The Israeli military‘s claim that it targeted a Hamas surveillance camera in a double-tap attack on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, killing six fighters, has been disputed by Hamas.
According to the Palestinian group, none of the 21 people killed in the attack were members of the movement. In fact, Hamas stated that at least two of the six Palestinians named by the Israeli military were not killed in the hospital attack, but rather at different times and locations, including one who was killed in al-Mawasi, some distance from the hospital in Khan Yunis.
The Israeli military’s “initial investigation” into the attack claimed that the target was a camera positioned in the area and used by Hamas to monitor Israeli troop movements. “In light of this, the force acted to destroy the camera,” the Israeli army said.
However, this claim has been met with skepticism, particularly given the devastating consequences of the attack.
The double-tap strike, which involved an initial bombing followed by a second strike minutes later, killed rescue workers and journalists who had rushed to the scene to help the victims of the initial attack.
The attack resulted in the deaths of five journalists, including Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman for Reuters, Ahmed Abu Aziz, Mariam Abu Daqqa, Mohammad Salama, and Moaz Abu Taha.
Al-Masri was killed in the first strike, while the others were killed in the second strike while trying to assist the victims. The killings have drawn widespread condemnation, with human rights groups accusing the Israeli military of committing war crimes in its indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza.
A recent report found that 83 percent of all those killed since Israel began its war on the enclave have been civilians.
The attack on Nasser Hospital is part of a larger pattern of violence against journalists in Gaza. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 189 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza in 22 months of fighting.
The war in Gaza has been one of the deadliest for journalists, with many more injured or displaced. The targeting of journalists and medical workers is a serious concern, and the Israeli military’s actions have been widely criticized as a violation of international law.
In response to the attack, Eman Hillis wrote an opinion piece calling for action to be taken to hold Israel accountable for the deaths of Palestinian journalists. “Don’t mourn the deaths of Palestinian journalists. Don’t offer condolences.
Act, stop Israel, and hold journalists’ murderers to account,” Hillis wrote. The international community has a responsibility to protect journalists and ensure that those responsible for their deaths are held accountable.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with ongoing violence and displacement. The attack on Nasser Hospital is just one example of the many humanitarian crises facing the Palestinian people.
As the conflict continues, it is essential to prioritize the protection of civilians, including journalists, and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.