August 27, Wednesday: The Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital in Gaza's south on August 25 killed a minimum of 21 individuals, five of them journalists, in a "double tap" attack, witnesses said. Reuters reported that the second explosion struck an outdoor staircase filled with journalists, leaving them covered in flames and smoke.
Who were these journalists?
Among the journalists that were killed was Hussam Al-Masri. He was a Reuters contractor who had spent the last year shooting from Nasser Hospital. He was famous for his calm presence in the middle of a chaotic situation. He frequently guided foreign crews in navigating Gaza's changing front lines.
Another one was Mariam Abu Dagga. She freelanced for the Associated Press and local media and was one of the few women reporting every day from the hospitals. Fellow journalists spoke of her as "fearless" and committed to giving voice to mothers and children trapped in the war.
Moaz Abu Taha was a one-time freelancer for Reuters and others, was greatly admired for his eyewitness accounts and his ability to get close to families forced out from their homes due to the conflict.
Mohammed Salama, reporter of Al Jazeera, was one of the familiar names on television. He reported frequently on mass funerals in Khan Younis and was one of the network's main voices reporting on the humanitarian crisis.
Ahmed Abu Aziz, who was recalled by his classmates as "the young cameraman with boundless energy," regularly volunteered to record humanitarian convoys and evacuations. His online posts gave a glimpse into Gaza beyond the battlefield.
Officials' reactions to the incident
The Office of the Israeli Prime Minister called the attack a "tragic accident" and stated that an investigation was being conducted by the military.
India Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal described the killings as "shocking and deeply regrettable" and stated that India has "always condemned the loss of civilian lives in conflict," Mint reported.
Later the UN Human Rights Office also denounced the attack. The spokesperson, Thameen Al-Kheetan, stated that, "The killing of journalists in Gaza should shock the world — not into stunned silence but into action, demanding accountability and justice."
The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 189 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war started 22 months ago and that it is currently one of the deadliest conflicts on record for media workers
