A double Israeli strike on one of the last hospitals in southern Gaza has killed five journalists, including a reporter with The Independent’s partner publication Independent Arabia.

Maryam Abu Daqqa, 33, who worked for Independent Arabia and Associated Press, was killed alongside Al Jazeera camera operator Mohammed Salam, Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, and freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha.

Ahmed Abu Aziz, who worked for UK-based media outlet Middle East Eye, later died from his injuries, the organisation said.

Independent Arabia said it “mourns its courageous correspondent” Abu Daqqa, who left behind an 11-year-old son, saying she worked around the clock to cover the horrors unfolding in the besieged Gaza Strip. The publication also condemned Israel’s “flagrant violation of international laws that guarantee the protection of journalists”.

Israel said an inquiry had been opened into the strike, with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel deeply regretted what he sought to claim was a “tragic mishap”.

The photojournalist was among 20 people killed, and 50 injured on Monday in what witnesses described to The Independent as two missiles in quick succession slamming into the Nasser Medical Complex – the only partially functioning public hospital in the south of Gaza.

Rights groups and the United Nations have repeatedly accused Israel of targeting medical facilities and Palestinian journalists since it launched its unprecedented bombardment of Gaza in October 2023. More than 240 journalists have been killed since then – including five journalists just two weeks ago – according to rights group Amnesty International, making this the bloodiest conflict for reporters in modern history.

“We were shocked there was strikes hitting the fourth floor of the main surgical building. The journalists use that side to do their interviews or to broadcast from the area,” Khaled al-Serr, a leading Palestinian surgeon at Nasser Hospital, told The Independent. He said first responders, medics and journalists rushed to the scene to help the injured and killed.

Rescue workers and volunteers attempt to pull the body of a man from the rubble following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in March (AP)

“During the evacuation, while we were standing in front of the building and starting the work receiving cases to the emergency department, we were surprised by another bombing at the same spot.”

“Until now, the treatment process is continuing, we cannot confirm the numbers,” he added.

Mohammed al-Qudra, 28, who also witnessed the attack, said the quick succession of missiles “resulted in a massive massacre”.

“The scene was terrifying,” he said, still shaken. “The area was a pool of blood, and the entire staircase of the building was covered in blood, from top to bottom.”

The Israeli military declined to comment to The Independent when asked why it launched a double strike on a hospital, a protected building, and did not acknowledge that it had killed journalists and first responders as they were tending to the injured. Instead, in a public statement, Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani confirmed Israeli troops carried out a strike in the area of the hospital and added that the country’s chief of staff had instructed an initial inquiry “as soon as possible”.

Abu Daqqa (left), a victim of Monday’s hospital attack, leaves behind an 11-year-old son (AFP/Getty)

He said the Israeli military does not target journalists and that the Israeli military “acts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals”. Mr Netanyahu later said that Israel valued the work of journalists and medical staff, adding that Israel’s war was with Hamas.

But the United Nations says that strikes have killed at least 247 Palestinian journalists in Gaza since Israel launched its unprecedented assault in the aftermath of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel. International correspondents are barred from entering the tiny strip by Israel, except on heavily controlled Israeli military embeds.

Questioned by reporters at the White House, US president Donald Trump said he had not yet received news of the strike but added: “I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it.”

He said, “at the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare in Gaza, where Hamas is holding hostages seized in Israel.”

The United Nations’ humanitarian office (OCHA) said on Monday that Palestinian journalists are “the eyes and ears of the international community” and must be protected. The deliberate targeting and killing of journalists and medics constitutes war crimes under international humanitarian law.

“The killing of journalists in Gaza should shock the world – not into stunned silence but into action, demanding accountability and justice,” said UN rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. “Their killings, and those of countless other civilians, must be independently, promptly investigated and justice must follow.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists has repeatedly said the Israeli military has deliberately targeted Palestinian journalists and their families, including levelling unfounded accusations against them to “manufacture consent to kill” them and silence them.

Israel’s airstrike on Nasser Hospital claimed the lives of (from left) Hussam al-Masri, Moaz Abu Taha and Abu Daqqa, in what was called a ‘deliberate targeting of journalists’ (Reuters/AFP/AP)

“Israel’s broadcasted killing of journalists in Gaza continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has ever faced in recent history,” said CPJ’s regional director Sara Qudah after Monday’s strike. “These murders must end now. The perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.”

There are concerns the death toll among journalists will only rise as Netanyahu pushes ahead with plans to take Gaza City, which will also involve pushing the population south where Monday’s strike happened.

Abu Daqqa had worked with Independent Arabia since its inception in 2019 and freelanced with AP and Doctors Without Borders.

MSF “denounced in the strongest possible terms” Israel’s deliberate targeting of journalists and health workers on Monday and said it was “heartbroken” by Mariam’s death.

“Maryam leaves behind a son who must now grow up without his mother,” said Jerome Grimaud, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza.

“As Israel continues to shun international law, the only witnesses of their genocidal campaign are deliberately being targeted. It must stop now.”

‘This is a loss, not just for me, but for all of Gaza because she was so beloved,’ said Riyad Daqqa of his daughter Maryam (Supplied)

Abu Daqqa’s family told Independent Arabia she feared she might be killed as Israel had ramped up its attacks on reporters in Gaza, killing five journalists, including Al Jazeera’s star correspondent Anas al-Sharif, just two weeks ago in a targeted strike that Israel celebrated as a strike on a militant.

In fact, she had left a heartbreaking note in her tent with a friend for her son, whom she had made sure was evacuated to the UAE.

In the note, which was shared with The Independent, she told him to pray for her but “not to weep”.

“Make me proud,” she wrote, adding: “You are my love, my heart, my strength, my soul, and my son who lifts my head high with pride.”

Speaking to Independent Arabia after the bombing in Khan Younis, Abu Daqqa’s father Riyad, who had received a kidney from his daughter, said she was “beloved by everyone”.

“This is a loss, not just for me, but for all of Gaza because she was so beloved.”

Abu Daqqa’s friends told The Independent she had even turned down an opportunity to travel to the UAE to be with her son, as she wanted to keep documenting the war and looking after her parents.

Fellow reporter Mohammed Abu Shahma, from Khan Younis, said that along with donating her kidney to her father, she had desperately tried to get treatment for her mother, who died from cancer four months ago, as there was no way to secure proper care in Gaza.

“Maryam is known for being a neutral and professional journalist, whose goal is to convey both the image and the word.”

“She is remarkable,” he added, his voice cracking with emotion.

Reuters also mourned its loss, saying it was “devastated” to learn of the killing of its cameraman Al-Masri, and the injury of photographer Hatem Khaled, also a contractor who it has asked to be evacuated.

AP said it, too, was “shocked”.

“We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to provide crucial eyewitness reporting in difficult and dangerous conditions,” the agency said.

Al Jazeera said that the blood of its journalists killed just 10 days ago “has not yet dried” before another colleague was killed. “Despite relentless targeting, Al Jazeera remains resolute in providing live coverage … with occupation authorities barring international media outlets from entering to report on the war.”

Ten Al Jazeera journalists have been killed by Israel in Gaza.

Israel bombed the main hospital in southern Gaza on Monday and then struck the same spot again as rescuers and journalists rushed to help the wounded, killing at least 20 people including five journalists, health officials said.

The first strike hit the top floor of a building at the Nasser hospital, killing the Reuters journalist Hussam al-Masri and others. Journalists and rescuers then rushed to the scene to help the wounded, when a second bomb struck the same spot, 15 minutes later.

