Israeli airstrikes on Gaza’s Khan Younis area struck Nasser Hospital, the largest functioning medical facility, killing 22 people, including five journalists.
The latest killings sparked international condemnation and led to a rare expression of regret from the Israeli government.
The journalists were covering the conflict for major global news organizations, including The Associated Press, Reuters, and Al Jazeera Arabic. At the time of the attack, they were positioned on the hospital’s fourth-floor stairwell alongside first responders and medical staff.
The first strike hit the hospital around 10 a.m., as Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri was operating a live feed capturing Israeli military activity, including tank movements in the heavily bombarded city. Minutes later, a second missile, reportedly fired from a tank, hit the same location just as rescue workers and other journalists arrived to assist the wounded. The moment of the second strike was caught live on a separate camera operated by Al-Ghad news.
.@WHO received reports of two strikes on the Nasser Medical Complex this morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people, including four health workers and five journalists. Fifty others were injured, among them critically ill patients who were already receiving care.
The… pic.twitter.com/XzTM4u0pAt
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 25, 2025
Among the victims was Mariam Abu Dagga, a journalist with The Associated Press. Other journalists killed include Mohammad Salama of Al Jazeera, Moaz Abu Taha, and Ahmed Abu Aziz, a freelance reporter for outlets in Tunisia and Morocco.
The attack drew strong criticism from the world diplomatic and media organizations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the strikes, calling attention to the dangers faced by journalists and medical staff in the conflict. He reiterated demands for their protection under international humanitarian law and called for a prompt, impartial investigation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the deadly airstrikes and called for a prompt and impartial investigation.
Reuters and the Associated Press wrote directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military officials, demanding a full and transparent investigation. Their letter expressed outrage at the deaths and questioned the credibility of Israeli self-investigations, noting that previous inquiries have rarely led to accountability or clarity. They also suggested the possibility of Israel deliberately targeting live media feeds to suppress reporting.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Foreign Press Association representing hundreds of journalists also condemned the strike, calling it a potential turning point and denouncing Israel’s ongoing restrictions on foreign press access to Gaza.
Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin acknowledged the strikes but claimed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) do not intentionally target civilians. He added that the IDF “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement expressing “deep regret” over the “tragic mishap” and voiced respect for the work of journalists and medical professionals.
UN Secretary General Guterres again urged an immediate and lasting ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, and the unconditional release of all hostages. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Hospital
UN Declares Famine in Gaza; Calls it Man-Made Catastrophe amid Widespread Starvation
Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 62,700 Palestinians. The ongoing war has devastated the territory, which now faces a humanitarian catastrophe, including famine.
The war broke out on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militant attacked southern Israel. According to Israeli officials, 1200 people were killed in the attack while militants took with them around 250 people as hostages.
Besides devastation of the war, Gaza is also facing a humanitarian catastrophe in the wake of five-month-old Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory. Last week, the United Nations declared that Gaza is facing famine as essential food and medical supplies allowed by Israeli are woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the displaced and starving people.
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Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
