In a harrowing escalation of the conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces carried out a double-tap strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on August 25, 2025, resulting in at least 20 to 22 deaths, including journalists, medics, rescue personnel, and patients. The attack has ignited global condemnation and intensified fears over the targeting of critical humanitarian and media infrastructure.
The Deadly Assault on a Hospital
- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out two strikes minutes apart in what witnesses and health officials described as a double-tap attack — first hitting the hospital’s upper floor and then targeting first responders and journalists who arrived afterward.
- Among the deceased were five journalists:
- Hussam al-Masri
- Mariam Abu Dagga
- Mohammed Salama
- Moaz Abu Taha
- Ahmad Abu Aziz
Additionally, numerous medical personnel, rescue workers, and vulnerable patients were also lost.
Justifications and Denials
- The IDF asserted the strike targeted a Hamas surveillance camera without providing evidence. Prime Minister Netanyahu called it a “tragic mishap.”
- Hamas and hospital officials rejected these claims, stating there were no militants present. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate denounced this as an intentional attack on press freedom.
Global Outcry and Demands for Justice
- The United Nations condemned the attack, calling for a credible investigation, and warned that strikes on hospitals could constitute war crimes.
- Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the attack as “beyond proportionality” and denounced the killing of journalists as a violation of press freedoms.
Broader Implications for Gaza
- Nasser Hospital is the largest medical facility in southern Gaza and has been stretched beyond capacity amid critical shortages of medicine, equipment, and personnel. The strike has pushed the healthcare system closer to collapse.
- The UN has previously flagged a deliberate campaign of “medicide” — systematic targeting of healthcare facilities — as part of the conflict.
One of Many Deadly Incidents
- The Nasser Hospital strike is not isolated. Previous attacks have struck media tents and other hospitals — including al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and the Gaza European Hospital — killing more journalists and further eroding medical infrastructures.
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