Israel has struck Nasser Hospital within the south of the Gaza Strip, killing not less than 21 folks, together with 5 journalists, in addition to medics and rescue staff, within the newest deliberate assault on civilians and the besieged enclave’s decimated well being system.
Monday’s assault, which killed journalists who labored for Al Jazeera, the Reuters and Related Press (AP) information businesses, and others, was among the many deadliest of a large number of Israeli strikes which have focused each hospitals and media staff over the course of the practically two-year genocidal assault.
It comes as Israel widens its offensive to closely populated areas and concrete centres, together with Gaza City, rising the already heightened peril for the inhabitants.
The primary strike of the “double-tap” assault, the place one strike is adopted by a second quickly after, hit the highest ground of a constructing at Nasser Hospital. Minutes later, as journalists and rescuers in orange vests rushed up an exterior staircase, a second projectile hit, mentioned Dr Ahmed al-Farra, the pinnacle of the paediatrics division.
Among the many journalists killed have been Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Salama, Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, Mariam Abu Daqqa, a contract journalist working for AP on the time, in addition to Ahmed Abu Aziz and Moaz Abu Taha.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, mentioned the assault has “despatched the complete space into an absolute sense of chaos and panic”.
“Not just for passers-by or folks dwelling within the neighborhood of the hospital, however for the sufferers themselves, who’re receiving therapy in one of many areas that should be protected below … worldwide humanitarian legislation,” Abu Azzoum mentioned.
The assault was met with widespread global condemnation, together with from press freedom teams and rights advocates, who expressed outrage over Israel’s repeated focused killings of Palestinian journalists in Gaza.
Al Jazeera condemned the assault as “a transparent intent to bury the reality”.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations particular rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, additionally decried the assault.
“Rescuers killed in line of responsibility. Scenes like this unfold each second in Gaza, usually unseen, largely undocumented,” Albanese mentioned.
“I encourage states: how rather more should be witnessed earlier than you act to cease this carnage? Break the blockade. Impose an Arms Embargo. Impose Sanctions.”
Israel’s allies, akin to France, Germany and the UK, have referred to as for an investigation.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate additionally condemned Israel for the strikes, saying it represented “an open battle towards free media, with the goal of terrorising journalists and stopping them from fulfilling their skilled responsibility of exposing its crimes to the world”.
The assault raises the loss of life toll of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 to not less than 273, based on an Al Jazeera tally.
The Committee to Shield Journalists referred to as for “the worldwide neighborhood to carry Israel accountable for its continued illegal assaults on the press”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned the strike was a “tragic mishap”, and that the army was investigating it. Israel has usually issued related statements after incidents that drew worldwide outrage and requires UN investigations, however precise accountability for the perpetrators is unparalleled.
Israeli forces additionally killed Palestinian correspondent Hassan Douhan, who labored for the Al-Hayat al-Jadida publication, in a separate incident in Khan Younis afterward Monday, bringing the loss of life toll of journalists killed that day to 6.
Two weeks in the past, Israel killed distinguished Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif and 4 different journalists in a strike. In that assault, Israel acknowledged concentrating on Sharif and falsely alleged he labored for Hamas, with out offering any proof, after having brazenly maligned and condemned him for months earlier than murdering him.
Nasser Hospital has withstood raids and bombardment in the course of the battle, with officers repeatedly noting crucial shortages of provides and employees amid a crippling assist blockade. Different hospitals have additionally come below assault, together with al-Shifa Medical Complex, the enclave’s foremost hospital, the place Israel has killed a whole lot.
Dying, desperation and famine stalk enclave
Israeli assaults throughout the famine-struck territory have killed not less than 61 folks since daybreak on Monday, together with seven folks desperately looking for assist.
Tanks have been advancing in Gaza Metropolis, the place Israeli forces have been intensifying assaults in a bid to power practically 1 million Palestinians there southwards into focus zones.
Gaza’s Civil Defence mentioned that Israel had destroyed 1,000 buildings in Gaza City since August 6, trapping a whole lot below the rubble, whereas ongoing shelling and blocked entry routes prevented many rescue and assist operations.
The al-Awda Hospital mentioned Israeli gunfire additionally killed six assist seekers making an attempt to achieve a distribution level in central Gaza and wounded one other 15.
Israeli forces have been routinely opening hearth on hungry Palestinians as they try to safe meagre assist parcels on the controversial Israeli and United States-backed GHF websites.
In accordance with Gaza’s Ministry of Well being, greater than 2,000 Palestinians have been killed and a few 13,500 wounded whereas looking for assist at distribution factors or alongside convoy routes utilized by the UN and different assist teams.
Al-Awda mentioned that two Israeli strikes in central Gaza killed six Palestinians, together with a toddler, whereas al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis mentioned three Palestinians, together with a toddler, have been killed in a strike there.
The relentless assaults proceed because the UN warns that malnutrition amongst youngsters in Gaza is deepening.
The UN’s humanitarian workplace (OCHA) renewed requires the unrestricted circulate of assist into and inside Gaza.
“With famine situations now confirmed in Gaza governorate, starvation and malnutrition amongst youngsters are deepening,” OCHA mentioned.
“Companions engaged on vitamin be aware that in any meals disaster, youngsters with underlying well being situations are affected first – and with out correct vitamin, water and care, their situation worsens extra shortly.”
Chris McIntosh, Oxfam’s humanitarian response adviser in Gaza, has described the state of affairs as unprecedented in scale and severity.
“It’s tough to not overuse superlatives on this context, however really, it is a singular humanitarian catastrophe and the worst disaster that I’ve ever been a part of… by far,” he mentioned.
Within the meantime, US President Donald Trump has predicted that the battle on Gaza may see a “conclusive end” inside two to a few weeks. Related claims have shortly fallen by the wayside as Washington’s full army and diplomatic backing of Israel’s genocidal battle reveals no indicators of abating.
“It’s received to recover from with as a result of between the starvation and all the different issues – worse than starvation, loss of life, pure loss of life – folks [are] being killed,” Trump mentioned.
