Khan Younis, Gaza: A deadly Israeli airstrike on Monday struck the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza, killing at least 15 people, including three journalists, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry reported that the victims were killed in a “double-tap” strike, with a second missile hitting the same location moments after the first, as rescue teams were arriving to aid the injured.
Among the journalists killed were one from Al Jazeera and one from Reuters. Palestinian media named the journalists, including a Reuters contractor, Hossam Al-Masri. Another Reuters contractor, Hatem Khaled, was wounded. Al Jazeera confirmed that journalist Mohammad Salama was also killed in the strike.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the attack. While Israel has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting hospitals, multiple medical facilities throughout Gaza have been struck during the 22-month conflict. Israel has consistently asserted that it targets militants operating from within these hospitals, although it has not provided evidence to support these claims.
Nasser Hospital, located in Khan Younis, has been a central point of the ongoing conflict, enduring numerous raids and bombardments despite facing critical shortages of medical supplies and staff. A previous strike on the hospital in June resulted in three deaths and ten injuries.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated on Sunday that the total death toll from the conflict has reached at least 62,686 Palestinians. The ministry’s figures, which do not differentiate between fighters and civilians but estimate that roughly half are women and children, are considered the most reliable source on casualties by the UN and independent experts. Israel disputes these numbers but has not released its own data.