Four journalists among 20 others killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital

At least four Palestinian journalists, including one from Al Jazeera were killed in Israeli attack on southern Gaza hospital. (Photo: Al Jazeera)

An Israeli strike on a hospital in Southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of four journalists and 20 others on Monday, according to reports from The Associated Press.

"The toll so far is 20 martyrs, including five journalists and one member of the civil defence," stated Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency, after strikes hit the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis—a large medical complex that has been targeted multiple times by Israel since the war began.

Among the journalists killed was Mariam Dagga, 33, a visual journalist who had been freelancing for the AP since the conflict commenced. Reuters reported that its contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri was killed, and another contractor, photographer Hatem Khaled, was wounded. Al Jazeera confirmed that its journalist Mohammed Salam was also among those killed in the Nasser strike. Additionally, freelancers Mariam Abu Daqa and Moaz Abu Taha from NBC were killed in the attack, along with rescue workers.

In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed its troops carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital. "The Chief of the General Staff has instructed an initial inquiry to be conducted as soon as possible," the statement read, adding that the military "regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such."

The Associated Press expressed its shock and sadness over Dagga's death, which came alongside the loss of several other journalists. Dagga, who had a 12-year-old son evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war, often reported from Nasser Hospital, where she recently covered the struggles of doctors trying to save children suffering from starvation.

Al Jazeera released a statement condemning the strike: "Al Jazeera Media Network condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this horrific crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, who have directly targeted and assassinated journalists as part of a systematic campaign to silence the truth."

A Reuters spokesperson stated, "We are devastated to learn of the death of our contractor Hussam al-Masri and the injuries to another of our contractors, Hatem Khaled, in Israeli strikes on the Nasser Hospital in Gaza today."

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has become one of the deadliest conflicts for media workers, with at least 192 journalists killed in Gaza during the 22-month conflict, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In contrast, the CPJ has reported that 18 journalists have been killed so far in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

*With agnecy inputs