(Adnkronos) – Gaza’s Civil Defense said five journalists were among at least 20 people killed in the Israeli attack that hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said “the death toll so far is 20 martyrs, including five journalists and a member of civil defense,” after IDF strikes hit the large medical complex in the southern Strip. About 200 journalists have been killed in nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas. In a statement, the Israeli military said its troops “carried out an attack in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. The Chief of Staff has been ordered to conduct an initial investigation as soon as possible and that he regrets any harm caused to uninvolved individuals. The IDF does not target journalists as such.”
Civil Defense said an Israeli explosive drone hit a building at Nasser Hospital. An airstrike followed shortly after as the wounded were being evacuated. An Al Jazeera spokesman said one of its photojournalists and cameramen, Mohammad Salama, was killed in the attack. “Al Jazeera Media Network condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this horrific crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, who directly targeted and murdered journalists as part of a systematic campaign to silence the truth,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
The Associated Press said in a statement that it was “shocked and saddened” to learn of the death of Mariam Dagga, 33, a video journalist who had been freelancing for the agency since the war began. An earlier statement said Dagga was not on assignment for the agency at the time of her death. A Reuters spokesperson said: “We are shocked to learn of the death of Reuters contributor Hussam al-Masri and the injuries sustained by another of our contributors, Hatem Khaled, in the Israeli attacks on Nasser Hospital in Gaza today.”
“We are urgently seeking more information and have asked the authorities in Gaza and Israel to help us get urgent medical assistance for Hatem,” the spokesperson added in a statement. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported the deaths of two other journalists: Moaz Abu Taha and Ahmad Abu Aziz. According to AFP, Abu Taha had collaborated with some Palestinian and international media outlets.
