AP reporting calls into query Israel's assault on Gaza hospital final week killing 5 journalists

[ad_1] Related Press reporting into an Israeli assault on a Gaza Strip hospital final week that killed 22 individuals, together with 5 journalists, raises critical questions on Israel's rationale for the strikes and the best way they have been carried out.

Amongst these killed within the Aug. 25 assault was 33-year-old Mariam Dagga, who labored for the AP and different information organizations.

Israeli forces struck a place effectively generally known as a journalists' gathering level, as a result of — a army official stated — they believed a digicam on the roof was being utilized by Hamas to watch troops.

The official cited "suspicious behaviour" and unspecified intelligence, however the one element given was that there was a towel on the digicam and the individual with it — which the military interpreted as an effort to keep away from identification.

The AP has gathered new proof indicating the digicam in query truly belonged to a Reuters video journalist who routinely lined his tools with a white fabric to guard it from the scorching solar and mud. The journalist, Hussam al-Masri, was killed within the preliminary strike.

The proof calls into query why Israeli forces went by way of with the strike. Witnesses say Israel incessantly noticed the place by drone, together with about 40 minutes earlier than the assault, giving a possibility to appropriately determine al-Masri.

In all, Israel struck the hospital 4 instances, the AP discovered, every time with out warning.

WATCH | 5 journalists amongst these killed in Israeli assault on hospital: 5 journalists amongst these killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital

CBC freelance videographer Mohamed El Saife was on the bottom in Gaza when two Israeli airstrikes hit Nasser Hospital. At the very least 20 individuals are lifeless, together with 5 journalists. The Israeli army refused to remark when requested if it hit the fallacious individual and has offered no proof for its claims.

The army says it's nonetheless investigating, however in its preliminary inquiry, it described "gaps" in how the assault was carried out. Israel has stated not one of the journalists killed have been supposed targets, nor have been they linked to Hamas.

The AP's evaluation is predicated on data from present and former Israeli army officers, different officers and weapons analysts — in addition to accounts from almost 20 individuals who have been in or close to the hospital on the time of the strikes.

The assault has galvanized international anger as Israeli forces push forward with a significant offensive in famine-stricken Gaza Metropolis, exposing its inhabitants to even higher hazard from Israeli bombardment and army operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu known as it a "tragic mishap″ however stopped wanting apologizing.

Protecting a digicam with fabric Earlier than the assault, the Reuters journalist, al-Masri, was positioned together with his video digicam excessive up on an exterior stairwell of Nasser Hospital. {A photograph} taken by Dagga in mid-August reveals al-Masri on the identical stairwell subsequent to his digicam, with a white fabric draped over it.

Within the weeks earlier than the strikes, al-Masri had broadcast dwell nearly each day from the stairwell, in accordance with different journalists who labored there and hospital officers. 5 journalists advised the AP that he typically used the fabric. It is not uncommon apply for video journalists world wide, together with in Gaza, to make use of such excessive positions and to cowl their cameras to guard them from the weather.

Nasser Hospital, one of many few functioning hospitals left in Gaza, has been an important location for Palestinian reporters.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A composite image shows five people in five separate images: a man, a woman, and then three more men. The first four are visibly wearing vests that say "Press" on them. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7617984.1756222905!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/composite.jpg?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7617984.1756222905!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/composite.jpg?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7617984.1756222905!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/composite.jpg?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7617984.1756222905!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/composite.jpg?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7617984.1756222905!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/composite.jpg?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7617984.1756222905!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/composite.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.7771084337349397" data-cy="image-img"/> A mix picture reveals the journalists killed in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital on Aug. 25, 2025: (L-R) Hussam al-Masri, a contractor for Reuters; Mariam Abu Dagga, who the Related Press stated freelanced for the company; Moaz Abu Taha, a contract journalist who labored with a number of information organizations, together with sometimes Reuters; Mohammed Salama, who Qatar-based Al Jazeera stated labored for the broadcaster; and Ahmed Abu Aziz, taking a selfie in an undated social media picture obtained by Reuters. (Stringer/Reuters/Ahmed Abu Aziz by way of Fb/Handouts by way of Reuters) It's a central level for reporting on lifeless and wounded from Israeli strikes, shootings of Palestinians searching for help and on malnourished individuals introduced in each day. The Wi-Fi sign supplied a uncommon dependable hyperlink to transmit information.

Photographers and videographers used the constructing's exterior staircase for months to get a chook's-eye view of the town of Khan Younis — and within the case of worldwide information companies like Reuters and the AP, to provide dwell video footage to newsrooms world wide. The AP had repeatedly knowledgeable the military that its journalists have been stationed there.

An Israeli army official stated that a number of days earlier than the assault, Israeli forces noticed a digicam on the roof and have been monitoring "suspicious behaviour," which he didn't specify.

The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity, stated the army believed Hamas was utilizing the digicam to watch its forces and stated the digicam and the person working it had what they described as a towel draped over them, suggesting an effort at concealment.

No proof anybody killed was armed A second individual was killed within the strike that hit al-Masri. Hospital officers have recognized all 22 lifeless, saying they have been a mixture of well being and rescue staff, journalists and kinfolk of sufferers.

However they stated they might not make certain which ones was the opposite individual killed within the first strike, since the entire our bodies have been collected on the identical time.

There was no proof of a second digicam on the web site the place al-Masri was killed.