A live video from AlGhad TV captured the moments of their killings, showing civil defence workers wearing bright orange vests and journalists raising their hands to shield themselves seconds before the second bomb kills them. A second video showed the aftermath of the bombings, with the bodies of the first responders and journalists lying on top of one another, bloody and covered in dust.

The “double tap” strike and killing of journalists prompted a wave of international condemnation, including from the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy. “Horrified by Israel’s attack on Nasser hospital. Civilians, healthcare workers and journalists must be protected. We need an immediate ceasefire,” Lammy wrote on X.

The US president, Donald Trump, told reporters: “I’m not happy about it,” when asked about the attack, while the French president, Emmanuel Macron, described it as “intolerable”.

Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel deeply regretted what he described as a “tragic mishap” at the Nasser hospital.

Israel has regularly struck hospitals, claiming without evidence that Hamas uses them for military purposes. It also regularly kills journalists in Gaza, on some occasions with the justification that the journalists were associated with Hamas – claims that journalistic bodies have described as baseless.

The strikes on Monday killed the Reuters journalist Hussam al-Masri; Mariam Abu Dagga, who worked for the Associated Press; the Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Salam; the photojournalist Moaz Abu Taha, and Ahmad Abu Aziz from Quds Feed. Another Reuters journalist, Hatem Khaled, was wounded in the attack.

At least 193 Palestinian journalists have been killed since 7 October 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), more than the number who died globally in the previous three years.

View image in fullscreen Mariam Abu Dagga pictured in Khan Younis in June. Photograph: Jehad Alshrafi/AP

The CPJ condemned the Israeli strike and called for action from the international community. “Israel’s broadcasted killing of journalists in Gaza continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has faced in recent history,” said its regional director, Sara Qudah. “These unlawful killings must end now. The perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.”

The Associated Press said it was shocked and saddened to learn of Dagga’s death, as well as the deaths of the other journalists killed alongside her. “We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to provide crucial eyewitness reporting in difficult and dangerous conditions,” the agency said.

Reuters said it was devastated at the news of the death of Masri and wounding of Khaled. “We are urgently seeking more information and have asked authorities in Gaza and Israel to help us get urgent medical assistance for Hatem,” a spokesperson said.

View image in fullscreen The damaged fourth floor of the Nasser hospital after the Israeli strike. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said the chief-of-staff had ordered a preliminary investigation into the strike and said Israel “expressed regret for injury to uninvolved personnel”. Israel “does not target journalists as such”, they said.

Israeli inquiries into misconduct by its military rarely ensure accountability. A report published this month showed that 88% of investigations into war crimes allegations in Gaza were shut down or left unresolved. Israel’s investigation into the killing of the Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli sniper in 2022 was never completed.

View image in fullscreen An undated picture of the Reuters contractor Hussam al-Masri at Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Dagga, 33, had freelanced for the AP since the Gaza war began, as well as for other news outlets such as Independent Arabia. She reported on Nasser hospital doctors struggling to save children with no previous health issues who were wasting away from starvation.

Independent Arabia said Dagga was the “example of dedication and professional commitment” and that she had carried “her camera into the heart of the field, conveying the suffering of civilians and the voices of victims with rare honesty and courage”.

Dagga had forbidden crying at her funeral, a colleague and friend said.“Mariam had left us instructions not to cry for her when we bid her farewell. She wanted us to spend time with her body, speak to her and take our fill of her before she left,” said Samaheer Farhan, a 21-year-old freelance journalist and friend of Dagga.

Dagga, like other journalists in Gaza, had written a will in case she was killed while reporting. She left behind a letter for her 13-year-old son, Ghaith, telling him: “Make me proud … become successful and excel.”

Abu Aziz was based in the Nasser hospital, where he covered the impact of Israel’s attacks on people across Gaza. He had lost several colleagues during the war, as well as his own home, which was levelled in a strike. “It felt like I was all alone and the only one left on the ground as so many more of my colleagues were being killed,” Abu Aziz wrote in an article for Middle East Eye a year ago about his experience as a journalist in Gaza.

Al Jazeera confirmed that Salam was among those killed in the Nasser hospital strike. Reuters reported that Masri, a contractor cameraman, was also killed. Khaled, a photographer who was also a Reuters contractor, was wounded, the news agency reported.

Israel has prevented international media from covering the 22-month conflict, an unprecedented ban in the history of war reporting. Palestinian journalists in Gaza who work with international outlets carry out their duties while facing starvation and the risk of death.

Q&A Why is it so difficult to report on Gaza? Show Coverage of the war in Gaza is constrained by Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists and a bar on international reporters entering the Gaza Strip to report independently on the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, unless they are under Israeli military escort. Reporters who join these trips have no control over where they go, and other restrictions include a bar on speaking to Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian journalists and media workers inside Gaza have paid a heavy price for their work reporting on the war, with over 180 killed since the conflict began. The committee to protect journalists has determined that at least 19 of them “were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders”. Foreign reporters based in Israel filed a legal petition seeking access to Gaza, but it was rejected by the supreme court on security grounds. Private lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli government. To ensure accurate reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the ground; our visual​​ teams verif​y photo and videos from third parties; and we use clearly sourced data from organisations that have a track record of providing accurate information in Gaza during past conflicts, or during other conflicts or humanitarian crises. Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Middle East correspondent Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.

The Palestinian ministry of health said Monday’s strikes on the Nasser hospital had disrupted surgery in the operating theatre. It condemned the attack, which it said was part of a “systematic destruction of the health system”. The hospital is the only functioning public hospital left in southern Gaza.

Health officials also reported gunfire that killed people seeking aid in central Gaza and airstrikes in Gaza City.

View image in fullscreen People search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

At least six people were killed and 15 wounded while trying to reach a food distribution site in central Gaza operated by the private US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Shootings by Israeli soldiers near GHF sites are a near daily occurrence, though the Israeli military and GHF deny targeting people seeking food.

A strike on a residential neighbourhood in Gaza City killed at least three people, including a child. Israel is preparing for an invasion of the city in the coming days, which it says it will occupy and take control of.

Aid groups have said the operation would lead to displacement and a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, which is already in the throes of famine.

At least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the Gaza war 22 months ago. Israel launched its assault after the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants in which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage.

Additional reporting by Michael Savage

Ahmad Abu Aziz who worked Palestinian youth news agency with Quds Feed Network, also died from injuries sustained during the strike, the Palestinian government media office said. A rescue worker was also among those killed, health officials added.

The victims on the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital were killed in a double-tap strike with one missile hitting first, then another moments later as rescue crews arrived, eyewitness told The Independent The Israeli military declined to comment to The Independent when asked about this.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed the strike was a “tragic mishap” and that the military was investigating.

US president Donald Trump said he was “hot happy about” the attack on the hospital.

Key Points Journalists among those killed in Nasser hospital strike

IDF releases statement following Nasser Hospital strike

Netanyahu calls strike a ‘tragic mishap’

Trump ‘not happy’ about Israeli strike on Gaza hospital

Strike hit surgical building, says Palestinian surgeon at Nasser hospital

Recap: What have European leaders said about Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital? 02:00 , Katie Hawkinson 02:00 , Katie Hawkinson World leaders reacted Monday after Israel struck Nasser Hospital in Gaza, killing 20 people, including five journalists. French President Emmanuel Macron described the strike as “intolerable” and called for Israel to “respect international law”. British foreign minister David Lammy said he was “horrified” by the attack and called for an “immediate ceasefire”. The Spanish government condemned the strike, calling it a “flagrant and unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law, which must be investigated”. The German foreign ministry also called for the attack to be investigated.

