Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills 19, Including Four Journalists

KHAN YOUNIS: At least 19 people, among them four journalists working with international media outlets, were killed when Israeli strikes hit the Nasser Hospital compound in Khan Younis on Monday, according to Palestinian health officials. Dozens of others were wounded in what witnesses described as two consecutive explosions.

The victims included Husam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman; Mohammed Salama, a photojournalist with Al Jazeera; Mariam Abu Daqa, a freelancer for outlets including Associated Press (AP) and The Independent Arabic; and Moaz Abu Taha, a photographer working for NBC.

Reuters said al-Masri was operating a live video feed from the hospital when the first strike occurred, cutting the transmission mid-broadcast. Another Reuters photographer, Hatem Khaled, was injured in the second blast as rescuers and bystanders rushed to help the wounded.

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AP confirmed the death of Abu Daqa, a 33-year-old freelancer who had been covering the war. Al Jazeera said Salama’s killing raised the number of its staff and contributors killed in Gaza to seven since October 2023.

Eyewitnesses described chaos inside the hospital after the first strike, with people fleeing in panic before a second strike struck as evacuations were underway, killing more, including a rescue worker. Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said an explosive drone first hit a hospital building, followed by an airstrike while patients and staff were being moved.

The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate said over 240 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began. Monday’s incident was among the deadliest single attacks on media workers during the conflict.

The Israeli military and the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately comment on the strike.