Israeli airstrikes targeted Nasser Hospital in Gaza on Monday, killing at least 15 people according to Palestinian health officials. Among the dead were four journalists, including Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman working as a contractor for the international news agency Reuters. The attack involved multiple strikes, with a second strike wounding another Reuters contractor, photographer Hatem Khaled.
Witnesses at the scene described a devastating sequence of events, noting that the second strike occurred after rescue workers, journalists, and other civilians had rushed to the site to aid victims of the initial explosion. Reuters confirmed the severity of the incident through its own footage, which showed its live video feed from the hospital—operated by the late al-Masri—abruptly cutting off at the precise moment of the first strike.
The other three journalists killed in the attack were identified by Gaza health officials as Mariam Abu Dagga, Mohammed Salama, and Moaz Abu Taha. A rescue worker was also among the fatalities. The Israeli military and the Prime Minister’s Office did not provide an immediate comment regarding the strikes or the casualties.
This event underscores the immense peril faced by journalists in the conflict zone. According to the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate, more than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire since the war began on October 7, 2023, making it one of the deadliest periods for members of the press globally.
