In this family handout photo, Riyad Dagga, center, and other relatives and friends pray over the body of his daughter, freelance journalist Mariam Dagga, 33, during her funeral after she was killed in a double Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.
At least 20 people, including five journalists and several rescuers, were killed when Israeli forces struck Gaza’s Nasser Hospital twice on Monday. The attack targeted one of the largest medical facilities in Khan Younis, leaving scenes of devastation and fear.
Health officials confirmed that dozens were wounded, many of them in the hospital’s courtyard. Witnesses described the assault as one of the deadliest hospital strikes since the war began 22 months ago.
Journalists Among the Dead
Five journalists lost their lives, including 33-year-old Mariam Dagga, a visual reporter who regularly contributed to global outlets. Reuters confirmed that one of its reporters died during the first strike while broadcasting live from the hospital roof.
As journalists and rescue workers wearing emergency vests rushed to assist, the second strike hit the stairwell. Video footage captured their final moments before a plume of smoke engulfed the hospital.
The Associated Press and Reuters issued a joint letter demanding accountability. “These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing vital work,” the statement read.
Israel Calls It a “Tragic Mishap”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the incident as a “tragic mishap” and said an investigation was underway.
Israeli media reported that two artillery shells were fired at what troops suspected was a Hamas surveillance camera. Reporters often used the same rooftop for live coverage.
Military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin reiterated that Israel does not target civilians but accused Hamas of operating near hospitals. No evidence was provided to support the claim in this case.
Heavy Toll on Media and Health Workers
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel has killed 189 Palestinian journalists since the start of its Gaza campaign. Many were directly targeted, while others died in broader strikes.
The U.N. reports that more than 1,500 health workers have also been killed. Sara Qudah, CPJ’s regional director, condemned the strikes, calling them “the most horrific attacks the press has faced in recent history.”
The Foreign Press Association urged Israel to stop what it called “the abhorrent practice of targeting journalists.”
Hospitals Under Fire
Nasser Hospital has already endured multiple raids and bombings during the war. Doctors say shortages of staff, medicines, and equipment are worsening, leaving patients untreated in overcrowded corridors.
A British doctor working at the hospital described the aftermath of the second strike: “Absolute chaos, disbelief, and fear. Patients with IV drips lay on the floor, bleeding.” The doctor spoke anonymously to avoid reprisals.
Previous strikes on Nasser Hospital also caused heavy casualties. In June, three people were killed when Israel claimed to have targeted a Hamas command center. In March, a surgical unit strike killed a Hamas official and a 16-year-old boy.
Rising Civilian Deaths
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the war, nearly half of them women and children. Israel disputes the figures but has not released its own.
New attacks also hit Al-Awda and Shifa hospitals. Al-Awda said Israeli gunfire killed six people seeking food aid. Shifa reported three deaths, including a child, after another strike.
U.N. officials warn of famine as surviving hospitals struggle with overwhelming casualties and food shortages.
Palestinians transport a woman who was injured while trying to reach a humanitarian aid convoy in the outskirts of Beit Lahiya, as they move on a road in Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.
International Condemnation
The U.N. secretary-general, along with Britain, France, and others, condemned the hospital strike. U.S. President Donald Trump initially said he was unaware but later admitted, “I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it.”
Trump suggested a “conclusive ending” to the Gaza conflict might come soon but gave no details.
War Background
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 251. Most hostages have since been released, but 50 remain in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, expanding its offensive into densely populated areas. Hospitals, journalists, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the escalating violence.
