On August 25, Israeli airstrikes hit the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, targeting at least 21 people, including five journalists, several medics, and first responders who were attempting to rescue the wounded Palestinians from the first explosion. Among the journalists killed were: Mohammad Salama, a local Al Jazeera correspondent; Hussam al‑Masri, a journalist working for Reuters; Mariam Abu Daqqa, who was working for AP and Independent Arabia); the Quds Feed Network journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz; and Moaz Abu Taha, a young freelancer who had dedicated himself to documenting life under siege. A sixth journalist, Hassan Douhan, was killed in a separate strike later the same day.
According to both eyewitnesses and video evidence, the attack followed a “double-tap” pattern: the first missile hit a balcony of the hospital, where patients and medical workers were gathered. Just minutes later, as journalists and medics rushed in to provide aid, a second strike hit the same area, targeting those who had come to help. Journalist Hussam al-Masri was broadcasting live for Reuters from the hospital courtyard when the explosion interrupted the broadcast. Hatem Omar, another Reuters contractor, was filming the recovery efforts from above and told CNN: “Journalists, patients, nurses, civil defense were on the stairs. We were directly targeted.”
Al Jazeera called the incident a “deliberate attempt to silence the truth,” and The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, condemned the attack as “another grave violation of international humanitarian law”, reminding the international community that both journalists and medical personnel are protected under international law and must not be targeted intentionally. Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the International Federation of Journalists have all called for independent investigations. Regarding the international reaction to the Nasser Hospital strike, Germany and France have called for an investigation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the strike was a “tragic mishap”, however on Tuesday the Israeli military claimed the hospital was being used for military purposes and justified the attack, claiming that six “terrorists” had been killed in the attack, which was directed at a “camera that was positioned by Hamas.” No verifiable evidence for these claims has been provided and the journalists and medics killed had been publicly identified by major media organizations, which confirmed their affiliations and roles in Gaza.
- To read more, please visit:
- https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/27/middleeast/gaza-nasser-hospital-israel-attack-three-strikes-intl
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/25/israel-bombs-hospital-kills-journalists-medics-dozens-more-across-gaza
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/26/he-loved-his-work-deeply-profiles-of-five-palestinian-journalists-killed-in-gaza-airstrike
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hits-gaza-hospital-killing-least-20-people-including-five-journalists-2025-08-25/
by Sonia Iovine
