a “systematic targeting” of the press in Gaza. “These unlawful killings must end now,” said regional director Sara Qudah. “The perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.”
Since the beginning of the war in October 2023, at least 193 Palestinian journalists have been killed, more than the global total over the previous three years combined, according to CPJ data.
The hospital bombing has further crippled Gaza’s already collapsed healthcare system. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that surgeries were interrupted mid-operation due to the strike, calling it part of a “systematic destruction of the health system.” Nasser Hospital remains the only major public hospital still operating in southern Gaza.
Elsewhere on Monday, additional Israeli strikes targeted civilians in central and northern Gaza. Gunfire near a food aid distribution site killed six and wounded 15, while a separate airstrike on a Gaza City neighborhood killed three, including a child. Aid organizations have warned that Israel’s anticipated ground operation in Gaza City could spark further humanitarian catastrophe in an area already ravaged by famine.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 62,600 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign—launched in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages.
As investigations stall and accountability remains elusive, journalists continue to report under siege. Mariam Abu Dagga, one of the fallen reporters, had left behind a letter to her 13-year-old son, urging him to succeed and “make me proud.” Her final request, according to friends, was simple: “Don’t cry for me.”
(Associated Medias) - all rights reserved(Associated Medias) - Tutti i diritti sono riservati