An Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital in Gaza has resulted in at least 15 deaths, including four journalists, as reported by the civil defence agency in the conflict-ridden region.
Agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal stated that an Israeli explosive drone hit the building in Khan Yunis during the evacuation of the wounded.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate issued a strong statement mourning the journalists’ deaths, labeling the incident a ‘massacre’.
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It was reported that 244 journalists have died since the Gaza war began nearly two years ago, following a large-scale attack by Hamas on Israel, which led to Israel declaring war on the Palestinian group.
The journalists killed in today’s strike are identified as:
1. Hussam al-Masri
Hussam al-Masri, a photographer for Palestine TV, also worked as a contractor with Reuters.
“We are heartbroken to hear of the death of Reuters contractor Hussam al-Masri and the injuries to another contractor, Hatem Khaled, during Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital,” a Reuters spokesperson stated.
“We are urgently seeking more information and have requested assistance from authorities in Gaza and Israel for Hatem’s medical needs,” the spokesperson added.
This incident is not the first involving a Reuters journalist. The agency reported that an Israeli tank crew killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, 37, and injured six reporters in Lebanon on October 13, 2023, by firing two shells while they were documenting cross-border shelling.
2. Mohammad Salama
Mohammad Salama was a photographer for Al Jazeera TV.
A spokesperson for the Qatar-based network confirmed his death in the attack on the medical complex.
Earlier this month, another Israeli strike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital killed seven journalists, including five Al Jazeera correspondents.
Among them were Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, whose dedicated frontline reporting was crucial in bringing Gaza’s war stories to a global audience.
Mariam Abo Dagga
Mariam Abo Dagga, a 33-year-old Palestinian journalist, reported for outlets like Independent Arabia and the Associated Press.
The AP expressed shock and sadness over Mariam’s death, adding that she was a freelancer for them but not on assignment when she died.
“Dagga, who has a 12-year-old son evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war, often reported from Nasser, focusing on the hospital’s efforts to save children from starvation,” it added.
Moaz Abu Taha
Moaz Abu Taha was a journalist for NBC TV Network.
Besides the four journalists killed, the attack injured several others, including photojournalists Hatem Omar (working for Reuters and other outlets) and Jamal Badah of Palestine Today TV.
(With inputs from Reuters, AFP)