UNRWA calls for more protections for journalists and healthcare workers 01:30 , Katie Hawkinson 01:30 , Katie Hawkinson UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called for greater protection for journalists and healthcare workers in the wake of Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital. UNRWA is the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees.

Recap: What has Netanyahu said about the strike on Nasser Hospital? 00:30 , Katie Hawkinson 00:30 , Katie Hawkinson Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the deadly strike on Nasser Hospital was a “tragic mishap”. “Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza. Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians,” the statement reads. “The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation,” the statement continues. “Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home.”

Committee to Protect Journalists calls for accountability after Nasser Hospital strike 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, which killed 20 people, including five journalists. “Israel killed at least five journalists in Nasser Hospital on Monday morning. Israel’s broadcasted killing of journalists in Gaza continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has ever faced in recent history,” the committee’s regional director Sara Qudah said. “These murders must end now. The perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.” The committee says at least 197 journalists and media workers have been killed during the war.

Tribute: Maryam Abu Daqqa spent months photographing the war in Gaza. It claimed her life – but her images will endure 23:30 , Katie Hawkinson 23:30 , Katie Hawkinson Maryam Abu Daqqa spent months photographing the war in Gaza – her images will endure

Recap: 50 injured in hospital strike, WHO says 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson The World Health Organization says 50 people were injured in Israel’s strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The strike also killed 20 people, including five journalists. Critically ill patients who were already at the hospital to receive care were among those injured, according to Dr Ghebreyesus. “The hospital’s main building, which houses the emergency department, inpatient ward, and surgical unit, was hit,” he said. “The strike damaged the emergency staircase.”

Full story: Lammy condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital that killed five journalists 22:30 , Katie Hawkinson 22:30 , Katie Hawkinson Lammy condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital that killed five journalists

Foreign Press Association calls for international action in wake of Nasser Hospital strike 22:00 , Katie Hawkinson 22:00 , Katie Hawkinson The Foreign Press Association issued a statement Monday condemning Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital and demanding answers from Israeli officials. “This has gone on far too long,” the statement said. “Too many journalists in Gaza have been killed by Israel without justification. Israel continues to block international journalists from independent access to Gaza.” “This must be a watershed moment,” the statement continues. “We appeal to international leaders: do everything you can to protect our colleagues. We cannot do it ourselves.”

French President calls Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital ‘intolerable’ 21:40 , Katie Hawkinson 21:40 , Katie Hawkinson French President Emmanuel Macron has described Israel’s strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital as “intolerable” and called for Israel to “respect international law”. “This morning, new Israeli strikes on a hospital in Gaza caused the deaths of numerous civilians and journalists,” he said. “This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected under all circumstances.” “The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict,” he added. “Humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter. We call on Israel to respect international law.”

Palestinians fear a ‘new Nakba’ as Netanyahu plans siege 21:17 , Bryony Gooch 21:17 , Bryony Gooch Palestinians fear a ‘new Nakba’ as Netanyahu plans siege

‘Serious diplomatic push’ over Gaza 21:00 , Katie Hawkinson 21:00 , Katie Hawkinson Now more comments from Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump said there is a “very serious” diplomatic push on Gaza as the US and Israel continue to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Speaking alongside Trump, Mr Rubio added: “It’s never stopped. We’ve always looked to find a solution, or ultimately, as the president said, we want it to end. “It has to end with no Hamas.”

Trump wants ‘conclusive ending’ in Gaza 20:40 , Katie Hawkinson 20:40 , Katie Hawkinson The U.N. secretary-general, along with Britain, France and others, condemned the attack. When asked about the strike, Donald Trump initially said he was not aware of it before offering: “I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it.” Trump later said he thought there might be a “conclusive ending” in Gaza in the coming weeks, without elaborating. It was not clear if he was referring to Israel’s coming offensive or to long-running ceasefire talks.

Netanyahu calls strike a ‘tragic mishap’ 20:25 , Katie Hawkinson 20:25 , Katie Hawkinson Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel “deeply regretted” the strike, which he called a “tragic mishap”. He sought to claim that Israel valued the work of journalists and medical staff – adding that Israel’s war was with Hamas. Israel’s military acknowledged striking the area of Nasser hospital and said the chief of the general staff had ordered an inquiry.

Watch: A tribute to Maryam Abu Daqa: Independent Arabia journalist killed in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital 20:00 , Bryony Gooch 20:00 , Bryony Gooch

Journalist says it is ‘incomprehensible’ international community isn’t doing more to protect reporters 19:30 , Katie Hawkinson 19:30 , Katie Hawkinson Award-winning journalist Alex Crawford told the BBC’s PM programme that it is “incomprehensible” the international community isn’t doing more to protect journalists. Her comments come in the wake of Israel’s strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, which killed 20 people, including five journalists. Ms Crawford said: “There’s nothing being done to protest about our blockage and not enough being done to protect those journalists inside. “The Israeli forces have presented no credible evidence that any of these journalists are anything other than journalists. They haven’t presented documentation that we can verify or we can investigate, nothing. And yet this is going on and it’s increasing. “This is the biggest attack so far against a number of journalists in one go. And only two weeks ago, we saw another attack. “This is, to me, incomprehensible that people are just standing by and watching journalists along with medical workers and hospitals be killed.”

Fellow journalist describes Maryam Abu Daqqa’s commitment to her work 19:15 , Katie Hawkinson 19:15 , Katie Hawkinson Mohammed Abu Shahma, a journalist from Khan Yunis Governorate, told The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew that photojournalist Maryam Abu Daqqa was a “professional and neutral journalist” who stayed in Gaza to cover the war. Maryam was one of five journalists killed Monday in an Israeli strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital. He told The Independent: “She had the opportunity to travel to the Emirates to see her son, but she preferred to continue covering the war in the Gaza Strip. Maryam lost her mother about four months ago as she was sick with cancer. Maryam was busy with her mother and always sought to secure treatment for her mother, which, as you know, is unavailable here. “She faced great difficulty in obtaining treatment for her mother. Although her father suffered from kidney disease, she donated her kidney to him. Her primary concern was his health, especially within the famine and the water shortage issues. Her father needed special care and nutrition in this regard. “Maryam is a professional and neutral journalist who rushes to the scene, covers it, conveys and exposes the truth. Maryam was an active on social media, had extensive pages, she was influential due to her quick posting on news sites. Her photos were widely shared, and they spread globally. Since the beginning of the war, she moved from the north to the south and was displaced to the Rafah Governorate.”

Israel destroyed Gaza’s water plants. Now a deadly condition is spreading like wildfire 19:00 , Bryony Gooch 19:00 , Bryony Gooch Israel destroyed Gaza’s sanitation plants. Now a rare disease is spreading unchecked

Netanyahu calls Nasser Hospital strike a ‘tragic mishap’ 18:45 , Katie Hawkinson 18:45 , Katie Hawkinson Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement following the strike on Nasser Hospital. “Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza. Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians,” the statement reads. “The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation,” the statement continues. “Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home.”

MSF shares photos taken by Maryam Abu Daqqa 18:30 , Katie Hawkinson 18:30 , Katie Hawkinson Médecins Sans Frontières released a set of photos taken by Maryam Abu Daqqa, a photojournalist for Independent Arabia who was killed in the strike on Nasser Hospital. “We are heartbroken by her death,” the humanitarian organization wrote. “Below are photos she took while on assignments with us, documenting how healthcare staff are working tirelessly to care for people as Israel pursues genocide in Gaza.”

