Gaza City: Hamas has publicly challenged the Israeli military's account of a deadly airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, which killed 21 people, including journalists, medics, and rescue workers.
The group says none of the victims were affiliated with the Palestinian movement, contradicting Israel's claim that six Hamas operatives were among the dead.
The Israeli military stated the strike targeted a Hamas-operated surveillance camera monitoring Israeli troop movements, asserting that six Hamas fighters were killed in the operation. However, Hamas claims at least two of the individuals named by Israel were killed at different times and locations — one reportedly in al-Mawasi, far from the hospital in Khan Younis.
The attack occurred Monday and was captured in part by a live Reuters feed, which abruptly cut out as Israeli forces launched the first strike. Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri was killed instantly.
A second strike hit minutes later, killing rescue workers and four more journalists who had rushed to the scene: Ahmed Abu Aziz, Mariam Abu Daqqa, Mohammad Salama, and Moaz Abu Taha.
Human rights organizations have condemned the incident as a “double-tap” strike — a tactic involving an initial attack followed by a second targeting first responders — which they argue amounts to a war crime. Global criticism has mounted over what many see as Israel's increasing use of indiscriminate force in Gaza.
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A recent human rights report found that 83 percent of the more than 30,000 people killed in Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza have been civilians.
The Israeli military says it is reviewing the incident, though it maintains that the attack was a legitimate military operation.
