Israel hits Gaza hospital in double-tap strike: Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital’s fourth floor hit; 20 dead, including five journalists

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel on Monday. (AP photo)Palestinians gather outside Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip following Israeli strikes. (AFP photo)

At least 20 killed, including five journalists, in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser hospital in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis, the civil defence agency said in a statement. It added that Israel conducted a double-tap strike with one missile hitting first, then another a few moments later as rescue crews arrived.Earlier, according to a news report from AP, Mahmud Bassal, a civil defence spokesman, said “the death toll is 15, including four journalists and one civil defence member”, after strikes hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. The report added that a freelance journalist associated with AP also died in the attack.

33-year-old Mariam Dagga freelanced with AP since the Gaza war began, as well as other news outlets. Previously, he had reported about the struggling doctors in Nasser Hospital to save starving children.

Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital has been a long witness to IDF’s attack, including raids and bombardment, throughout 22 months of war.A spokesperson for the Qatar-based TV network said that an Al Jazeera journalist, Mohammad Salama, was killed in the Israeli strike.Reuters also confirmed that its contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri, was also killed in the strike. Hatem Khaled, a photographer in contract with the news agency, was reported injured.The Israeli ministry has not commented on its airstrikes yet. A total of 192 journalists have been killed in Gaza in the 22-month conflict, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. According to CPJ, 18 journalists have been killed so far in the Russia-Ukraine war.