Colleagues honour journalist Ahmad Abu Aziz 18:22 , Katie Hawkinson 18:22 , Katie Hawkinson Journalist Ahmad Abu Aziz was among the five journalists killed in the Israeli strike on Gaza’s Nasser hospital. His colleagues say he was an ambitious and kind reporter, the UK-based outlet Middle East Eye reports. The outlet’s Jerusalem bureau chief, Lubna Masarwa, described his stories as “exceptional” and “intimate.” “He had ambition,” she told the outlet. “He was very stubborn. He kept going all the way.” Sameer al-Bouji, an NBC journalist in Gaza, told the Middle East Eye that Abu Aziz was “so kind” and “never late for any story.” “I cry from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “May god have mercy on his soul and the other journalists.”

UN Secretary-General condemns Nasser Hospital strike 18:15 , Katie Hawkinson 18:15 , Katie Hawkinson United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres “strongly condemns” Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, according to his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric. The strike killed 20 people, including five journalists. “These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amid this brutal conflict,” the spokesperson said. “The Secretary-General recalls that civilians, including medical personnel and journalists, must be respected and protected at all times,” he continued. “He calls for a prompt, and impartial investigation into these killings.”

Baby who ‘knew nothing but war’ dies of malnutrition as Gaza crisis deepens 18:00 , Bryony Gooch 18:00 , Bryony Gooch ‘She knew nothing but cruelty’: Baby born during war in Gaza dies of malnutrition

Maryam Abu Daqqa’s father speaks out after her death: ‘She was beloved by everyone’ 17:57 , Katie Hawkinson 17:57 , Katie Hawkinson Maryam Abu Daqqa’s father, Riyad, spoke to Indy Arabia about his daughter. She was one of five journalists killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital. “I’m the father of the martyr Maryam Riyad Abu Daqqa,” he said. “May God have mercy on her soul. She was one of my most beloved sons and daughters. She gave me a kidney, and they transplanted it to me.” “She was beloved by everyone, and all of Gaza loved her: land, air, and sea. She was beloved by everyone, and she loved the good of all people,” he continued. “She was active in her work. All of the good qualities are present in my daughter Maryam. May God have mercy on her soul. May God admit her to the highest paradise. This is a loss, not just for me, but for all of Gaza because she was so beloved.”

Spain condemns Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital 17:45 , Katie Hawkinson 17:45 , Katie Hawkinson The Spanish government has condemned the Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital. “We reiterate that specially protected sites cannot be targeted,” Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “This is a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law, which must be investigated.” “The pain caused by the death of civilians is compounded by that of media professionals, whose work is essential and must be given special protection,” the statement continues. “Spain reiterates its total commitment to the right of access to information, which is essential to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information ​for all citizens.”

In pictures: Mourners carry the body of one of five journalists killed in Israeli strike 17:30 , Bryony Gooch 17:30 , Bryony Gooch (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Germany calls for probe into Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital 17:08 , Bryony Gooch 17:08 , Bryony Gooch The German foreign ministry said on Monday it was shocked by the killing of several journalists, emergency responders and civilians in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser hospital in Gaza. “The attack must be investigated,” the ministry wrote in a post on X.

Tribute: Maryam Abu Daqqa spent months photographing the war in Gaza. It claimed her life – but her images will endure 17:00 , Bryony Gooch 17:00 , Bryony Gooch Maryam Abu Daqqa spent months photographing the war in Gaza – her images will endure

Trump ‘not happy’ about Israeli strike on Gaza hospital 16:55 , Bryony Gooch 16:55 , Bryony Gooch US president has said he is “not happy about” Israel’s strike on a hospital in Gaza, telling reporters he “did not know that.” He said “I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that nightmare”, imploring for the safety of hostages. “I’m the one that got the hostages out. I got them out, all of them. “Steve Witkoff has been amazing. He’s done a great job. But I’m the one that got them all out through my people and through me.” He then cast doubt on the idea that there were many hostages left alive: “And now we’re left with probably a little bit less than 20, because I think one or two are gone. (AFP via Getty Images) “And I said a long time ago, I’m going to get them out, but when we get down to that final 10 or 20, these people aren’t going to release them, because they’re dead after they release them. So it’s a nasty situation, very nasty, horrible thing.” Israel believes that only 20 of the 50 hostages are still alive after 22 months of war.

UNRWA Commissioner General condemns Israeli attack on journalists 16:43 , Bryony Gooch 16:43 , Bryony Gooch UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has spoken out after five journalists were killed in Gaza. “Silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently amid #famine . “The world’s indifference & inaction is shocking.” Lazzarini quoted philosopher Hannah Arendt, who said: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.” The UNRWA boss continued: “This cannot be our future new norm. Compassion must prevail. “Let us undo this manmade famine by:- opening the gates without restrictions – ⁠protecting journalists & humanitarian + health workers Time for political will. Not tomorrow, now.”

Journalism organisations condemn the deaths of journalists in Israeli strikes 16:30 , Bryony Gooch 16:30 , Bryony Gooch The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned Israel for the strikes, saying it represented “an open war against free media, with the aim of terrorising journalists and preventing them from fulfilling their professional duty of exposing its crimes to the world”. The syndicate said more than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the war started on October 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists, which put the number of journalists and media workers killed since the war began at 197 including 189 Palestinians in Gaza, called for “the international community to hold Israel accountable for its continued unlawful attacks on the press”.

‘We are living in fear and anguish every day’: Palestinians fear a ‘new Nakba’ as Netanyahu plans occupation 16:21 , Bryony Gooch 16:21 , Bryony Gooch Palestinians fear a ‘new Nakba’ as Netanyahu plans siege

Maryam Abu Daqa’s will for her son Ghaith 16:02 , Bryony Gooch 16:02 , Bryony Gooch Maryam Abu Daqa, 33, left a will for her 11-year-old son Ghaith, in case she were to get killed, with a friend who shared her tent with her in Khan Younis, Independent Arabia can reveal. The journalist, who worked for Independent Arabia since it was founded in 2019, said in the testament: “Ghaith, the heart and soul of your mother “My son, pray for me but do not weep over me, so that I may rest in peace. “Make me proud: grow into a smart and accomplished young man, and one day a successful businessman, strong enough to face life’s hardships, my beloved. “Never forget me and remember that your mother did everything she could to make you happy, comfortable, and at ease. “One day, when you grow older and marry, and when you have a daughter, name her Maryam after me. “You are my love, my heart, my strength, my soul, and my son who lifts my head high with pride and fills my heart with joy, promise me, Ghaith, never to abandon your prayers — your prayers, always your prayers. “Your mother, Maryam”. (Independent Arabia)

British foreign minister condemns strike on Nasser hospital 16:00 , Bryony Gooch 16:00 , Bryony Gooch British foreign minister David Lammy said on Monday that he was horrified after Israel struck Nasser hospital in south Gaza, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists. “Horrified by Israel’s attack on Nasser hospital. Civilians, healthcare workers and journalists must be protected. We need an immediate ceasefire,” Lammy said in a post on X. Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) (PA Wire) The journalists killed in the strikes worked for Independent Arabia, Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and others. Israel’s military acknowledged striking the area of Nasser hospital and said the chief of the general staff had ordered an inquiry. It added that it “does not target journalists as such.”

