5 journalists have been amongst no less than 20 individuals killed by Israeli strikes on Nasser hospital in southern Gaza, well being officers mentioned.
The strikes on Monday killed Hussam al-Masri, who labored for Reuters, Mariam Abu Dagga, who labored for the Related Press, the Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Salam, the photojournalist Moaz Abu Taha , and Ahmad Abu Aziz from Quds Feed. One other Reuters journalist, Hatem Khaled, was wounded within the assault.
A video from the information company Alghad TV confirmed civil defence employees carrying vibrant orange vests and journalists being hit by a bomb whereas they have been trying to rescue the physique of Masri, who was killed in an earlier strike on the fourth flooring of the hospital. Within the moments earlier than their deaths, they raised their fingers to defend themselves, however have been killed by the explosion.
Mariam Abu Dagga pictured in Khan Younis in June. {Photograph}: Jehad Alshrafi/AP
The second bomb struck the identical spot on the fourth flooring as the primary, after rescue crews had arrived, the Gaza well being ministry mentioned. A video later confirmed a pile of our bodies mendacity the place the journalists and civil defence employees have been standing for the time being of the strike.
The Related Press mentioned in an announcement that it was shocked and saddened to be taught of Dagga’s dying, in addition to the deaths of the opposite journalists killed alongside her.
“We’re doing all the things we are able to to maintain our journalists in Gaza secure as they proceed to offer essential eyewitness reporting in troublesome and harmful situations,” the company mentioned.
Reuters mentioned in an announcement that it was devastated on the information of the dying of al-Masri and wounding of Khaled.
”We’re urgently looking for extra info and have requested authorities in Gaza and Israel to assist us get pressing medical help for Hatem,” a spokesperson mentioned.
The broken fourth flooring of Nasser hospital after the Israeli strike. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty Photos
A minimum of 193 Palestinian journalists have been killed since 7 October 2023, in accordance with the Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ), greater than the quantity who died globally within the earlier three years. The CPJ mentioned in August that Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza was “a deliberate and systematic try and cowl up Israel’s actions”.
A spokesperson for the Israeli army mentioned the chief-of-staff had ordered a preliminary investigation into the strike and mentioned Israel “expressed remorse for harm to uninvolved personnel”. Israel didn’t goal journalists, they mentioned.
Israeli inquiries into misconduct by its army hardly ever guarantee accountability. A report printed this month exhibits that 88% of investigations into battle crimes allegations in Gaza have been shut down or left unresolved. Israel’s investigation into the killing of the Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli sniper in 2022 was by no means completed.
An undated image of the Reuters contractor Hussam al-Masri at Nasser hospital within the southern Gaza Strip. {Photograph}: Mohammed Salem/Reuters
Dagga, 33, had freelanced for the AP for the reason that Gaza battle started, in addition to different information shops comparable to Unbiased Arabia. She reported on Nasser hospital docs struggling to avoid wasting youngsters with no earlier well being points who have been losing away from hunger.
Unbiased Arabia mentioned Dagga was the “instance of dedication {and professional} dedication” and that she carried “her digital camera into the guts of the sphere, conveying the struggling of civilians and the voices of victims with uncommon honesty and braveness”.
Abu Aziz was primarily based out of Nasser hospital, the place he lined the impression of Israel’s assaults on individuals throughout Gaza. He misplaced a number of colleagues through the battle, in addition to his own residence that was levelled in a strike.
“It felt like I used to be on their lonesome and the one one left on the bottom as so many extra of my colleagues have been being killed,” Abu Aziz wrote in an article for Center East Eye a yr in the past about his expertise as a journalist in Gaza.
Al Jazeera confirmed that Salam was amongst these killed within the Nasser hospital strike. Reuters reported that Masri, a contractor cameraman, was additionally killed. Khaled, a photographer who was additionally a Reuters contractor, was wounded, the information company reported.
Israel has prevented worldwide media from protecting the 22-month battle, an unprecedented ban within the historical past of battle reporting. Palestinian journalists in Gaza who work with worldwide shops perform their duties whereas dealing with hunger and the danger of dying.
The Palestinian ministry of well being mentioned Monday’s strikes on Nasser hospital had disrupted surgical procedure within the working theatre, and condemned the assault, which it mentioned was a part of a “systematic destruction of the well being system”. Nasser hospital is the one functioning public hospital left in southern Gaza.
Well being officers additionally reported gunfire that killed individuals looking for assist in central Gaza and airstrikes in Gaza Metropolis.
Folks seek for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on a residential constructing in Gaza Metropolis. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty Photos
A minimum of six individuals have been killed and 15 wounded whereas making an attempt to achieve a meals distribution web site in central Gaza operated by the personal US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF). Shootings by Israeli troopers close to GHF websites are a close to day by day incidence, although the Israeli army and GHF deny focusing on individuals looking for meals.
A strike on a residential neighbourhood in Gaza Metropolis killed no less than three individuals, together with a baby. Israel is making ready for an invasion of town within the coming days, which it says it should occupy and take management of.
Support teams have mentioned the operation would result in displacement and a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which is already within the throes of famine.
A minimum of 62,686 Palestinians have been killed for the reason that starting of the Gaza battle 22 months in the past. Israel launched its assault after the 7 October 2023 assault on Israel by Hamas-led militants through which about 1,200 individuals have been killed and 250 taken hostage.
