By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Published: 25 Aug 2025 • 22:29
• 2 minutes read
Israeli forces killed five journalists and four rescue workers in two strikes, the first of which hit a fourth-floor balcony used by members of the press, not Hamas | Credit: EPA, Reuters, AP
Israel is facing international condemnation after two attacks, which it claims are Hamas’ fault, on southern Gaza’s main hospital, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists, one from Al Jazeera and others who had worked with Reuters, AP and the Middle East Eye. Four health workers also died.
The Israeli attacks hit a balcony on the hospital used by reporters, not by Hamas, for an elevated view of Khan Younis. The ministry said the first attack hit the fourth floor of the medical complex. The second attack hit ambulance crews and emergency responders. IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin blamed the attack on Hamas for using civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as bases, according to CNN. Defrin said he was “aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists,” claiming his forces were operating in an “extremely complex reality.” “The IDF does not intentionally target civilians,” Defrin insisted. “The relevant mechanisms in the IDF address any incident that raises concern in this regard.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mishap” and said military authorities were “conducting a thorough investigation”. However, in January, the United Nations said Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have carried out at least 600 targeted attacks on hospitals.
Back-to-back strikes
Israel carried out back-to-back strikes on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, separated by only a matter of minutes, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said, adding that dozens were injured. The “double-tap” hits killed journalists, health workers and emergency response crews who had rushed to the scene after the initial attack, the Nasser Hospital said.
The journalists killed are Mohammad Salama, a cameraman from Al Jazeera, Hussam Al-Masri, who was a contractor for Reuters, Mariam Abu Dagga, who has worked with the Associated Press (AP) and other outlets throughout the war, and freelance journalists Moath Abu Taha and Ahmed Abu Aziz. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a leading body which promotes press freedom, the war in Gaza has been the deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented. It says more press members have been killed there in the past two years than were killed worldwide in the prior three years, according to the BBC.
“These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amid this brutal conflict,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said. He demanded “a prompt and impartial investigation” in addition to “an immediate and permanent ceasefire”.
