LONDON — Five journalists were among at least 21 people killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday morning, officials at the Hamas-run Gaza Government Media Office and Health Ministry said.
The strike occurred at the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the health ministry said.
Mariam Dagga, 33, who had been working as a freelance journalist for The Associated Press since the conflict began in October 2022, was among the journalists killed, the AP reported, saying it was “shocked and saddened” by the deaths.
Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Salama was killed, Al Jazeera Media Network confirmed, saying in a statement that it “condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this horrific crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, who have directly targeted and assassinated journalists as part of a systematic campaign to silence the truth.”
Ahmad Abu Aziz, Middle East Eye’s primary correspondent in southern Gaza, was among the journalists killed, the U.K.-based outlet confirmed. The 28-year-old Gazan “relentlessly reported” from Gaza while working through “pain, displacement, hunger and bombardment,” the outlet said.
Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman contracted with Reuters, and Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work had been sometimes published by Reuters, were also killed in the hospital strike, a Reuters spokesperson confirmed, saying they are “devastated” to learn of their deaths. Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled, was also injured, the spokesperson said.
“We are urgently seeking more information and have asked authorities in Gaza and Israel to help us get urgent medical assistance for Hatem,” the Reuters spokesperson said in a statement.
At least 16 other people were also killed in the strike on the hospital, according to Gaza’s health ministry. They included four health workers, according to the World Health Organization. Fifty others, including critically ill patients, were also injured, it said.
“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians.”
He continued, “The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home.”
The IDF issued a statement confirming that it launched a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital and regrets “any harm to uninvolved individuals” in its fight against Hamas.
“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,” IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in a statement. “The IDF makes every effort to mitigate harm to civilians, while ensuring the safety of our troops.”
Defrin said the IDF’s chief of the general staff had ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident “to understand the circumstances of what happened and how it happened.’
“Reporting from an active warzone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization such as Hamas, who cynically hides behind the civilian population. As always, we will present our findings as transparently as possible,” Defrin said.
ABC News’ Diaa Ostaz, Camilla Alcini and Dorit Long contributed to this report.
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