Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip), Aug 25 (AP) — A significant strike by Israel on southern Gaza's main hospital on Monday led to the deaths of at least 19 individuals, including four journalists, according to medical officials.
The assault commenced with a missile targeting the top floor of a Nasser Hospital building. As journalists and rescue workers hurried up an external staircase to respond, a second missile struck the same spot, said Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, head of the hospital's pediatrics department.
Among the victims was Mariam Dagga, a 33-year-old visual journalist associated with The Associated Press. Dagga often reported from Nasser Hospital, including a piece on doctors' efforts to combat child starvation. Al Jazeera and Reuters confirmed their journalists were also among those killed.
Israel's military confirmed targeting areas near the hospital and announced an investigation into the incident. The military expressed regret over harm to non-involved individuals, emphasizing that targeting journalists was not their intention. This event is a continuation of various attacks on hospitals during the ongoing conflict, with these facilities overwhelmed by the injured from warfare and rising malnutrition cases attributed to parts of Gaza nearing famine.
The initial missile hit at approximately 10:10 am struck operating rooms and doctors' residences on the fourth floor, resulting in at least two deaths, stated Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department. The second strike on the stairwell claimed 17 more lives, impacting medical staff, rescuers, and journalists.
The building's external staircase was frequently used by journalists for live TV spots and for internet access. A British doctor present during the strikes described the resultant chaos, noting how blood trails filled the corridors as stretcher-bearers dashed past anxious visitors in search of loved ones. The overwhelming scenario reached a head as the hospital operated beyond capacity, with patients and their IV drips relegated to the floors amid stifling heat.
Expressing horror at the attack on what should be a sanctuary for medical professionals, the doctor, choosing anonymity for safety reasons, voiced concern for colleagues and patients left at Nasser Hospital.
Khan Younis' Nasser Hospital, as southern Gaza's largest, has withstood attacks throughout the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not offer immediate comments on the recent strike, though prior hospital attacks drew a ranged array of reactions.
Prior to the hospital strike, Israel's military Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, had advised Gaza's health officials to relocate patients to the south, as preparations for an offensive in Gaza City intensified. Meanwhile, hospital officials from northern Gaza reported significant casualties from strikes and gunfire on aid routes.
In addition to Nasser Hospital casualties, Shifa Hospital confirmed three deaths, including a child, from a strike as Israel readied its ground invasion. Al-Awda Hospital also reported fatalities and injuries from an incident involving Israeli gunfire directed at aid seekers.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has marked one of the bloodiest periods for the press, with 192 journalists killed over 22 months, and more than 1,500 health workers lost, according to the UN. Israel maintains that its raids on hospitals target militants allegedly operating from these facilities, though evidence has not been provided.
Earlier incidents include a June strike on Nasser Hospital that resulted in three deaths and ten injuries, under allegations of targeting a Hamas center within the hospital. The health ministry reports over 62,686 Palestinian deaths in the war, estimating approximately half as women and children. The UN considers these statistics the most reliable, though Israel disputes their accuracy without presenting alternative numbers. (AP) SKS GRS GRS
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