Israel says it ‘regrets’ deaths as airstrike hits Gaza hospital, killing journalists

Israel said it is investigating how an airstrike hit one of Gaza’s main hospitals on Monday, insisting it was not targeting journalists or civilians killed in the blast.

Israel’s chief of the general staff has already ordered an inquiry after multiple missiles hit the Nasser Hospital — the largest in southern Gaza — on Monday. Hamas-tied Palestinian health officials said that at least 20 people were killed, including four journalists.

“The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such,” the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement

“The IDF acts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible while maintaining the safety of IDF troops.”

The military didn’t immediately confirm who the intended target was.

Among those killed in the blast were journalists who worked for Reuters, the Associated Press and Al Jazeera, according to the outlets and Palestinian health officials.

Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed in one of the strikes. Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who had freelanced for the AP, also died. Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Salam was also among the journalists killed, with Palestinian IDing the fourth as Moaz Abu Taha.

Witnesses said a second strike unfolded soon after rescue workers, journalists and others had rushed to the site of the initial attack.

Photographer Hatem Khaled, who was also a Reuters contractor, was wounded in a second strike, the outlet said.

“We are devastated to learn of the death of Reuters contractor Hussam al-Masri and injuries to another of our contractors, Hatem Khaled, in Israeli strikes on the Nasser hospital in Gaza today,” a Reuters spokesperson said.

“We are urgently seeking more information and have asked authorities in Gaza and Israel to help us get urgent medical assistance for Hatem.” 

A strike on Nasser Hospital in June killed three people and wounded 10, according to health officials.

At the time, Israel’s military said it had been targeting Hamas militants operating from a command and control center inside the hospital. 

More than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the war started on October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn’t commented on the latest strike.

With Post wires