At least 15 people, including four journalists, were killed on Monday in an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local health authorities and media outlets.
Those killed included Reuters cameraman Husam al-Masri, freelance AP journalist Mariam Dagga, Al Jazeera reporter Mohammed Salameh, and photographer Muath Abu Taha.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the deaths as part of a “devastating trend” of attacks on media workers in Gaza.
Witnesses reported that an initial missile hit the fourth floor of the hospital, followed by a second strike as rescuers rushed to help victims.
Graphic footage showed chaos in and around the hospital: smoke pouring from upper levels, glass shattering from blasts, and injured civilians dragging themselves to safety.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence said one of its members also died in the attack.
The UN Human Rights Office condemned the strike, warning that repeated attacks on hospitals and journalists risk breaching international humanitarian law.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it carried out the strike, saying it had ordered an investigation, while stressing that it “does not target journalists as such.”
However, the IDF previously alleged that some reporters in Gaza were tied to Hamas, an accusation media organizations and press watchdogs say lacks evidence.
The latest incident comes just two weeks after six journalists, including four from Al Jazeera, were killed near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City during another Israeli attack.
Since the war began in October 2023, more than 62,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while around 200 journalists have lost their lives covering the conflict.
The war was triggered by the October 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
International calls are growing for Israel to allow foreign press access to Gaza, as concerns mount over press freedom and civilian protection in the conflict.