Date: August 25, 2025
Location: Khan Younis, Gaza
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital, one of southern Gaza’s largest medical facilities, has left at least 15 to 19 people dead, including four journalists who were reporting from the scene. The attack marks one of the deadliest single incidents for media workers since the war began nearly two years ago.
Journalists Among the Victims
Local officials confirmed the identities of the journalists killed in the strike:
- Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelance visual journalist who frequently documented the impact of the war on children.
- Mohammed Salam, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, known for reporting from some of Gaza’s most devastated neighborhoods.
- Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman working with Reuters, killed during the initial strike.
- Moaz Abu Taha, believed to have been working with international media outlets.
Another journalist, Hatem Khaled, a Reuters photographer, was injured when a second missile struck moments later as rescue teams rushed in to help survivors.
Details of the Attack
Witnesses reported that the first missile hit the hospital’s fourth floor, followed shortly by a second strike in the same location while journalists and medics were already on site. The dual strikes caused widespread destruction and a surge of casualties among patients, staff, and those documenting the scene.
Deadliest War Zone for Media
The Committee to Protect Journalists has described Gaza as one of the deadliest places in the world for media professionals. Since the start of the Israel–Hamas war, more than 190 journalists—possibly over 240—have been killed. Advocates say this tragedy underscores the dangers faced by reporters covering the conflict and the urgent need for accountability.
Responses and Condemnations
The Israeli military acknowledged the strike in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital and stated that it would conduct an investigation. Officials insisted that journalists are never deliberately targeted and that every effort is made to avoid civilian casualties.
Palestinian journalist associations, however, condemned the attack as “an open war on the press,” calling for international intervention to protect media workers in conflict zones.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The hospital bombing comes as Gaza’s health system teeters on collapse. With food, medicine, and fuel in short supply, hospitals are struggling to treat the wounded while also sheltering thousands of displaced civilians. Just days earlier, dozens of Palestinians were killed in separate attacks across the enclave as aid shortages worsen and the humanitarian crisis grows more severe.
A Blow to Press Freedom
The loss of these journalists is not only a personal tragedy for their families and colleagues but also a blow to global press freedom. Their reporting served as a lifeline to the outside world, documenting the human toll of the war. Their deaths highlight the peril journalists face in pursuit of truth—and the devastating consequences when even hospitals cease to be safe havens.
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