Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, resulted in at least 20 fatalities, including five journalists from Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera. The initial strike killed Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri while he was broadcasting live. A follow-up strike targeted the area again, leading to further casualties among journalists and medics responding to the first assault.
The Israeli military claimed the strikes aimed at a Hamas surveillance camera within the hospital, but lacked evidence to support this assertion. Rights groups condemned the dual strikes as potentially war crimes, prompting United Nations calls for accountability.
In light of the incident, Reuters and AP sought explanations from Israeli officials. Their editors criticized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for their lack of transparency regarding internal investigations, questioning whether the targeting of media live feeds was an attempt to suppress information.
The incident has heightened concerns about press freedom amidst the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which has seen a significant rise in journalist fatalities, with 197 reported deaths since the conflict’s escalation in October 2023.
International press has been barred from Gaza, forcing Palestinian journalists to cover the situation under perilous conditions. The airstrike targeted a known press facility, igniting demands for enhanced international legal protections and accountability.
Advocates are urging the UN Security Council to uphold a 2015 resolution aimed at protecting journalists and ensuring unrestricted media access to conflict zones. The tragic loss of media personnel underscores the critical need for adherence to international humanitarian law to safeguard those documenting war’s realities, as global calls for comprehensive investigations into the attack continue.
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