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At least 20 people were killed on Monday when Israeli airstrikes hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. Among the dead were five journalists covering the conflict, including contractors and freelancers for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other outlets.
Witnesses said the first strike targeted the upper floors of the hospital, killing Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman working with Reuters. Minutes later, as medics and colleagues rushed in to rescue the wounded, a second blast struck the same location, killing more journalists and first responders. Reuters confirmed that another of its contributors, Moaz Abu Taha, was killed, while photographer Hatem Khaled was seriously wounded.
Other journalists killed were identified as Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer for the Associated Press, Mohammed Salama of Al Jazeera, and Ahmad Abu Aziz of Quds Feed. Global media organisations condemned the strike. The AP said it was "shocked and saddened," while Reuters described itself as "devastated" and appealed for urgent medical access for Khaled.
Israel's military confirmed hitting the area around Nasser Hospital but announced an internal inquiry. In a statement, the IDF expressed regret over civilian casualties, insisting it does not target journalists and acts to limit harm "while ensuring the safety of troops."
The Palestinian presidency called on the UN Security Council to intervene, accusing Israel of "an open war against the press." The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said the strike aimed to silence reporters documenting "crimes against civilians." The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that nearly 200 media workers have been killed since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
US President Donald Trump, asked about the strike, said he was unaware but added: "I'm not happy about it. I don't want to see it." UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the bombing, with Macron calling it "intolerable."
Nasser Hospital is the last major public medical facility functioning in southern Gaza. The health ministry said surgery and emergency operations were disrupted by the strikes, warning that attacks on hospitals amounted to the systematic collapse of Gaza's healthcare system.
