At least 15 people lost their lives on Monday after an Israeli airstrike struck the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the victims included three journalists who were reporting from the scene at the time of the attack. The strike has drawn renewed attention to the plight of civilians and medical workers trapped in the ongoing conflict, which has now spanned nearly two years with little sign of resolution.
The health ministry described the incident as a double-tap strike, in which a second missile hit shortly after the first. Such attacks are particularly deadly because they target not only initial victims but also rescuers who rush in to provide aid. Eyewitnesses reported chaos in the hospital’s corridors as survivors tried to assist those injured while fearing another possible strike. The hospital, already overwhelmed with shortages of staff, medicine, and equipment, was left reeling from yet another tragedy in a war that has devastated Gaza’s medical infrastructure.
Among those killed were journalists working on the frontlines to document the human cost of the conflict. Reports indicated that one journalist was affiliated with a global television network, while another was linked to an international news agency. Their deaths underscore the dangers faced by reporters in conflict zones and the challenges of ensuring press safety during ongoing hostilities. The loss of these journalists has also heightened global concern about the targeting of media workers who play a crucial role in bringing information from war zones to the international community.
The Israeli military has not immediately commented on the incident or responded to questions regarding the targeting of Nasser Hospital. In previous cases, Israel has maintained that militants operate from within or near medical facilities, making them potential military targets. However, rights groups and international observers have repeatedly expressed concern over attacks on hospitals and the devastating impact they have on civilians who rely on such facilities as safe havens in times of conflict.
Khan Younis, where Nasser Hospital is located, has been one of the hardest-hit areas in Gaza throughout the ongoing war. For 22 months, the facility has endured repeated bombardments and raids, even as doctors and nurses continue working under severe duress. Shortages of fuel, medicine, and basic surgical equipment have made it increasingly difficult for the hospital to function, yet it remains a lifeline for thousands of residents in southern Gaza. The strike on the hospital’s fourth floor has once again exposed how the fragile healthcare system in the territory is being systematically eroded by the conflict.
Medical experts warn that such repeated attacks on health facilities could lead to a total collapse of healthcare in Gaza. With fewer safe spaces for treatment, many civilians face the risk of dying from injuries or conditions that would otherwise be treatable. Hospitals have become overcrowded, with hallways and outdoor areas being used to accommodate patients due to the destruction of several wings and wards. For residents of Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital has represented one of the last major functioning medical centers, making the latest strike all the more devastating.
The deaths of journalists have added a new dimension to the tragedy, highlighting the risks faced by those working to document the conflict. Press freedom advocates have condemned the incident and called for accountability in ensuring that journalists are not deliberately targeted. The role of reporters in such war-torn areas is vital, as they serve as the eyes and ears of the international community, often providing the only verifiable information from areas closed off to foreign observers.
As the investigation continues, families of the victims are left mourning their loved ones, while the broader community remains engulfed in fear and uncertainty. Many residents of southern Gaza have already been displaced multiple times due to ongoing bombardments, and the repeated targeting of hospitals has further diminished their sense of security. The lack of an immediate response from Israel has also fueled speculation and anger, with many questioning the rules of engagement being applied in one of the world’s most densely populated regions.
International observers are expected to monitor the situation closely, as the incident could potentially influence discussions on humanitarian law and wartime conduct. The attack on Nasser Hospital is not the first of its kind during the current conflict, but its scale and the deaths of journalists are likely to draw heightened global scrutiny. Whether this will lead to concrete action or accountability remains uncertain, as both sides in the conflict continue to trade accusations and justify their military strategies.
For the people of Gaza, however, the strike represents yet another day of profound loss in a war that has reshaped every aspect of daily life. Families who turned to Nasser Hospital for safety and care now face the painful reminder that nowhere in the territory is truly secure. As the conflict stretches on, the cycle of destruction and grief continues to take a devastating toll, with medical workers, civilians, and journalists all paying the price in a war without an end in sight.