MSF denounce Nasser Hospital bombing and mourn Maryam Abu Daqa 15:52 , Bryony Gooch 15:52 , Bryony Gooch “We denounce in the strongest possible terms Israel’s horrendous attacks on the Nasser medical complex today – the only partially functioning public hospital in the south of Gaza. Israeli forces killed at least 20 people and injured 50 more in consecutive strikes, including healthcare workers, rescuers and journalists. “Among them was Maryam Abu Daqa, a freelance photographer who frequently worked with MSF. We are heartbroken by her death. Mariam leaves behind a son who must now grow up without his mother. At least four other journalists were also killed today. “Some MSF staff members were forced to shelter in the laboratory as Israel repeatedly struck the building amidst rescue efforts. We are outraged as the Israeli forces continue to attack healthcare workers and journalists with impunity. “For the past 22 months, we have watched as healthcare facilities have been levelled, journalists silenced, and healthcare workers buried beneath the rubble by the Israeli forces. As Israel continues to shun international law, the only witnesses of their genocidal campaign are deliberately being targeted. It must stop now.”

WHO chief demands end to attacks on health care after Gaza hospital hit 15:37 , Bryony Gooch 15:37 , Bryony Gooch The head of the World Health Organization called on Monday for attacks on health care to stop after Palestinian officials said at least 20 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza. “While people in #Gaza are being starved, their already limited access to health care is being further crippled by repeated attacks,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X. “We cannot say it loudly enough: STOP attacks on health care. Ceasefire now! He said 50 people had also been wounded in the strikes, including critically ill patients who had already been receiving care.

Watch: ‘Death is better than displacement’: Gaza City mothers say hunger blocks escape of looming Israeli offensive 15:26 , Bryony Gooch 15:26 , Bryony Gooch

Reuters pay tribute to Hussam al-Masri and Moaz Abu Taha 15:13 , Bryony Gooch 15:13 , Bryony Gooch A Reuters spokesperson has issued a statement following the deaths of Hussam al-Masri and Moaz Abu Taha. “We are devastated to learn that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a contractor for Reuters, was killed this morning in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza. “Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work had been occasionally published by Reuters, was also killed, and photographer Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor, was wounded. “We send our deep condolences and thoughts to Hussam’s and Moaz’s families and loved ones and will support them as best we can. We have asked authorities in Gaza and Israel to help us get urgent medical assistance for Hatem. “We are also seeking more information from Israeli authorities about these latest strikes.”

Watch: A tribute to Maryam Abu Daqqa: Independent Arabia journalist killed in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital 15:00 , Bryony Gooch 15:00 , Bryony Gooch

Number of journalists killed rises to 245, says Gaza ministry 14:52 , Bryony Gooch 14:52 , Bryony Gooch Gaza’s government office has said that the number of journalists killed has risen to 245 as a journalist Ahmad Abu Aziz, who worked for Quds Feed Network, has died following the bombing of the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. The government statement read: “The Government Media Office strongly condemns the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation. “We call on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and all journalist bodies worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip.” The statement said that it held Israel, the US, the UK, Germany and France “fully responsible for committing these heinous and brutal crimes.” “We call on the international community, international organizations, and all bodies concerned with journalism and media work around the world to condemn the occupation’s crimes, to deter and prosecute it in international courts for its ongoing violations, and to bring its leaders to justice. “We further urge them to exert serious and effective pressure to stop the genocide, protect journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip, and end the systematic killing and assassination targeting them.”

In pictures: three of the journalists killed in Nasser Hospital strike 14:45 , Bryony Gooch 14:45 , Bryony Gooch (REUTERS) (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

‘Rare honesty and bravery’: Independent Arabia pays tribute to Maryam Abu Daqqa 14:36 , Albert Toth 14:36 , Albert Toth “With profound sorrow, Independent Arabia mourns its courageous correspondent and photojournalist, Maryam Abu Daqqa, who was killed today, Monday, August 25, 2025, in an Israeli strike on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza. “Since joining Independent Arabia at its inception, Maryam embodied dedication and professional integrity. She carried her camera to the forefront of events, bearing witness to the suffering of civilians and amplifying the voices of victims with rare honesty and bravery. In her brief yet remarkable career, she personified the spirit of free journalism, unwavering in its mission to report the truth despite all risks and challenges. “As we bid farewell to our colleague and daughter, Maryam Abu Daqqa, we condemn this Israeli crime, which we consider a flagrant violation of international laws that guarantee the protection of journalists. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones, and we reaffirm our commitment to the mission for which she gave her life: upholding the truth and spreading knowledge.” Independent Arabia Maryam Abu Daqqa (Independent Arabia)

Israel accused of ‘silencing’ critics after more journalists killed 14:24 , Albert Toth 14:24 , Albert Toth Maryam Abu Daqa, whose 13-year-old son who was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war, frequently based herself at Nasser, most recently reporting on the hospital’s doctors struggling to save children from starvation. As a freelance photojournalist, she had worked with the Associated Press and Independent Arabia. She is amongst five other journalists killed in Monday’s attack on Nasser hospital. Thibaut Bruttin, the director general of Reporters Without Borders, said press freedom advocates had never seen such a severe step backward for reporters’ safety. He noted that journalists have been killed both in indiscriminate strikes and in targeted attacks that Israel’s military has acknowledged carrying out. “They are doing everything they can to silence independent voices that are trying to report on Gaza,” Bruttin said. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 192 Palestinian journalists have been killed since 7 October 2023. Aside from rare guided tours, Israel has barred international media from covering the conflict. News organisations instead rely largely on Palestinian journalists in Gaza — as well as residents — to show the world what is happening there. Israel often questions the affiliations and biases of Palestinian journalists but doesn’t permit others in. Many of the journalists working in Gaza are facing the same struggles to find food, for themselves and their families, as the people they are covering. In one of Ms Daqa’s last social media posts on Sunday, she published a selfie of herself. Additional reporting from AP

Israeli Defence Forces releases statement on Nasser hospital strike 14:15 , Albert Toth 14:15 , Albert Toth Here is the full statement released by the Israeli military on the strike on Nasser hospital which killed at least 20: “Earlier today (Monday), IDF troops carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. “The Chief of the General Staff instructed to conduct an initial inquiry as soon as possible. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such. “The IDF acts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible while maintaining the safety of IDF troops.”

Gaza death toll rises in hospital strike and aid route shooting 14:05 , Albert Toth 14:05 , Albert Toth Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, has withstood raids and bombardment during 22 months of war, with officials citing critical shortages of supplies and staff. The strike came four days after Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, urged health officials to evacuate patients from northern Gaza to facilities in the south ahead of Israel’s offensive in Gaza City. In addition to those killed at Nasser Hospital, hospital officials in northern Gaza also reported deaths from strikes and gunfire along the route to aid sites. Three Palestinians, including a child, were killed in a strike on a neighborhood in Gaza City, where Israel is preparing for a broader ground invasion in the coming days, Shifa Hospital said. Al-Awda Hospital reported six aid-seekers trying to reach a distribution point in central Gaza were killed by Israeli gunfire in an incident that also wounded 15. Israel’s military did not immediately respond to a question about the aid seekers. The health ministry said Sunday that at least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Additional reporting from AP

‘Scenes of chaos’: Doctor describes attack on hospital 13:55 , Albert Toth 13:55 , Albert Toth The first strike at around 10.10am hit the hospital’s fourth floor, where surgical operating rooms and doctor’s residences are located, killing at least two people, said Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry’s records department. The strike on the stairwell killed 17 others, including medical teams, rescuers, journalists and others rushing upstairs, al-Waheidi told the AP. Journalists often used the staircase, which ran up the outside of the building, as a location for live TV spots and to pick up signal for the internet. A British doctor who was working on the floor that was hit said the second strike hit before people could start evacuating from the first. “Just absolute scenes of chaos, disbelief, and fear,” the doctor said. They described people wounded from the strikes entering the ward, bloody. The strikes hit as the ward was already overwhelmed, with patients lying in corridors in stifling heat. “It leaves me in another state of shock that hospitals can be a target,” the doctor said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations from their organisation to avoid reprisals from Israeli authorities. “You go to work as a healthcare professional and you should be protected in the place you work. But you are not. I really fear for my colleagues and patients who are left behind at Nasser today.” Additional reporting from AP

