Global Outcry After Israeli Strike on Khan Yunis Hospital Kills 20 Including Five Journalists

A deadly Israeli strike on the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Yunis has triggered widespread international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of Israel's military conduct in Gaza, after at least 20 people were killed, including five journalists working for international media outlets.

The incident occurred on Monday and involved two consecutive strikes on the hospital area, according to Palestinian health authorities. Victims reportedly included Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Associated Press photographers. The attack drew sharp reactions from global media organizations, press freedom groups, and foreign governments, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to carrying out the strike but maintained that the area was being used by Hamas militants.

IDF: “Tragic Mishap” 

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Dufferin released a video statement confirming that the military targeted the area around the hospital, stating:

“The IDF does not intend to harm civilians. We are operating in a very complex reality where Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields. They operated from within the hospital itself.”

Dufferin said that Israel, as a professional army committed to international law, would investigate the incident thoroughly. He added that the IDF deplores any harm to civilians and journalists, and does not target them deliberately.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mishap” and emphasized Israel’s appreciation for the work of medical personnel and journalists.

“Our war is against Hamas terrorists. Our goal is to defeat Hamas and bring our hostages home,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued in English.

International Media and Watchdogs Demand Answers

The incident received extensive coverage by major global media outlets. BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CBS all led with reports of the hospital strike.

• BBC's headline read: “20 killed in Israeli attack on hospital – including five journalists.”

• CNN reported two consecutive Israeli strikes on the hospital, citing Palestinian Health Ministry claims that journalists and emergency responders were hit minutes apart.

• The New York Times noted that the IDF failed to specify the target or reason for the attack and has not confirmed whether two separate strikes took place.

• CBS reported that Israeli strikes on hospitals in Gaza are "not uncommon," and questioned Israel’s lack of evidence for previous claims of Hamas activity inside medical facilities.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that 192 journalists have been killed since the war began, calling this the deadliest conflict for journalists in recent history.

Journalists snd doctors Among the Dea

According to Hamas’ Government Media Office, the journalists killed in the strike include:

• Hussam al-Masri – Reuters photographer

• Mohammed Salameh – Al Jazeera photographer

• Miriam Abu Daka – Freelance journalist, Associated Press contributor

Others killed in the strike included hospital staff and members of emergency response teams who arrived after the first explosion.

A recording broadcast live online appears to show the moment of the strike on the Eliasin building inside the Nasser Hospital complex. Security sources stated that the IDF identified a threat from within the hospital compound, prompting the decision to strike.

At noon on Tuesday, the IDF confirmed that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.

“The IDF deplores any harm to uninvolved people and in no way directs attacks at journalists as such,” said a spokesperson. “We are working to minimize harm while ensuring the safety of our forces.”

Use of Artillery Under Scrutiny

Military sources believe the hospital was hit by shell fire, but it remains unclear whether the munitions came from a tank or artillery cannon. The IDF has largely ceased artillery fire in populated areas following a series of similar incidents earlier in the war.

Under IDF rules of engagement, hospitals are classified as 'sensitive sites' that cannot be attacked without direct authorization from senior command and only following a series of verifications — rules that may not have been followed in this case.

Turkey, Others Condemn “Attack on Press Freedom”

International reactions were swift. A spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of committing another war crime:

“This was not just an attack on civilians — it was an attack on press freedom. Israel is under the illusion that it can hide the truth by targeting journalists.”

Several media outlets noted that Israel has banned international journalists from entering Gaza independently since the start of the war, only allowing limited access under IDF escort, which further complicates the reporting of such incidents.

As international pressure mounts and new footage circulates, the IDF’s internal probe — and whether it leads to accountability — will be closely watched. The deaths of journalists in Monday’s strike further intensify questions about Israel’s conduct in war, the use of civilian infrastructure by Hamas, and the rules of engagement in one of the world’s most scrutinized conflicts.