Israel’s strikes on Gaza hospital
Israel’s strikes on Gaza hospital in southern Gaza killed no fewer than 20 people, including five journalists, according to the Gaza health ministry and the media organisations the journalists worked for.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was struck twice yesterday in what has been described as a “double-tap” attack.
The initial strike hit the top floor of a building at Nasser Hospital. Minutes later, as journalists and rescue workers rushed to the scene, a second missile struck the same location, according to Dr. Ahmed al Farra, head of the hospital’s paediatrics department.
Al Jazeera, the Associated Press (AP), and Reuters said their journalists were among those killed.
A British consultant surgeon, who worked at the Nasser Hospital earlier this summer, described the attack yesterday morning as “barbarism in the extreme”.
Consultant surgeon Professor Nick Maynard told Sky News it was a “typical double strike that the Israelis use frequently”. It targets an area, then hits it shortly afterwards, often when emergency services respond, he explained.
The Israeli military said its troops carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and that it would conduct an investigation into the incident. The military said it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such”.
In a further statement, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin said: “We are aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists. I would like to be clear from the start – the IDF does not intentionally target civilians.
“The IDF makes every effort to mitigate harm to civilians, while ensuring the safety of our troops.” He said forces were “operating in an extremely complex reality” and that Hamas “deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields”.
He said the findings of Israel’s investigation will be presented “as transparently as possible”.
Mariam Dagga, 33, a visual journalist who freelanced for AP during the war, as well as other news outlets, was killed in the strike. AP said in a statement that it was shocked and saddened by the death of Dagga and the loss of other journalists.
Credit: The Nation
