TEHRAN – Global protests continue after Israeli strikes at Nasser Hospital in Gaza killed journalists and first responders, spurring condemnation and political backlash around the world.
On Monday, Israel attacked the hospital of Karn Yunis, Gaza’s last functional public hospital.
Witnesses said rescuers and journalists arrived to evacuate the injured from the first bombing, and a second strike has arrived to kill both the first responder and the media worker. More than 20 people have been killed, including five journalists.
The victims included reporters working for Reuters, The Associated Press and Al Jazeera, as well as independent journalists.
The attack, known as the “double tap” strike, prompted media organizations to lament their colleagues and issue statements calling for an investigation.
The UN is seeking Israel accountability and warns that previous investigations into illegal killings in Gaza have failed to bring about results. “We need justice,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesman for the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva. “Israeli authorities have published investigations in the past, and have yet to see results or accountability measures.” According to the United Nations, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war with the enclave on October 7, 2023.
The blame is poured out by governments around the world. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the murder “unable to be unfair.” The organisations of Islamic cooperation described them as “war crimes.” Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Spain issued similar denunciations, with Egypt calling the attack “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.” Germany said it was “shocked” and urged Israel to grant independent foreign media access to Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron said the strike was “unable” but Canada named them “unacceptable” and emphasized its obligation to protect Israeli civilians. China, Pakistan and other countries also joined in the denunciation.
Press Freedom Group has also raised alarms. A reporter without a border accused Israel of trying to silence the report from Gaza. “How far will the Israeli forces move on their efforts to eliminate information from Gaza?” asked RSF superintendent Thibaut Bruttin, urging the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a prompt and impartial investigation, recalling the need to protect civilians, healthcare professionals and journalists at all times. However, rights groups are skeptical of Israel’s willingness to investigate itself. A report released this month by Actions on Armed Violence found that 88% of Israeli investigations of suspected war crimes in Gaza were either closed or remained unresolved without resolution. These include probes for the murder of at least 112 Palestinians waiting for flour in Gaza city in February 2024, and airstrikes that killed 45 people in tent camps in May 2024.