Israeli double punch at Gaza Hospital

A double Israeli strike at a Gaza hospital killed 20 people, including journalists and health workers, according to the retail outlets for whom they worked, the World Health Organization and the Hamas Health Ministry.

At least one person was killed in an initial blow and others in a second attack minutes later, as rescuers and journalists attended the scene of Nasseri Hospital in Han Einnis.

Five journalists worked for international media, including the Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera and the Middle East.

Later on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident “tragic accident”, which Israel “deeply regrets” and said the military authorities were “conducting a thorough investigation”.

The first blow hit around 10:00 local time, said Nasser medical staff.

There was a “mass panic … chaos,” said a British medical specialist working at the hospital, who at the time treated patients in the intensive care ward.

About 10 minutes later, there was another blast in the same place, the medical specialist said, adding that the medical staff planned his escape from the building when a second blow was struck.

The hospital’s emergency ward, the stationary ward and the surgical unit have been affected, according to the World Health Organization. Its chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gebreys said the emergency staircase was also damaged.

BBC Verify has seen footage to confirm these deadlines.

Livestream’s television by Al Ghad shows several emergency workers responding to the first blow near the last floor of Nasser Hospital, as a number of journalists in the background movie what is happening.

The video shows a staircase where journalists often gather to broadcast. The strike then hits emergency workers and reporters directly, sending smoke and rubble into the air. At least one body is visible afterwards.

A separate video shot from the same staircase shows the consequences of the strike. The bodies can be seen on the stairs as medicines respond to the attack.

Another clip, filmed in front of the main entrance of Nasar Hospital, shows a medical professional who holds bloody clothes to the camera before explosion sends people who run for cover.

The British medical specialist described “blood paths on the floor” and “absolute scenes of chaos, unbelief and fear.”

The identity of the killed journalists has been confirmed, but we know a little about the other victims. The health ministry, managed by Hamas, said rescuers and patients were killed.

Husus al -masri He worked as a Reuters operator. The News Agency announced that he had been killed at the first strike at the hospital while managing a live television broadcast for Reuters. News around the world, including the BBC, have used the footage he has made.

Mariam Dagga33, he was a freelance journalist working with the Associated Press (AP), who says he regularly reports from the hospital. One of the regional editors of AP, Abi Suel, said Daga leaves behind a son, who was evacuated by gas earlier in the war.

Mohammed Salama He worked for Al Jazeera and the Middle East. Salama was planning her wedding with another journalist Hala Asfur, with the couple hoping to marry after the fire was stopped, according to Al Jazeera.

Ahmed Abu Aziz He worked for the Middle East EYE, according to his own reporting. The exit says he worked on a freelance basis and was based in Khan Eunice.

Moaz Abu Taha He worked with various retail outlets, including the Israeli Haaretz newspaper just two weeks ago, shooting video calling with journalists showing children suffering from Nasser malnutrition. Reuters said they were posting work from him from time to time.

Israel does not allow international news organizations, including the BBC, in Gaza to report freely. Local reporters are relying on providing information to world media agencies.

The Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ) says that more than 190 journalists were killed in 22 months of war, the vast majority of Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks.

Two weeks ago, Israel killed six journalists in a deliberate attack against one of them Near the Schiffa Hospital in Gaza, drawing outrage.

Initially, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had a strike in the area of ​​Nasser Hospital in South Gaza.

Throughout the day, Israeli officials have issued numerous statements with little information in them, which shows a lack of clarity within the military for the attack, but designed to deal with widespread indignation.

On Monday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet said that Israel “deeply regretted the tragic accident that happened today at the Nasser hospital in Gaza”, adding that Israel “appreciates the work of journalists, medical staff and all civilians” and says that the military is conducting a “in -depth investigation”.

However, the statement does not make a little to deal with the obvious nature of the attack. The fact that most of the killed were struck by the second attack in exactly the same place about 10 minutes later seems clearly intentionally.

Double taps are a controversial military tactic that is designed to maximize victims by shooting at those who respond at the place of the first attack.

Statements by media organizations, including the Association of the Foreign Press in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, accused the Israeli military of a model of intentional targeting journalists throughout the war.

It is unclear whether and when Israel will publish results from the internal investigation, which is said to have started.

UN Secretary -General Antonio Guteres has strongly condemned the “horrifying murders” at the Nasser hospital, in which he said they “emphasize the ultimate risks that medical staff and journalists face while performing their vital work on the background of this brutal conflict.”

The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lamie said he was “horrified” and called for an immediate ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron called strikes “intolerable” and said civilians and journalists should be protected. He renewed the call for humanitarian aid that would be allowed inside Gaza and Israel “to comply with international law.”

The German outdoor office said it was “shocked”.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was not aware of the strikes, but when he was asked for his reaction, he said he was “not happy about it.”

Media Freedom Groups have also issued a conviction.

“When and where will it end? There is international law,” said the head of reporters without border Tibaut Brutin.

“There are guarantees that must be provided to journalists who cover conflicts and it seems that none of this is applied.”

The Committee for Protection of Journalists said: “The expressed murder of journalists in Gaza continues until the world is watching and fails to act firmly.”

The Association of the Foreign Press said the most killing should serve as a “catchmentation” and called on international leaders to act. He called on Israel to “stop his disgusting practice to target journalists,” adding that “too many journalists were killed by Israel without reason.”