In brief
A double Israeli strike hit Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, resulting in the death of 20 individuals, including several journalists. The incident occurred during a chaotic scene as first responders rushed to aid victims of the initial strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the occurrence a 'tragic mishap', while various international leaders and organizations express outrage over the targeting of reporters in conflict zones.
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 said military authorities were 'conducting a thorough investigation.'
The first strike hit at around 10:00 local time, medical staff at Nasser said. There was 'mass panic... chaos', said a British medical professional working at the hospital who was treating patients in the intensive care unit at the time. Approximately 10 minutes later there was another blast in the same spot, the medical professional said, adding that medical staff had been planning their escape from the building when the second strike hit.
The hospital's emergency department, inpatient ward, and surgical unit were hit, according to the World Health Organization. Its head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the emergency staircase was also damaged.
A livestream by Al Ghad TV shows several emergency workers responding to the first strike near the top floor of Nasser Hospital, as a number of journalists in the background film what's happening.
Additionally, footage confirmed the second strike occurred as emergency personnel and reporters rushed to assist victims of the first explosion.
Israel does not allow international news organizations, including the BBC, to report freely from Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) states that over 190 journalists have been killed during the war, the majority being Palestinians in Israeli attacks.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings as highlighting the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face while reporting in conflict zones. Calls for a prompt and impartial investigation have been issued.
