Israel claimed that a strike that hit a hospital, killing 20 people, including five journalists, was targeting a Hamas observation camera.
Israel faced intense international scrutiny after footage emerged of what initially appeared to be a double-tap strike targeting Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, resulting in one of the single greatest losses of life of journalists in a modern conflict in a single strike. Jerusalem gave a rare apology after the attack, elaborating on the intended target on Tuesday.
According to the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the strike was targeting a camera being used by Hamas “to observe the activity of IDF troops, in order to direct terrorist activities against them.”
Zamir said this was “further supported” by Hamas’s previous use of hospitals “by the terrorist organizations throughout the war, and by intelligence confirming Hamas’s use of the Nasser Hospital to carry out terrorist activities since the start of the war.”
Zamir also claimed that six “terrorists” had been killed in the airstrike, including one who had infiltrated Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. His statement didn’t suggest that the six had been the targets of the strike, however.
Among the 20 killed in the strike were journalists Mariam Dagga, a freelance journalist affiliated with the Associated Press; Hussam al Masri, a cameraman with Reuters; Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist affiliated with Reuters; Mohammed Salama, a reporter attached to Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye; and Ahmad Abu Aziz, another journalist affiliated with Middle East Eye.
The attack was notable due to a second airstrike, which hit the hospital as first responders were attempting to recover the victims. The second strike was caught on a livestream.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a rare apology after the strike, stating that “Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza.”
“Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home,” he added.
ISRAELI STRIKE ON GAZA HOSPITAL KILLS OVER A DOZEN PEOPLE, INCLUDING MULTIPLE JOURNALISTS
The IDF’s Tuesday statement didn’t address the reasoning for the follow-up strike or whether it was intended as a double-tap hit.
A United Nations report in August found that Gaza’s healthcare system was in a “catastrophic” state, with no remaining hospitals fully functioning and less than half partially functioning. Israel maintains that Hamas uses public health infrastructure for military operations.