Number of Palestinian journalists killed since 7 October rises to 192 13:42 , Albert Toth 13:42 , Albert Toth Five journalists were amongst the 20 people killed by Israeli strikes on al-Nasser hospital in southern Gaza, health officials have said. Hussam al-Masri (Reuters), Maryam Abu Daqa (Associated Press), Mohammed Salam (Al Jazeera), Ahmed Abu Azi and Moaz Abu Taha (NBC) were all killed in the strikes. Another journalist who also works for Reuters, Haten Khaled, was wounded in the attack. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says at least 192 Palestinian journalists have now been killed since 7 October 2023, exceeding the number who died globally in the three years prior. In August, the CPJ called the killing of journalists in Gaza “a deliberate and systematic attempt to cover up Israel’s actions.” An Israeli military spokesperson said a preliminary investigation into the strike has been ordered and that Israel “expressed regret for injury to uninvolved personnel.” The nation does not target journalists, they added.

Turkey’s presidential office calls Israel’s latest strike ‘another war crime’ 13:34 , Bryony Gooch 13:34 , Bryony Gooch Israel’s latest strike on Gaza has been described as an attack on press freedom and “another war crime” by Turkey’s presidential communications office. EUR-GEN TURQUÍA-OPOSICIÓN (AP)

American ambassador to France accused of violating international law after comments on France’s response to Israel-Gaza conflict 13:30 , Bryony Gooch 13:30 , Bryony Gooch America’s new ambassador to Paris was today accused of violating international law by criticising the French government for failing to combat anti-Semitism. Charles Kushner, 71, was summoned to France’s foreign ministry on Monday where the former prison inmate, father-in-law to Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, of making inflammatory comments linked to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Summoning an Ambassador is a tool used to express intense disapproval of the conduct of a visiting diplomat. In an open letter published at the weekend, Mr Kushner asked French President Emmanuel Macron to tone down his criticism of Israel, and to do more to combat anti-Semitism domestically. Mr Kushner wrote: “In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalizes.” In turn, a statement from the French government stated that Mr Kushner’s allegations “fall short of the quality of the transatlantic relationship between France and the United States and the trust that must prevail between allies.” It said that ambassadors were not, according to the 1961 Vienna Convention, permitted to interfere in a country’s internal affairs, which means Mr Kushner was violating international law.

In pictures: Military vehicles stand on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza 13:25 , Bryony Gooch 13:25 , Bryony Gooch (REUTERS) (REUTERS) (REUTERS)

Why have Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks stalled as IDF troops push into Gaza City? 13:20 , Bryony Gooch 13:20 , Bryony Gooch Why have Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks stalled as IDF troops push into Gaza City?

Recap – Israel’s Gaza City invasion: What is Netanyahu’s plan and what happens next as new assault launched 13:14 , Bryony Gooch 13:14 , Bryony Gooch Israel’s invasion of Gaza City: What does it mean and what happens next?

Gaza City student prepares to say goodbye to her home as Israel issues evacuation order 13:07 , Bryony Gooch 13:07 , Bryony Gooch Gaza City student prepares to say goodbye to home as Israel issues evacuation order

Recap: Israel strikes Nasser Hospital – here’s what we know 13:00 , Bryony Gooch At least 20 people have died in a double-tap strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, south Gaza.

Five of those 20 people were journalists, one was a rescue worker.

The strike hit the hospital’s fourth floor, with one missile hitting first before a second hit moments later as rescue crews got closer.

The Israeli Defence Force has confirmed a strike in the Nasser Hospital area. 13:00 , Bryony Gooch

First Person: This war is unlike anything Israelis have known, and so is Netanyahu’s betrayal 12:51 , Bryony Gooch 12:51 , Bryony Gooch Benjamin Netanyahu leads a coalition of cowards, criminals and crazies who are not serving the people, writes Gary Cohen, a filmmaker based in Israel. As more protests are planned in Tel Aviv, he explains why many Israelis no longer trust their government’s motives or decisions. Read more here: This war is unlike anything Israelis have known, and so is Netanyahu’s betrayal

Al Jazeera condemns death of cameraman Mohammed Salama 12:36 , Bryony Gooch 12:36 , Bryony Gooch Al Jazeera has published a statement following the death of camera man Mohammed Salam, who worked for them. “Today, occupation forces killed our colleague, Mohammed Salama; Hossam Al-Masri, a photojournalist working for Reuters; photographer Mariam Abu Deqa, who worked for the Associated Press and Independent Arabia and Mo’az Abu Taha working for NBC. “This atrocity occurred during an attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, resulting in the deaths over 20 civilians, including patients and members of the press without distinction between those under medical care and those holding cameras to document the crimes. “With this latest crime, which claimed the life of Mohammed Salama, the number of Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israel in Gaza has reached ten, within a total that now exceeds 240 journalists killed in the Strip since October 2023. “This war has resulted in unprecedented numbers in the targeting of journalists being targeted, making it the deadliest conflict for media professionals in modern history. “Al Jazeera Media Network condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this horrific crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, who have directly targeted and assassinated journalists as part of a systematic campaign to silence the truth.” The network called for “exerting of international pressure and immediate action to prevent the silencing of Gaza’s voice through the systematic targeting and killing of its journalists in full view of the world.”

In pictures: Maryam Abu Daqa and Hussam Al-Masri 12:29 , Bryony Gooch 12:29 , Bryony Gooch (REUTERS) (AP)

Death toll rises to 20 following strike on hospital 12:25 , Bryony Gooch 12:25 , Bryony Gooch Palestinian health officials said at least 20 people had been killed in the strike, including five journalists, who worked for the likes of AP, Reuters and Al Jazeera.

IDF releases statement following Nasser Hospital strike 12:16 , Bryony Gooch 12:16 , Bryony Gooch The Israel Defence Forces have released a statement as they confirm carrying out a strike near Nasser Hospital. The statement said: “The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such. “The IDF acts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible while maintaining the safety of IDF troops.” (AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli military says it carried out strike in Nasser Hospital area 12:03 , Bryony Gooch 12:03 , Bryony Gooch Israel’s military has said it carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis. Gaza’s health ministry has said at least 19 people died in the strike.

Israel destroyed Gaza’s water plants. Now a deadly condition is spreading like wildfire 12:00 , Bryony Gooch 12:00 , Bryony Gooch As hospitals in the strip struggle to cope with a stream of injured people, doctors are also battling the rise of a rare disease that has left children paralysed. Alex Croft speaks to medics on the front line. Read more here: Israel destroyed Gaza’s sanitation plants. Now a rare disease is spreading unchecked

German development minister to visit Israel and Palestinian territories 12:00 , Bryony Gooch 12:00 , Bryony Gooch Germany’s development and foreign aid minister, Reem Alabali Radovan, will depart on Monday for a three-day visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, according to a ministry spokesperson. “The minister is thus continuing her commitment to the future of Gaza and the stabilisation of the entire region. This requires a joint approach by the international community and important regional powers such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia,” the spokesperson said at a press conference in Berlin.

