New York, August 25, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Israeli strikes that killed five journalists in Nasser hospital in southern Gaza and calls for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its continued unlawful attacks on the press.
Journalist Hussam Al-Masri, a Reuters contractor; Al Jazeera camera operator Mohammed Salama; Mariam Abu Dagga, freelance photojournalist with Independent Arabia and the Associated Press; freelance journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz, who contributes to Quds Feed; and freelance video journalist Moaz Abu Taha, were among at least 20 people killed in two Israeli strikes on the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on Monday morning. Al-Masri was killed in the first strike, while the others were killed while covering the aftermath of the previous Israeli strike. Journalist Jamal Baddah from Palestine Today TV, photographer Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor, and Mohammed Fayeq, a freelance photographer, were injured in the attack.
“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,” said CPJ’s Regional Director Sara Qudah. “These murders must end now. The perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.”
CPJ has now documented at least 197 journalists and media workers killed during the war, 189 of them Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza.
Israel’s Israel Hayom said “A security source told the newspaper Israel Hayom today [Monday] that the reason for the attack on the Khan Yunis hospital was the presence of a camera on the hospital roof, which Hamas members were using to document IDF forces. The forces received permission to neutralize the camera, but the incident escalated into a wider incident.”
The Reuters live video feed from the hospital, which was operated by Al-Masri, suddenly shut down at the moment of the initial strike, the wire said.
CPJ emailed the IDF’s North America Media Desk to request comment on the killings and additional details on the strike on the hospital, but did not immediately receive any response. IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X that the Chief of Staff, General Eyal Zamir, demanded an investigation into the attack on Monday. Adraee added “the IDF expresses regret for any injury to uninvolved personnel. It does not target journalists as such and works as much as possible to minimize harm to them, while continuing to maintain the security of its forces.”
Editor’s note: This alert was updated to reflect that five journalists were among at least 20 killed in the strikes, and that at least 197 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war.