Around 10:00 on 25/8, doctors, patients, and interns were working in the surgical ward of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, when a loud explosion erupted, said hospital director Mohammed Zakout. An IDF tank had fired on the hospital.

A British doctor, who was on duty in the intensive care unit, described the scene as chaotic and panicked. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the hospital's escape stairway was also damaged in the blast.

The tank shell killed Reuters cameraman Hussam Al-Masri, who was working on the upper floor. Medical staff began to consider evacuating.

Rescue workers and international journalists rushed to the hospital. Witnesses said journalists waited several minutes after the initial explosion before climbing the stairs to establish communication and contact their families.

This was standard procedure for local reporters in Khan Younis. For over two years of conflict, Israel has barred foreign journalists from Gaza, allowing only IDF-escorted trips. Many news agencies rely on local collaborators for information and on-the-ground reporting.

Live footage from Al Ghad TV and video collected by Reuters show rescue workers crowded on the upper floor after the first attack, with journalists filming and taking pictures nearby.

A man holding a blood-stained flak jacket and camera, apparently belonging to Al-Masri, gestured to the crowd below before placing them on the ground.

Witnesses said that 7 to 15 minutes after the first explosion, another shell hit almost the same spot. Video shows more than 10 people gathered on the hospital's escape stairway at the time of the second blast.

"I was climbing the stairs with many journalists and medical staff when the second explosion happened," said 42-year-old reporter Hatem Omar.

Close-up footage suggests the shell directly hit the group, engulfing them in dust and debris.

Another video shows the stairway littered with bodies as medics attempted CPR. A scene outside the hospital shows a medic holding up blood-soaked clothing before another explosion sends people scattering.

"There was blood everywhere, chaos, horror, and sheer terror," the British doctor told the BBC.

At least 20 people died in the apparent "double-tap" strike, including journalists and medical personnel, according to news agencies, the WHO, and Hamas-run health authorities. International news organizations, including AP, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye, confirmed the deaths of their journalists.

The scene and witness accounts sparked international outrage, with accusations that the IDF employed a "double-tap" tactic to maximize casualties.

"Double-tap" strikes are a controversial tactic, involving two non-simultaneous attacks on the same target to inflict greater casualties, primarily targeting first responders but also endangering rescue personnel.

Haaretz, citing sources, reported that an Israeli tank fired at what it believed was a Hamas camera on the hospital roof, then fired a second shot to ensure its destruction.

Israeli officials haven't commented on the delay between the two strikes, or whether IDF personnel observed medical staff arriving before firing the second shot.

Medical staff remove the body of Hussam Al-Masri in the corridor of Nasser Hospital, seconds before the second shell hit. Photo: *Reuters*

The IDF confirmed an attack near Nasser Hospital on 25/8. Israeli officials issued vague statements throughout the day, suggesting internal disagreement while attempting to mitigate the outcry.

That evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed "deep regret for the tragic incident," affirming Israel's "respect for the work of journalists, medical personnel, and civilians," and announcing a full investigation.

However, the statement didn't address the "double-tap" allegations.

Palestinian medical staff injured after the double-tap strike on Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on 25/8. Photo: *AFP*

Professor Janina Dill, Co-Director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, said targeting protected persons in conflict, such as medical personnel, could constitute a war crime.

"The greatest moral objection to this tactic is the exploitation of human morality—the reflex to rush to danger to help victims—to kill those people," Dill said. "A truly professional military force with legal counsel and training should not be engaging in double-tap strikes."

In a 26/8 statement, the IDF explained that Golani Brigade members operating in Khan Younis identified a camera on the hospital roof "used to monitor Israeli military activities." A tank fired to eliminate the threat. The IDF said it is investigating approval and decision-making processes at the scene.

Hamas denied the IDF's claim, insisting they had no camera there. Hamas political wing member Bassem Naim said, "If there was a camera, there are many ways to disable it without shelling a medical facility."

Location of Khan Younis and major urban areas in the Gaza Strip. Graphic: *BBC*

This isn't the first time Israel has been accused of using double-tap strikes. In July, the Israeli magazine +972 cited national security sources claiming such attacks had become "standard operating procedure" in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the hospital attack as "horrific," calling for a prompt and impartial Israeli investigation.

The UK government called the attack on medical staff and journalists "unjustifiable." Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the need to protect journalists and called for a ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as "unacceptable," urging Israel to respect international law and open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza. US President Donald Trump also expressed his "displeasure" with the attack.

Thanh Danh (According to BBC, Reuters, NBC)