Independent Arabia pays tribute to Maryam Abu Daqa 11:57 , Bryony Gooch 11:57 , Bryony Gooch In a statement of “condemnation”, Independent Arabia has shared a statement mourning reporter and photographer Maryam Abu Daqa, who died in a strike on Nasser Hospital. “With more sadness, Arab Independent mourns its brave reporter and photographer Maryam Abu Daqa, who was killed today Monday, August 25, 2025, after an Israeli bombardment targeted the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. “Maryam has been an example of dedication and professional commitment since joining Arab Independent from its founding, carrying her camera in the heart of the field, conveying the suffering of civilians and the voices of victims with rare sincerity and courage. “In her short, big career, she represented the picture of a free press sticking to spreading the truth, whatever the challenges and risks. “As we bid farewell to our daughter and colleague, Maryam Abu Daqa, we condemn the Israeli crime and consider it a blatant violation of the international laws that protect journalism, we offer our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones, and reaffirm our commitment to her message, which paid the price of her life, to speak the truth and spread knowledge.”

Watch: Gaza famine caused by Israel’s obstruction of aid, says UN Aid Chief 11:49 , Bryony Gooch 11:49 , Bryony Gooch

Recap: Israel accused over the ever-growing death toll of journalists in Gaza 11:44 , Bryony Gooch 11:44 , Bryony Gooch As at least four journalists have been killed in an attack on Nasser Hospital, here is a story we wrote after prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif was killed in an Israeli strike about criticism Israel has faced as over 200 journalists have been killed since October 7 2023. Read more here: Israel accused of ‘attempt to silence’ as UN says 240 journalists killed in Gaza

Recap: At least 62,686 Palestinians killed in war, says health ministry 11:37 , Bryony Gooch 11:37 , Bryony Gooch The Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday that at least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the war. It does not distinguish between fighters and civilians but says around half have been women and children. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.

‘Sanaa wasn’t a statistic’: Baby who ‘knew nothing but war’ dies of malnutrition as Gaza crisis deepens 11:35 , Bryony Gooch 11:35 , Bryony Gooch A toddler has died in hospital as a result of prolonged nutritional deficiency and a lack of baby formula. Senior reporter Tara Cobham reports on the devastating impact the Israel-Hamas war is having on Palestinian children. ‘She knew nothing but cruelty’: Baby born during war in Gaza dies of malnutrition

Hospital officials in northern Gaza report deaths from strikes and gunfire 11:32 , Bryony Gooch 11:32 , Bryony Gooch In addition to those killed at Nasser Hospital, hospital officials in northern Gaza also reported deaths from strikes and gunfire along the route to aid sites. Three Palestinians, including a child, were killed in a strike on a neighborhood in Gaza City, where Israel is preparing for a broader ground invasion in the coming days, Shifa Hospital said. Al-Awda Hospital reported six aid-seekers trying to reach a distribution point in central Gaza were killed by Israeli gunfire in an incident that also wounded 15. Israel’s military did not immediately respond to a question about the aid seekers.

Nasser Hospital death toll rises to 19 – health ministry officials 11:26 , Bryony Gooch 11:26 , Bryony Gooch At least 19 people have been killed in an Israeli double-tap strike on Nasser Hospital, health ministry officials have said. Four journalists are among the dead following the strike on the Khan Younis hospital, which has faced repeated strikes throughout the war.

Palestinian journalist pays tribute to fallen reporters 11:14 , Bryony Gooch 11:14 , Bryony Gooch Veteran journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Gaza City, paid tribute to the four journalists killed in the bombing of Nasser Hospital. “The price of truth in Gaza is very high and the killing against journalists does not stop. “May God have mercy on you and all colleagues”

Finnish president: ‘What Israel does is against all humanitarian law’ 11:03 , Bryony Gooch 11:03 , Bryony Gooch Finland’s president Alexander Stubb has criticised the conflict in Gaza in a new statement. “It’s a failure by humanity that we have not gained control of the situation in Gaza”, a statement read, sourced by Reuters. “What Israel does is against all humanitarian law.”

Fourth floor of Nasser hospital hit in double-tap strike 10:55 , Bryony Gooch 10:55 , Bryony Gooch The victims on the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital were killed in a double-tap strike with one missile hitting first, then another moments later as rescue crews arrived, the ministry said. Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, has withstood raids and bombardment throughout 22 months of war, with officials citing critical shortages of supplies and staff.

Journalists among those killed in Nasser hospital strike 10:52 , Bryony Gooch 10:52 , Bryony Gooch Four journalists were killed in the strikes on Nasser Hospital. according to officials. This includes cameraman Hussam al-Masri who worked for Reuters, and photographer Mohammed Salama who worked for Al Jazeera, the news networks confirmed. Mariam Dagga, who freelanced for the AP since the Gaza war beganas well as other news outlets was also killed in an attack. Dagga had reported on Nasser Hospital doctors struggling to save children with no prior health issues who were wasting away from starvation. We are still confirming the identity of the another journalist killed in the strike. Photographer Hatem Khaled, also contracted by Reuters, was injured.

In pictures: Nasser medical complex struck in latest attack 10:51 , Bryony Gooch 10:51 , Bryony Gooch (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Strike hit surgical building, says Palestinian surgeon at Nasser hospital 10:48 , Bryony Gooch 10:48 , Bryony Gooch Khaled Al Serr, a Palestinian surgeon who works at the hospital, told The Independent that the bombing hit “the main building, the surgical building. “The civil defence forces and also the paramedics rushed to the area of the bombing to evacuate the injured,” he added. “During the evacuation, we were standing in front of the building looking to work by starting to receive cases to the emergency department from the bombing. “We were surprised by another bombing to the same spot.”

As has now become the norm for journalists working in Gaza, Mariam Abu Dagga prepared her will despite being just 33 years old. She left behind two sets of instructions: to her colleagues, do not cry at her funeral; to her 13-year-old son, Ghaith, make her proud.

Despite her instructions, Dagga’s colleagues could not help but weep over her body on Monday. She was killed by Israel, alongside four other journalists, while rushing to check on a colleague struck by Israel in al-Nasser hospital, where she had often reported throughout the war in Gaza.

“Mariam had left us instructions not to cry for her when we bid her farewell. She wanted us to spend time with her body, speak to her and take our fill of her before she left,” said Samaheer Farhan, a 21-year-old freelance journalist and close friend of Dagga.

The 33-year-old photojournalist was an inspiring figure to Farhan and many other journalists in Gaza who admired her relentless reporting, despite the often deeply personal losses she suffered throughout the war.

Her rise to prominence as a journalist began with tragedy. She filmed the death of a protester who was shot during the 2018 Great March of Return in Gaza, where Israeli forces shot protesters marching towards the Gaza border fence, killing more than 220 people and wounding more than 9,200. She later discovered that the protester was her brother.

Dagga continued her work as a journalist during the war in Gaza over the last 22 months, working as a freelancer with the Associated Press and Independent Arabia.

Independent Arabia said that she was the “example of dedication and professional commitment”, and praised her for carrying “her camera into the heart of the field, conveying the suffering of civilians and the voices of victims with rare honesty and courage”.

Her photography and reporting highlighted the humanity of her subjects and focused on the suffering of civilians in Gaza.

1:03 Journalists among 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital – video

Her photo of five-year-old Jamal al-Najjar, who died of malnutrition just weeks earlier, portrayed the child tenderly, his small body wrapped in a shroud and placed gently on bricks so that he did not touch the ground. Another photo showed dozens of men scrambling to get food from an aid truck in southern Gaza, a mess of bodies as they desperately compete for scarce aid.

To her colleagues, she was known also for her kindness and dedication.

