At least 20 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza on Monday, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. Among the dead were four journalists and an emergency responder, with dozens more injured in what witnesses described as a devastating “double-tap strike.”

Health officials confirmed that the victims were on the hospital’s fourth floor when the missiles hit. The first strike caused immediate casualties, while the second came minutes later, hitting the site as journalists, medics, and civilians rushed in to assist the wounded. The attack left scenes of chaos and destruction in one of Gaza’s key medical facilities, which has already been under strain since the conflict began.

The four journalists killed were identified as Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman and contract worker for Reuters; Mariam Abu Dagga, who had been working with the Associated Press and other international outlets; Mohammad Salama, a cameraman for Qatar-based Al Jazeera; and Moaz Abu Taha. The Health Ministry also confirmed the death of one rescue worker in the second strike.

Footage broadcast by Reuters captured the moment the strike occurred. Al-Masri was presenting a live video feed from inside the hospital when the attack suddenly cut the transmission short. Colleagues later confirmed that he died on the spot. In the subsequent blast, Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was severely wounded. The agency said it was seeking urgent medical treatment for him from both Gaza and Israeli authorities.

Eyewitnesses described the sequence of events in harrowing detail. After the first explosion, journalists and first responders ran to the site to help those trapped under debris. Moments later, a second missile struck, creating even more devastation and leaving rescuers among the dead and injured. The use of a double-tap strike—where a second attack targets those rushing to aid victims of the first—has been widely criticized by rights groups as a deliberate tactic that magnifies civilian casualties.

Al Jazeera confirmed the death of its cameraman Mohammad Salama in a statement condemning the strike. “Despite continuous targeting, Al Jazeera has been covering the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza for 23 months. Today we mourn our colleague, who lost his life while fulfilling his professional duty to report the truth,” the network said.

Reuters also issued a statement expressing deep sorrow at the loss of Hussam al-Masri and concern for their injured photographer. “We are profoundly saddened by the death of our freelance cameraman and the injuries sustained by another journalist in the Nasser Hospital strike. We are gathering more information and have urgently requested medical assistance for our wounded colleague,” the statement read.

The Israeli military and the Prime Minister’s Office have yet to comment on the incident. Israel has previously defended its strikes on Gaza, claiming they target Hamas and other militant groups, but hospitals and press organizations have consistently accused Israeli forces of deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure and journalists.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the strike in the strongest terms, calling it “a direct declaration of war against the free press.” The group said the attack was intended to intimidate journalists and prevent the global community from learning about what it described as Israeli crimes in Gaza.

According to the syndicate, since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, more than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli bombardments. International watchdog groups have repeatedly raised alarm over the high number of journalist fatalities, calling Gaza one of the most dangerous places in the world for reporters.

The latest deaths underscore the mounting toll on media workers covering the conflict, many of whom continue reporting under conditions of extreme risk. Despite appeals from international organizations, press freedom advocates say there has been little accountability for the killings of journalists in Gaza.

Monday’s hospital strike is likely to intensify global criticism of Israel’s military campaign, which has already been accused of violating international humanitarian law. Human rights organizations have long argued that targeting hospitals, medical staff, and journalists undermines the principles of civilian protection in wartime.

As images and reports from the aftermath circulated worldwide, calls for an independent investigation grew louder. Advocacy groups stressed that ensuring accountability for attacks on journalists is essential not only for justice but also for preserving the integrity of free reporting in conflict zones.

The strike at Nasser Hospital adds to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where medical facilities remain overwhelmed by mass casualties, dwindling supplies, and constant bombardments. For many in Gaza, the loss of journalists alongside doctors and civilians symbolizes not only the human cost of the war but also an effort to silence voices documenting the crisis for the outside world.