Global Condemnation Following Death of 5 Journalists in Israeli Attack

The international community has condemned Israel's attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza on Monday. The attack occurred twice-first targeting a number of journalists-and the second attack targeted rescue workers and medical teams attempting to evacuate victims.

The Gaza Ministry of Health confirmed that 20 Palestinians, including patients, health workers, civil defense personnel, and journalists, were killed, while several others were injured in the attack.

Palestinian official TV reported that among the casualties was their cameraman, Hussam al-Masri, who also worked for Reuters. Meanwhile, Qatar's Al Jazeera confirmed that their photographer, Mohammad Salama, also perished.

A medical source confirmed to Anadolu the death of freelance photojournalist Mariam Abu Dagga, who worked for AP.

Photojournalist Moaz Abu Taha, who worked for NBC, also perished in the Israeli attack on the hospital.

Medical sources later reported that Ahmed Abu Aziz, a freelance reporter for Quds Network, succumbed to injuries sustained in the Israeli attack.

Another Palestinian journalist was killed in a separate Israeli attack. Hassan Douhan, a journalist with the Palestinian daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, was killed in the Israeli strike in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to a statement from the Gaza Government Media Office.

The media office stated that this latest death brings the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023 to 246 people.

This resulted in at least 47 Palestinians, including six journalists, being killed on Monday and dozens more injured in the latest Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to medical officials.

Global Condemnation

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) strongly condemned the latest Israeli attacks that resulted in the deaths of five journalists working for leading international news media in southern Gaza.

"The Foreign Press Association is deeply angry and shocked," the FPA statement as cited by Anadolu, referring to the killing of Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera journalists by Israel.

Describing it as "Israel's deadliest attack on journalists working for international media since the Gaza war began," the statement said, "The attack hit the external staircase of the hospital where journalists often stand with their cameras.

The attack happened without warning."

"We demand an immediate explanation from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office," it said, urging Israel to "stop the heinous practice of targeting journalists."

"This has gone on far too long. Too many journalists in Gaza have been killed by Israel without justification," it continued, adding that Israel "continues to block independent access for international journalists to Gaza."

The FPA also called on international leaders to "do everything you can to protect our colleagues."

Meanwhile, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs "strongly condemns" the Israeli attack. "Swiss strongly condemns Israel's attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which has caused many civilian casualties," the ministry wrote in a statement on the US's social media platform X as reported by Anadolu.

The ministry noted that civilian populations and civilian infrastructure must be protected "at all times" in accordance with international humanitarian law.

UN Security Council Urged to Act

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemned this Israeli attack and called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to stop the massacre.

The international press organization stated that five Palestinian journalists were "deliberately targeted" by the Israeli military in the attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

"RSF once again calls for an Emergency Meeting of the UN Security Council to end this journalist slaughter," the group said, adding that over 200 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023, including at least 56 as a result of their work.

RSF Director-General Thibaut Bruttin strongly condemned the recent attack and emphasized that Israel has deliberately targeted journalists covering the conflict in Gaza.

"How far will the Israeli military go in their gradual efforts to eliminate information coming from Gaza? How long will they continue to flout international humanitarian law?" Bruttin said in a statement as reported by Anadolu.

"The protection of journalists is guaranteed by international law, yet more than 200 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza over the past two years."

The organization stressed that these killings occurred a decade after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2222, which specifically addresses the protection of journalists in armed conflict.

"Ten years after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2222, which protects journalists in times of conflict, the Israeli military has ignored its application," Bruttin said.

"RSF calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to ensure this resolution is finally respected, and concrete steps are taken to end impunity for crimes against journalists, protect Palestinian journalists, and open access to Gaza for all journalists."

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