Israeli Military to Review Inquiry Flaws in Strikes Causing Deaths of Five Journalists

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Two journalists from Reuters and the Associated Press were tragically killed in an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital, though a military spokesperson confirmed they were not “targeted” by the attack. Following this incident, the army chief has instructed further investigation into the decision-making process that led to the strike on the hospital.

“We can confirm that the Reuters and AP journalists were not a target of the strike,” commented military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani to Reuters. The attack also resulted in the deaths of three additional journalists.

Throughout the conflict, Reuters has consistently transmitted live feeds from Nasser Hospital using its own camera gear. Over the last few weeks, daily broadcasts had been delivered from the hospital site that was attacked.

When the initial Israeli strike occurred, it abruptly interrupted the Reuters live video feed being operated by cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who was fatally struck in the attack.

A journalist wearing a press vest poses for a photo holding a helmet.

Freelance journalist Mariam Dagga had been working with the Associated Press and other outlets during the war in Gaza. Source: AP / Jehad Alshrafi

None of the five journalists was among the six alleged Palestinian militant targets that the Israeli military named in a written statement, released on Tuesday. The statement included photos of six persons who were killed, including alleged members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

“The Chief of the General Staff expresses regret for any harm to civilians,” the statement declared, emphasizing the Israeli military’s focus on military targets exclusively.

‘Several gaps’ cited by Israeli military

The written Israeli military statement identified what it called “several gaps” that Israel’s chief of the general staff had instructed be further examined:

“Firstly, a further examination of the authorisation process prior to the strike, including the ammunition approved for the strike and the timing of the authorisation,” the statement reads.

“Secondly, an examination of the decision-making process in the field.”

In a statement issued later on Tuesday, Hamas challenged the Israeli account of the hospital casualties, denying that any of the Palestinians killed were militants.

The Hamas government media office said in a statement that one of the six Palestinians whom Israel alleged were militants was killed in al-Mawasi, some distance from the hospital, and another was killed elsewhere at a different time.

The Hamas statement did not clarify whether the two men were civilians or fighters.

Moaz abu Taha, a Gaza correspondent with NBC News, was among the casualties. Source: EPA / Handout

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel deeply regretted what he called a “tragic mishap”.

In a letter to Israeli officials, Reuters and AP wrote: “These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing critical work bearing witness. Their work is especially vital in light of Israel’s nearly two-year ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza.” 

“We hope this probe will be quick, thorough and provide clear answers. These deaths demand urgent and transparent accountability,” the letter stated. 

Besides Masri, who worked on contract for Reuters for the past year, the journalists killed also included Mariam Abu Dagga, who freelanced for the Associated Press and other outlets, Mohammed Salama, who worked for Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist who worked with several news organisations including occasionally contributing to Reuters, and Ahmed Abu Aziz, a journalist for Middle East Eye.

Photographer Hatem Khaled, also a Reuters contractor, was wounded.

Reuters’ contractor and cameraperson Hussam al-Masri was filming the live video when he was killed in the first strike, as reported by the news agency. Source: EPA / Handout

The written military statement said troops had identified a camera “positioned by Hamas” in the area of the hospital to observe the activity of Israeli troops in order to direct terrorist activities against them.

It said the troops acted to remove the threat by striking and dismantling the camera.

Reuters and other news providers often deliver live video feeds to media outlets worldwide during major news events, allowing them to show the scene from the ground in real-time.

Hamas criticised the statement, calling the accusation “baseless”.

Israel “attempted to justify this crime by fabricating a false claim that it had targeted a ‘camera’ belonging to resistance elements — an allegation that is baseless, lacking any evidence, and merely aimed at evading legal and moral responsibility for a full-fledged massacre,” the group said in a statement.