Israel bombs Khan Younis hospital, killing journalists and rescue worker
Israeli air strikes targeted the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis on Monday, killing 20 Palestinians, including journalists, healthcare workers, rescue personnel, and patients.
The first strike hit the upper floor of the facility, the only functioning public hospital in southern Gaza and one of the largest medical centres in the besieged strip.
A second strike targeted the rescue team responding to the casualties from the initial bombing.
Five journalists were killed in the attack, including MEE contributors Ahmed Abu Aziz and Mohamed Salama.
The other three reporters were identified as Hossam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman; Mariam Abu Daqa, who contributed to Independent Arabia and AP; and Moath Abu Taha, who worked with NBC.
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The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that firefighter Emad Abdel Hakim al-Shaer was killed in the second strike while attempting to rescue the wounded.
Seven other civil defence workers were wounded.
"The occupation seeks to collapse all means of livelihood for citizens in the Gaza Strip," said Mahmoud Basal, the spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence.
"We demand an immediate halt to the targeting of medical facilities and the entry of essential supplies," he added.
كاميرا «الغد» توثق لحظة استهداف الاحتلال الإسرائيلي للدفاع المدني والصحفيين في مجمع ناصر الطبي#قناة_الغد pic.twitter.com/5yHHMpUvsb
— قناة الغد (@AlGhadTV) August 25, 2025
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said the initial death toll stands at 20, including healthcare workers, patients, journalists, and civil defence personnel, with dozens more injured.
"The strike caused widespread panic and chaos, disrupted operations in the surgical unit, and deprived patients and the wounded of their right to treatment," the ministry said.
It added that the attack on the hospital "is a continuation of the [Israeli] systematic destruction of the healthcare system, a continuation of the genocide, and a blatant challenge to the entire world and to all values of humanity and justice."
The media office said it "strongly condemns, in the harshest terms, the systematic targeting, killing and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation".
The Israeli army confirmed carrying out a strike in the area. It said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir "ordered an immediate inquiry" into the attack.
Such inquiries by the Israeli army almost never lead to accountability.
The Israeli military has bombed dozens of hospitals, targeted journalists, and attacked rescue workers since the start of the war.
Nasser Hospital had previously been bombed, raided by tanks and ground troops, and left severely damaged.
Israeli forces have killed at least 1,580 healthcare workers and 244 journalists since the war began.
In total, the army has killed at least 62,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 150,000.
According to the Israeli army’s own data, 83 percent of those killed were civilians.
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