At about the identical time as the primary stairway was hit, Israel struck one other a part of the hospital, in accordance with witnesses and video footage exhibiting smoke rising from the placement.

WATCH | Israeli army investigating 'tragic mishap': Israeli PM calls lethal strikes on Gaza hospital a ‘tragic mishap’

WARNING: Video incorporates distressing photographs | Strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza have left at the least 20 individuals lifeless, together with rescuers, journalists and health-care staff. The Israeli army is investigating what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu known as a ‘tragic mishap.’ Israel has struck hospitals and journalists on repeated events all through the battle. Each are presupposed to be protected underneath worldwide legislation, however hospitals can lose these protections if they're used for army functions and journalists can, too, if they're armed or participate in hostilities.

Israel has accused Hamas of working in or round hospitals however has offered restricted proof. Through the battle, Hamas safety males have typically been seen inside hospitals, blocking entry to some areas of the services.

Based mostly on evaluation of the footage on the time of the assault, and chatting with a number of eyewitnesses, there is no such thing as a proof that anybody killed within the strikes was armed.

Double-tap strikes The Israeli army has given no reason why it carried out a second spherical of strikes.

After the primary assault, a crowd of medics, journalists and others made their manner up the exterior staircase.

First responders and different civilians are sometimes harmed in double-tap assaults, which hit crowds that transfer into areas to rescue victims from preliminary strikes.

<img loading="lazy" alt="People, some of whom are wearing orange visibility vests, gather around what appears to be a body under a white sheet. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7618715.1756309445!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/israel-palestinians-gaza-journalists.JPG?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7618715.1756309445!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/israel-palestinians-gaza-journalists.JPG?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7618715.1756309445!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/israel-palestinians-gaza-journalists.JPG?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7618715.1756309445!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/israel-palestinians-gaza-journalists.JPG?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7618715.1756309445!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/israel-palestinians-gaza-journalists.JPG?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7618715.1756309445!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/israel-palestinians-gaza-journalists.JPG?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.8553459119496856" data-cy="image-img"/> Rescuers work to get better the physique of Palestinian journalist Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, after he was killed on Aug. 25 in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital. (Hatem Khaled/Reuters) Israel Ziv, a retired common who as soon as led the Israeli military's operations directorate, stated a double-tap strike would violate the military's guidelines of engagement.

Raed al-Nims, head of the Palestinian Pink Crescent's media division in Gaza, stated double-tap strikes have "occurred a number of instances" within the battle, hitting the group's ambulances and personnel after they arrive on the scene of assaults.

Israel declined to remark, citing the continued investigation.

Tank fireplace was not presupposed to have been used The AP analyzed movies of the assault and located that Israel fired tank shells within the strikes — which the Israeli army confirmed following its preliminary inquiry.

Ziv stated much less lethal and extra exact choices than tank fireplace have been obtainable.

"There isn't a good clarification for that," he stated.

An official with data of the assault stated the tank wasn't presupposed to have been used however was unable to say what the unique plans have been. The official spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity to debate the continued investigation.

WATCH | CBC Information joins collaborative effort to pool sources and experience in Gaza: CBC Information joins collaborative Gaza reporting undertaking

With worldwide journalists blocked from freely reporting from Gaza, CBC Information joined different European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members to pool sources and experience on the bottom contained in the territory to doc the starvation disaster. A munitions knowledgeable who analyzed pictures of shrapnel from the hospital obtained by the AP stated it got here from high-explosive shells fired by a tank.

The remnants present components of at the least three fin-stabilized tank gun projectiles, in step with these utilized by Israel, stated N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Analysis Companies, an Australian consulting agency.

Satellite tv for pc imagery from the afternoon of the day of the strike reveals Israeli tanks and armoured automobiles working about 4.5 kilometres northeast of the hospital.

The identical brigade that carried out these strikes, the Golani Brigade, was concerned within the March capturing of an ambulance convoy in southern Gaza that killed 15 Palestinian medics. An preliminary investigation of that assault by Israeli forces discovered a sequence of "skilled failures," and a deputy commander was fired.

Discrepancies over Israeli claims of militants A day after the strikes, Israel gave the names of six males who it stated have been militants killed within the assault. However this assertion additionally raised troubling discrepancies.

It offered no proof, and one man on its checklist, Omar Kamel Shahada Abu Teim, doesn't seem on the hospital's checklist of casualties obtained by the the AP. Medical doctors and morgue staff stated nobody by that title was killed, and in contrast to with the opposite 5, Israel didn't present a photograph.

One other individual named, Jumaa al-Najjar, was a health-care employee employed by Nasser Hospital, in accordance with the morgue checklist. One other, Imad al-Shaer, was a driver for Gaza's Civil Defence first responders.

The opposite three names seem on the casualty checklist, however no different particulars about them have been instantly obtainable.

Israel additionally didn't say if any of the six have been killed in its preliminary strike on the digicam. Most have been killed within the second spherical of strikes, and officers haven't stated whether or not they have been recognized among the many crowd on the stairwell earlier than troops struck it.

Israeli fireplace has killed 189 Palestinian reporters in Gaza, in accordance with the Committee to Defend Journalists.

Up to now, Israel has acknowledged focusing on and killing journalists it accuses of being militants, allegations denied by them and their employers. The army says it tries to keep away from harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas as a result of it operates in densely populated areas.