Five Journalists Killed, One Wounded in Israeli Strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza

An Israeli attack on Nasser hospital in the Gaza Strip on 25 August 2025 resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people or 20 people, including five journalists and a rescuer. The incident occurred near the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

According to "Al Jazeera" and witness accounts, the attack began with an explosive Israeli drone striking the hospital's roof, followed by a rocket strike after rescue workers, journalists, and other people gathered at the initial impact site.

The Gaza Health Ministry and health officials confirmed the deaths of the journalists. Those identified as killed are:

• Hussam al-Masri (Hüsam əl-Masri), a video operator working under contract for Reuters.

• Mariam Abu Dagga (Məryəm Əbu Dəqqa), a freelance correspondent for Associated Press (AP).

• Mohammed Salama (Məhəmməd Salama), a photojournalist for Al Jazeera.

• Moaz Abu Taha (Moaz Əbu Təha), a photojournalist for NBC.

• Ahmad Abu Aziz, a photojournalist for Quds Feed.

Additionally, Hatem Xaled (Hətəm Xalid), a photographer for Reuters, was wounded during the incident.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike on Nasser hospital. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir issued a statement expressing regret for civilian harm and asserting that the IDF does not target journalists. The Israeli army and Prime Minister's office did not immediately comment on the strikes.

The broader context of the conflict in Gaza shows a significant toll on journalists. Since the war began with Israel's bombing of Gaza in October 2023, at least 244 journalists have died, with another source indicating over 190 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip during the same period. The majority of these casualties are Palestinian freelancers working with Arab or Western media outlets. Overall, the conflict has led to the deaths of more than 60,000 people in the Gaza Strip, including over 18,000 minors.

Israel has previously accused freelance journalists operating in the Gaza Strip of collaborating with Hamas. In November 2023, HonestReporting claimed that photographers providing material for The New York Times, CNN, AP, and Reuters were aware of Hamas's plans. Both Reuters and AP denied these accusations, while CNN stated it had dismissed a photographer due to connections with Hamas.

Access for foreign journalists to Gaza has been banned since 7 October 2023, the day the war started. The Israeli army occasionally organises visits for journalists to the Gaza Strip, but these are always military-escorted and all resulting material is censored by the Israeli military, citing security reasons.

This report draws on information provided by Toplum TV, an independent news platform from Azerbaijan, which aims to deliver accurate and impartial news on various topics, and Meydan TV, an alternative media platform in Azerbaijan that informs and provides a discussion platform on political, economic, and social issues.