A double Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza killed 20 people, including journalists and health workers, according to the outlets they worked for, the World Health Organization, and the Hamas-run health ministry.
At least one person was killed in an initial strike, and others in a second attack minutes later as rescuers and journalists attended the scene at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
The five journalists worked for international media outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye.
Later on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a 'tragic mishap' which Israel 'deeply regrets' and stated that military authorities were 'conducting a thorough investigation'.
The first strike hit at around 10:00 local time, medical staff at Nasser reported. There was 'mass panic... chaos,' stated a medical professional working at the hospital, who was treating patients in the intensive care unit at the time.
Approximately 10 minutes later, a second explosion swelled amid the panic as medical staff were planning their escape from the building. The hospital's emergency department, inpatient ward, and surgical unit were impacted, according to the World Health Organization.
Eyewitness accounts describe bloody chaos and disbelief, especially with the evident targeting of reporters and medical staff. Following the strikes, international reactions intensified.
UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the incident as a 'horrific killing' and called for a prompt and impartial investigation. Meanwhile, media freedom groups have criticized the continued targeting of journalists in the ongoing conflict.
The double strike is raising significant concerns about military tactics in civilian areas, leading to demands for accountability and stricter measures to protect non-combatants during military operations.
