NN ONLINE:
An Israeli airstrike on Monday struck Nasser Hospital, the main medical facility in southern Gaza, killing 19 people, according to Zaher al-Waheid, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department. Among the dead were four journalists.
The Health Ministry said the attack hit the fourth floor of the hospital with one missile, followed moments later by a second strike in the same location, just as rescue teams were arriving.
Nasser Hospital, located in Khan Younis, has remained operational despite nearly two years of bombardment and military raids, though officials have repeatedly warned of severe shortages in staff and medical supplies.
One of the journalists killed was 33-year-old Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who had contributed to The Associated Press since the conflict began. She frequently reported from inside the hospital, highlighting the struggles of doctors treating malnourished children. Al Jazeera and Reuters also confirmed that some of their affiliated journalists were among the victims.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has been especially deadly for journalists, with 192 media workers killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The Israeli military and Prime Minister’s office have not yet responded to inquiries about Monday’s strike.
Elsewhere in Gaza, more casualties were reported in other Israeli attacks. Shifa Hospital said three people, including a child, were killed in Gaza City in anticipation of an expanded Israeli ground offensive. Al-Awda Hospital said Israeli gunfire killed six people attempting to reach aid distribution sites in central Gaza, wounding another 15. The Israeli military did not comment on the incident.
Strikes on medical facilities have become common throughout the war. Israel has claimed that such attacks are aimed at militants allegedly operating within hospitals, though it has not presented evidence to support these claims.
Earlier attacks on Nasser Hospital included a June strike that killed three and injured 10, and a March strike on its surgical unit that killed two people, both following similar accusations by the Israeli military of militant activity at the site.
As of Sunday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 62,686 Palestinians have died since the war began. While it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, it states that roughly half of those killed are women and children. The U.N. and independent observers recognize the ministry as the most reliable source for casualty figures. Israel disputes the numbers but has not provided alternate data.
