An airstrike conducted by Israel targeted the main hospital in southern Gaza on Monday, resulting in the deaths of 19 individuals, including four journalists, as reported by Zaher al-Waheid, the head of the records department at the Gaza Health Ministry. The tragic incident occurred on the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where one missile struck followed by another shortly after as rescue teams arrived, according to the ministry.
Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza, has endured repeated attacks and bombings over the course of 22 months of conflict, facing significant shortages of supplies and personnel. Among the casualties were four journalists, including Mariam Dagga, a 33-year-old visual journalist associated with The Associated Press since the conflict’s inception. Dagga, a freelancer, recently highlighted the struggles of Nasser Hospital doctors in saving children who were inexplicably succumbing to starvation despite no prior health issues.
Journalistic outlets confirmed the loss of their staff in the strike, with Al Jazeera disclosing the death of journalist Mohammed Salam and Reuters reporting the demise of their contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri, while photographer Hatem Khaled, also a Reuters contractor, sustained injuries.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has proven deadly for media personnel, with a total of 192 journalists perishing in Gaza, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. At this time, neither the Israeli military nor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has responded to inquiries regarding the airstrikes.
In addition to the casualties at Nasser Hospital, reports emerged of further deaths at hospitals in northern Gaza due to strikes and gunfire along aid routes. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed the deaths of three Palestinians, including a child, in a strike as Israel prepares for a potential ground invasion in the coming days. Al-Awda Hospital also reported six aid-seekers killed by Israeli gunfire while attempting to reach a distribution point in central Gaza, with 15 others wounded.
The safety of hospitals in Gaza has been compromised throughout the two-year conflict, with multiple medical facilities coming under attack or facing raids. Israel has defended its actions by claiming to target militants within these hospitals. Previous instances include strikes on Nasser Hospital resulting in casualties, with the military citing the presence of Hamas operatives inside the facilities.
The health ministry’s latest figures indicate a death toll of at least 62,686 Palestinians in the war, without distinguishing between combatants and civilians, although it notes that a significant portion of those killed are women and children. Meanwhile, the UN and independent experts regard the health ministry’s data as the most reliable source on casualties, a figure disputed by Israel, which has yet to provide alternative statistics.
The conflict originated when Hamas-affiliated militants kidnapped 251 individuals and caused the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, on October 7, 2023. While most hostages have been released through ceasefires or negotiations, around 50 individuals remain in Gaza, with an estimated 20 still alive.
Israel recently dismissed a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, which declared a state of famine in Gaza City and neighboring areas, attributing the situation to Israel’s humanitarian efforts. The IPC highlighted that around 514,000 individuals, nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population, are currently facing famine, a number anticipated to escalate to 641,000 by September’s end.