Associated Press questions 'Israeli' strikes on Gaza hospital that killed journalists

The Associated Press (AP) on Friday challenged 'Israel’s' justification for last month’s airstrikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, which killed 22 people, including five journalists. Among the victims was AP contributor Hussam al-Masri.

The hospital came under consecutive 'Israeli' attacks on August 25. While the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) initially described its target as a rooftop camera allegedly operated by Hamas, AP’s investigation raises serious doubts about that claim.

According to the news agency, the building’s rooftop was a well-known gathering spot for journalists, and witnesses reported that 'Israeli' drones frequently monitored the area, including around 40 minutes before the attack. AP noted that Masri routinely covered his camera with a white cloth to shield it from the sun and dust, a detail misinterpreted by the IOF as suspicious behavior.

“There has been no evidence of a second camera at the site where al-Masri was killed,” AP said. The journalist, who also worked with Reuters, often streamed live from the hospital and could have been easily identified by the drone.

AP further criticized 'Israel’s' subsequent decisions, including striking the same location again after medical and emergency personnel had arrived, as well as journalists covering the scene. The agency described this as a potential “double-tap” strike, a tactic widely condemned and considered by some legal experts as a possible war crime.

The news agency also reported that IOF used high-explosive tank shells in the attacks, hitting the hospital four times in total, each time without warning.

Mariam Abu Dagga, another journalist affiliated with AP and other media outlets, was also killed during the strikes.

When contacted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) regarding the AP report, the IOF referred to its previous statement, noting that the chief of the general staff had instructed a further review of “the ammunition approved for the strike” and the “decision-making process in the field.”