Four journalists have been killed in an Israeli ‘double-tap’ massacre on Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza.
Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed in the first missile strike on the fourth floor of the hospital in Khan Younnis earlier this morning.
One of the most prominent photojournalists in Gaza, Mariam Abu Dagga, Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Salama and photojournalist Moaz Abu Taha were all killed in the second, which was aired on live television.
Dagga, 33, freelanced for Associated Press since the start of the war, as well as other news outlets.
At the time of her killing, she was reporting on Nasser Hospital doctors struggling to save children with no prior health issues who were wasting away from starvation.
The four journalists were among at least 15 people killed by Israel, which unleashed one missile first, then another moments later as rescue crews arrived.
Gaza’s civil defence said that at least one emergency responder was killed and seven others were injured.
Photographer Hatem Khaled, who also works for Reuters, was also among those wounded in the second strike.
In the aftermath of bombings, the Israeli army routinely fires on Palestinian rescue workers to prevent them from saving those wounded. This was also the case in Nasser Medical Complex.
Witnesses said the second hit took place after rescue workers, journalists and other people had rushed to the site of the initial attack.
(Picture: Getty)
Live footage broadcasted on Alghad TV showed Israel’s ‘double-tap’ strike as a missile hit one of the floors of the hospitals where rescue workers were helping the wounded.
Nasser Hospital, based in Khan Younis is the largest in southern Gaza. It has withstood raids and bombardment throughout 22 months of war, with officials citing critical shortages of supplies and staff.
The deaths of the four journalists add to the growing number of media workers targeted and killed during the war – at least 240, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
Meanwhile, a tally by Shireen.ps has the total number to nearly 270.
Gaza’s Government Media Office said in a statement shortly after Israel’s attack: ‘The journalist colleagues were martyred when the Israeli occupation committed a horrific crime by bombing a group of journalists who were on a press coverage mission at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis Governorate, and many martyrs fell victim to this crime.
‘We hold the Israeli occupation, the US administration, and the countries participating in the genocide crime, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, fully responsible for committing these heinous brutal crimes.’
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