Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza
Gaza, Aug 26: At least 20 people, including five journalists, were killed in a deadly strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital on Monday, prompting Israel to pledge a full investigation into what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described as a “tragic mishap.”
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said the army “does not intentionally target civilians” and stressed that every effort is made “to mitigate harm while ensuring troop safety.” He admitted awareness of civilian casualties, including journalists, adding, “Reporting from an active war zone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organisation such as Hamas, who cynically hides behind the civilian population. We regret any harm to uninvolved individuals.”
Witnesses said the first missile hit an upper floor, killing at least two people, followed by a second strike on a stairwell as journalists and rescuers rushed to the site. Among those killed were Associated Press visual journalist Mariam Dagga, 33, and a Reuters cameraman broadcasting live at the time. Dramatic footage aired by Al Ghad captured their final moments.
Israeli media reported that troops had targeted what they believed was a Hamas surveillance camera on the hospital roof — a spot frequently used by international reporters. Both the Associated Press and Reuters issued a joint statement demanding accountability, saying, “We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims… These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing critical work bearing witness.”
The strike drew swift international condemnation. The United Nations, Britain and France denounced the attack, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “not happy about it” and hoped for a “conclusive ending” to the war soon.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said 189 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the conflict began, calling Israel’s actions “the most horrific attacks the press has ever faced in recent history.” The Foreign Press Association also urged Israel to stop what it termed the “abhorrent practice of targeting journalists.”
The war, now in its 22nd month, erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault that killed 1,200 people in Israel and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel says Hamas still holds 50 captives and continues to use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as cover.