Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed regret over a deadly strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital that killed at least 20 people, including five journalists, and left several others injured.
In a statement released on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Netanyahu described the incident as a “tragic mishap,” while stressing that Israel does not target civilians.
“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,” the Prime Minister said. “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.”
The Prime Minister’s office also shared the same message across its official channels.
Journalists Among the Dead
Reports from Palestinian health officials earlier confirmed that at least 15 people had initially been killed in the strike, four of them journalists. Later updates raised the death toll to 20, with five confirmed journalist fatalities.
According to The Guardian, those killed included:
- Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman
- Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelance reporter with the Associated Press
- Mohammed Salam, an Al Jazeera journalist
- Moaz Abu Taha, a contributor with NBC
Another Reuters photographer, Hatem Khaled, was severely wounded.
Footage broadcast on Al-Ghad TV showed rescuers and fellow journalists in high-visibility vests rushing to recover al-Masri’s body before they too came under fire. In heartbreaking scenes, the rescuers could be seen raising their hands in a final attempt to shield themselves before being struck.
Mounting Deaths of Journalists in Gaza
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killings, accusing Israel of pursuing a “deliberate and systematic attempt to silence reporting from Gaza.”
Since the war began on October 7, 2023, CPJ records show:
- 192 Palestinian journalists killed
- 3 Lebanese journalists killed
- 2 Israeli journalists killed
The figures mean Gaza has become the deadliest conflict zone for journalists in modern history, surpassing the combined totals of journalist deaths in the World Wars, the Vietnam War, the Yugoslav conflicts, and the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Statistics compiled by Al Jazeera and CPJ highlight:
- October 2023: 44 journalists killed (16% of total deaths)
- November 2023: 32 journalists killed
- December 2023: 37 journalists killed
- January 2024: 17 journalists killed
CPJ further noted that in 2024 alone, Gaza accounted for nearly one-third of all journalist deaths worldwide.
Israel Faces Global Criticism
In addition to the rising death toll, Israel has faced heavy criticism for barring foreign journalists from entering Gaza, a restriction that major international newsrooms say has hampered independent coverage of the war.
The latest incident at Nasser Hospital has intensified calls from press freedom groups and humanitarian organizations for Israel to safeguard civilians and ensure accountability in its military operations.
