Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
At least 15 people, including five journalists, were killed on Monday in two Israeli airstrikes near Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza, according to officials from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The targeted area, adjacent to one of the few remaining operational hospitals in the enclave, was struck twice in close succession.
Among the dead was photojournalist Hossam Al-Masri, a freelance contributor for Reuters, who was killed in the first strike. A live video feed from the hospital, managed by Al-Masri, abruptly cut off at the moment of the explosion. A second strike occurred shortly afterward, injuring another Reuters freelancer, photographer Hatem Khaled, as rescue workers and journalists rushed to the scene of the initial blast.
According to medical sources and the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, the journalists killed in the attacks are:
- Hossam Al-Masri, photojournalist with Reuters
- Mohammed Salama, photojournalist with Al Jazeera
- Maryam Abu Daqa, journalist with Independent Arabia and the Associated Press
- Moaz Abu Taha, correspondent with NBC News
- Ahmed Matar, freelance journalist
Eyewitnesses reported that the second strike targeted a crowd that had gathered following the first, a tactic often referred to as a “double-tap” strike, which has drawn international criticism for endangering first responders and civilians.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate stated that more than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks since the war began on October 7, 2023—a toll that continues to rise amid intensifying hostilities.
Nasser Medical Complex, already under immense pressure due to the months-long conflict, now faces further operational challenges. The hospital has been a lifeline for thousands of patients in southern Gaza, despite shortages in fuel, medicine, and staff.
There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the latest strikes.
The killing of journalists has prompted renewed calls from international human rights groups and press freedom organizations for independent investigations and for stronger safeguards to protect media workers in conflict zones.