“Mariam was kind, gentle and deeply passionate about her work. She had lost her mother and her closest colleague, Abu Anas, yet she never stopped covering the war for even a single day,” Farhan said.

They also described her as having a reputation for fearlessness, reporting from some of the most dangerous areas of Gaza.

View image in fullscreen Mariam Dagga’s colleagues described her as ‘kind, gentle, and deeply passionate about her work’. Photograph: Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images

Like other members of the Gaza press corps, she knew the danger of being a journalist in the Palestinian territory.

The war in Gaza has been the deadliest period ever for journalists, killing more than 192 Palestinian journalists since it began on 7 October, 2023.

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Israel’s “broadcasted killing of journalists in Gaza”. Israel’s military, commenting on the killing of the five journalists on Monday, said that it “does not target journalists as such”.

Dagga had not seen her son in a year-and-a-half, after he had been evacuated to the UAE with his father.

“She longed to see and embrace her son again. Mariam died with that dream still unfulfilled, to hold her child once more,” Farhan said.

To her son Ghaith, Dagga left behind her wishes that he always grow up to fulfil his dreams.

“I want you to make me proud to become successful and excel, to prove yourself and to grow into a great businessman, my dear,” she wrote in a letter to her son. “When you grow up, get married and have a daughter, name her Mariam after me. You are my love, my heart, my support, my soul and my son whom I am proud of.”

(CNN) — Israel is facing fierce condemnation after a pair of strikes on a Gaza hospital killed five journalists as well as medical workers and others on Monday.

At least 20 people were killed in the attack, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, with many more injured.

Israel carried out back-to-back strikes on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis separated by only a matter of minutes, the ministry said. The “double-tap” hits killed journalists, health workers and emergency response crews who had rushed to the scene after the initial attack, the Nasser Hospital said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later conceded that journalists and first responders had been killed, referring to their deaths as a “tragic mishap.”

Dr. Mohammad Saqer, a hospital spokesman and head of nursing, said that five journalists and four health workers had died.

The journalists killed are Mohammad Salama, a cameraman from Al Jazeera, Hussam Al-Masri, who was a contractor for Reuters, Mariam Abu Dagga, who has worked with the Associated Press (AP) and other outlets throughout the war, and freelance journalists Moath Abu Taha and Ahmed Abu Aziz.

Gaza’s Civil Defense organization said one of its crew members also died in the strike.

The Israeli attacks hit a balcony on the hospital used by reporters for an elevated view of Khan Younis.

A first strike on the hospital hit the fourth floor of Nasser Medical Complex, the health ministry said, followed by a second attack a short time later that hit ambulance crews and emergency responders.

Video from the scene shows Saqer holding up a blood-soaked cloth after the first strike when another explosion rocks the building, filling the air with smoke and sending people running for cover.

A live camera from Al Ghad TV shows emergency workers on a damaged staircase at the hospital when the second attack hits the building.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in an updated statement Monday evening that it “carried out a strike in the area of” the hospital. IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the military was “aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists.” Defin said the military was operating in an “extremely complex reality.”

“The IDF does not intentionally target civilians,” Defrin insisted. “Any incident that raises concern in this regard is address by the relevant mechanisms in the IDF.” He blamed Hamas for using civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as bases.

The military’s chief has instructed an initial inquiry to be opened as soon as possible, and Defrin said the military was obligated to investigate “thoroughly and professionally.”

An Israeli security official with knowledge of the details of that initial inquiry said IDF forces identified a camera on the roof of the hospital that they claimed was being used by Hamas to monitor the Israeli military.

The forces received authorization to strike the camera with a drone, the source said. But instead, Israeli forces fired two tank shells: the first at the camera and the second at rescue forces.

The details of the inquiry are a remarkable admission from an Israeli official that it intentionally targeted the first responders that arrived at the scene after the initial strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an admission that Israel had killed journalists and emergency responders, said that Israel “deeply regrets” what he called a “tragic mishap” at Nasser hospital. “Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation.”

A ‘watershed moment’

Journalist organizations and international bodies reacted to the deaths with shock and anger.

The Foreign Press Association in Israel and the Palestinian Territories described the strikes as “among the deadliest Israeli attacks on journalists working for international media since the Gaza war began.”

“This has gone on far too long. Too many journalists in Gaza have been killed by Israel without justification. Israel continues to block international journalists from independent access to Gaza,” the organization added, saying it should be regarded as a “watershed moment.”

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said on social media that the strikes amounted to “silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently amid famine.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killings of the journalists and medical workers, noting the “extreme risks” they face carrying out their work. His spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement that Guterres called for civilians including medical workers and journalists to be “protected at all times” and able to carry out their work “without interference, intimidation, or harm.” The UN chief also called for an impartial investigation into the killings.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate described the attack as a “heinous massacre perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces… which directly targeted media and journalistic crews,” while Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also condemned the strikes on the “only partially functioning public hospital in the south of Gaza.” The group’s emergency coordinator in Gaza Jerome Grimaud said some MSF staffers were “forced to shelter in the laboratory as Israel repeatedly struck the building amidst rescue efforts.”

Countries including Canada, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait also condemned the strikes.

In a separate attack on Monday, another journalist, Hassan Douhan, was killed by Israeli forces in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, who said he “was shot by the occupation forces in his tent.” Douhan worked as the director of the investigative reporting department at Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, a newspaper in Gaza.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), before Monday Israel had killed 192 journalists since the start of the war in Gaza.

Jodie Ginsberg, the CPJ president, accused Israel of deliberately targeting a Reuters camera position. “First responders moved in, including journalists, and they were killed in the second attack,” she said in an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson.

“So in both instances, it looks like Israel has committed unlawful killings, war crimes, both in the deliberate killing of the Reuters cameraman and in this so-called double tap attack,” Ginsberg added.

CNN profiled one of the victims, Abu Dagga, last year. Then 31 years old, she said: “We are covering the war on Gaza because this is our journalistic duty. It is entrusted upon us.”

At the time, Abu Dagga worked for the Independent Arabic. She also freelanced for AP since the war began. “We challenged the Israeli occupation. We challenged the difficult circumstances and the reality of this war, a genocidal war,” Abu Dagga told CNN in 2024.

AP said it was “shocked and saddened” to learn of Abu Dagga’s death along with several other journalists. Her 12-year-old son was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war, the news agency said.

“(Abu) Dagga reported on Nasser Hospital doctors struggling to save children with no prior health issues who were wasting away from starvation,” AP said in a statement.

MSF said Abu Dagga was a photographer who frequently worked with the group, saying it was “heartbroken” by her death.

Al Jazeera condemned the killings as a “horrific crime” committed by Israeli forces who have “directly targeted and assassinated journalists.”

The network said in a statement: “The ongoing campaign by the Israeli occupation against journalists has violated all international norms and laws, amounting to war crimes under the Rome Statute and the Geneva Conventions, both of which strictly prohibit the deliberate targeting of civilians and journalists in conflict zones.”

In a statement, Hamas said: “The cowardly enemy aims to deter journalists from conveying the truth and covering war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and the catastrophic living conditions of our Palestinian people in Gaza.”

Two weeks ago, Israel killed several Al Jazeera journalists in a strike in Gaza City, including one of the network’s most prominent correspondents, Anas Al-Sharif. It came after the IDF accused Al-Sharif of being the leader of a Hamas rocket cell, an accusation he vehemently denied.

As the war rages on in Gaza, US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that it would end “within the next two to three weeks,” without providing specifics. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement they hoped the US president’s statement was true and a “deadline to end (their) suffering.”

The-CNN-Wire

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