The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on 26/8 that the target of the double strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the previous day was a "camera installed by Hamas to monitor activity and direct attacks against Israeli soldiers."
Two consecutive airstrikes, 15 minutes apart, resulted in at least 20 deaths, including 5 journalists and several medical personnel who arrived at the scene after the first strike.
The IDF said that Golani Brigade soldiers operating in the area detected the camera's location, but did not provide specific evidence. The IDF also released the names of 6 individuals alleged to be "members of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad" killed at Nasser, but this list has been disputed by Hamas and international media.
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Palestinian medical personnel injured after the double strike on Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on 25/8. Photo: AFP |
Palestinian medical personnel injured after the double strike on Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on 25/8. Photo: AFP
Hamas denied the IDF's accusation of installing a surveillance camera at Nasser Hospital, calling Tel Aviv's explanation for the double strike a "fabrication to evade legal and moral responsibility."
"Even if their claims were accurate, the Israeli military had countless other options to disable the camera without attacking a medical facility," Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' political wing, emphasized.
Press and medical organizations, along with governments of several countries, have condemned the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deaths of civilians, doctors, and reporters at the hospital as a "tragic incident" and said the IDF is investigating.
In a preliminary report, the IDF acknowledged flaws in the decision-making process for the Nasser Hospital strike, including target approval, weapon selection, and timing. The IDF Chief of General Staff has directed relevant bodies to continue the investigation.
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Location of Khan Younis and major urban areas in the Gaza Strip. Graphic: BBC |
Location of Khan Younis and major urban areas in the Gaza Strip. Graphic: BBC
The United Nations demands that Israel ensure the investigations lead to accountability.
Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, said the number of journalists killed in Gaza raises serious questions about whether Israel is intentionally targeting reporters on the ground.
"We have also not seen results or clear accountability measures from previous Israeli investigations. Justice must be ensured," he stressed.
Thanh Danh (CNN, Guardian, Times of Israel)
