An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis has left at least 15 dead, including four journalists from major outlets. The IDF acknowledged responsibility and opened an inquiry amid international concern over the targeting of civilians and media workers.
Early today, Monday, August 25, 2025, missile explosions struck the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, one of the Strip’s largest remaining medical facilities. Witnesses described two separate impacts in quick succession. The first missile hit the hospital’s fourth floor, and as rescue workers and journalists moved in to assess the damage, a second missile struck the same location.
The Associated Press reported at least 19 fatalities, including four journalists. Reuters confirmed at least 15 deaths, also citing journalists among the dead, while The Guardian published similar accounts from hospital staff. The confusion over numbers reflects the fog of war, but all outlets verified that civilians and members of the press were among those killed.
The victims included Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri; Mariam Abu Dagga, a 33-year-old freelance visual journalist for the Associated Press; Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Salam; and NBC contributor Moaz Abu Taha. Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was badly injured but survived.
IDF Admits Responsibility, Orders Investigation
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that it carried out the strike in the vicinity of the hospital. A military spokesperson said the intended target was a Hamas command position believed to be operating from within or adjacent to the hospital complex. While defending its operations, the IDF conceded that civilian casualties likely occurred and announced that the Chief of Staff had ordered a full investigation.
“The IDF does not target journalists and regrets harm to civilians,” the statement read. “Our operational imperative is to eliminate terror threats while minimizing collateral damage. This incident will be investigated at the highest level.”
Such investigations are handled by the Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism, an independent military body tasked with examining controversial incidents. Whether this strike resulted from faulty intelligence, misidentification, or technical error remains to be determined.
The exact number of casualties remains contested. The Associated Press cited hospital officials reporting 19 dead. Reuters and The Guardian confirmed at least 15 fatalities. Discrepancies of this kind are common in Gaza, where casualty counts often change as bodies are recovered or the wounded die of their injuries.
Regardless of the numbers, all credible sources confirmed that at least four journalists were among the dead. Their loss highlights the extreme risks faced by media workers covering the conflict.
Journalists in the Line of Fire
The deaths of four reporters in a single strike marked one of the worst incidents for the press since the war began in October 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists has recorded close to 200 journalists killed in Gaza over the past 22 months, making it the deadliest conflict zone for the media in recent memory.
The Associated Press described Abu Dagga as a talented young journalist who brought important stories to light under difficult circumstances. Reuters mourned the loss of al-Masri, a long-time colleague, while also confirming the injury of Khaled. Both Al Jazeera and NBC issued statements on the deaths of their staffers, underscoring the scale of the tragedy for international reporting.
Hospitals as Military Targets
The incident has raised renewed debate over the targeting of hospitals. International humanitarian law affords special protection to medical facilities, but this protection can be forfeited if the facility is used for military purposes. The IDF maintains that Hamas systematically embeds its military assets in civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and mosques. Hamas denies these claims and accuses Israel of waging a campaign against healthcare facilities.
Nasser Hospital has been struck before. In March 2025, Médecins Sans Frontières reported that its surgical ward was hit, killing at least two people. MSF condemned that strike and issued another strong condemnation after the latest incident, warning that repeated hits on the hospital put patients, staff, and displaced civilians at risk.
Gaza’s Health System in Collapse
The Nasser Hospital strike illustrates the broader collapse of healthcare in Gaza. Hospitals across the Strip are operating under severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and surgical supplies. Doctors have been forced to work without anesthesia, while generators needed to keep intensive care units running frequently fail.
Earlier this year, the death of journalist Hassan Aslih underscored the dangers within Gaza’s hospitals. Aslih, who had contributed to both AP and CNN, was wounded in a separate strike and later killed while being treated at Nasser Hospital after the facility was hit again. His death showed how even patients and medical staff are not safe when hospitals are targeted.
International Reactions
The attack on Nasser Hospital drew swift international criticism. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the incident as “unacceptable” and called for a transparent investigation. The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the deaths of journalists and reiterated the importance of accountability. Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the strike underscored the urgent need to protect both civilians and the press in Gaza.
Israel has firmly denied that journalists or hospitals are deliberately targeted. Officials argue that Hamas’s use of civilian infrastructure leaves the military with difficult choices, but emphasize that procedures exist to minimize harm. International observers, however, continue to question whether those safeguards are sufficient.
If the cowardly hamas scum didn’t hide in hospitals, schools, and among the civilian population incidents like this wouldn’t happen.