Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza have killed a minimum of 20 folks, together with 5 journalists, based on the Gaza well being ministry and the media organisations the journalists labored for.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was struck twice on Monday in what has been described as a “double-tap” assault.
The preliminary strike hit the highest ground of a constructing at Nasser Hospital. Minutes later, as journalists and rescue staff rushed to the scene, a second missile struck the identical location, based on Dr Ahmed al Farra, head of the hospital’s paediatrics division.
Al Jazeera, the Related Press (AP), and Reuters mentioned their journalists have been amongst these killed.
A British marketing consultant surgeon, who labored on the Nasser Hospital earlier this summer time, described the assault on Monday morning as “barbarism in the extreme”.
Picture:
A person holds the tools utilized by Palestinian cameraman Hussam al Masri. Pic: Reuters
Picture:
Rescuers work to get well the physique of Palestinian cameraman Hussam al Masri. Pic: Reuters
The Israeli army mentioned its troops carried out a strike within the space of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and that it will conduct an investigation into the incident. The army mentioned it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such”.
In an extra assertion, Israel Protection Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin mentioned: “We are aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists. I would like to be clear from the start – the IDF does not intentionally target civilians.
“The IDF makes each effort to mitigate hurt to civilians, whereas making certain the protection of our troops.”
He said forces were “working in a particularly advanced actuality” and that Hamas “intentionally use civilian infrastructure, together with hospitals, as shields”.
He said the findings of Israel’s investigation will be presented “as transparently as doable”.
Who’re the journalists
Picture:
Mariam Dagga
AP mentioned in an announcement that it was shocked and saddened by the demise of Dagga and the lack of different journalists.
“We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to provide crucial eyewitness reporting in difficult and dangerous conditions,” AP mentioned.
Impartial Arabia, the Arabic-language version of The Impartial, mentioned it additionally collaborated with Dagga.
Picture:
Mohammed Salama
Al Jazeera confirmed cameraman Mohammed Salama was amongst these killed.
“They were reporting closer to the hospital, knowing that was somehow safer than the frontline,” he mentioned. “We’re talking about a crime against journalism.”
Picture:
Hussam al Masri
Reuters mentioned in an announcement that it was “devastated” after two of its journalists have been killed on the Nasser Hospital, and one was injured.
Picture:
Moaz Abu Taha
Contractor cameraman Hussam al Masri was additionally killed within the strikes on Nasser Hospital, Reuters mentioned.
Moaz Abu Taha, a contract journalist whose work had been often printed by Reuters, was additionally killed. Photographer Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor, was wounded.
Picture:
Ahmed Abu Aziz
A fifth journalist, Ahmed Abu Aziz, who labored as a contract reporter, succumbed to his wounds following the strikes on the Nasser Hospital.
One of many bloodiest conflicts for media staff
The Israel-Hamas struggle has been among the many deadliest conflicts for journalists, with the Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ) reporting a minimum of 192 media staff killed in Gaza through the 22-month-long battle.
The CPJ says that 18 journalists have died to date in Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.
Thibaut Bruttin, director normal of Reporters With out Borders, mentioned press freedom advocates have by no means witnessed such a major decline in journalist security. He mentioned journalists had been killed in each indiscriminate bombings and deliberate assaults.
“They are doing everything they can to silence independent voices that are trying to report on Gaza,” mentioned Mr Bruttin.
Israel has accused journalists in Gaza of ties to militant teams, as within the case of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al Sharif, who was focused and killed by Israeli forces earlier this month.
The Israeli army claimed Sharif led a Hamas cell, a cost each Al Jazeera and Sharif rejected as unfounded.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
6:17
Israel faces a call after it kills a minimum of 20 at hospital
Many journalists reporting from Gaza are enduring the identical hardships as these they cowl, together with the every day wrestle to safe meals for themselves and their households.
“It is a particular burden that they carry, as well as living in a war zone,” Sky Center East correspondent Adam Parsons mentioned.
Further casualties on Monday
Along with the casualties at Nasser Hospital, medical officers in northern Gaza reported additional fatalities ensuing from strikes and gunfire alongside routes main to help distribution websites.
In response to Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, an airstrike on a neighbourhood claimed the lives of three Palestinians, together with a baby.
Al Awda Hospital in Deir al Balah reported six folks trying to achieve a central Gaza help distribution level have been shot and killed in Israeli gunfire. The hospital mentioned 15 others have been wounded within the incident.
The IDF has beforehand “strongly rejected” accusations it targets civilians – and maintained its forces function close to help websites to cease provides from falling into the fingers of militants.
