Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved quickly to address the incident, saying: “Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza. Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home.” His words reinforced Israel’s position that its war is not with Gaza’s population but with Hamas, a group that deliberately endangers both Palestinians and Israelis by operating from hospitals, schools, and residential neighborhoods.
The Israel Defense Forces explained that the hospital strike was triggered by Hamas’s use of the facility for hostile purposes, specifically to track Israeli troop movements. “We can confirm that the Reuters and AP journalists were not a target of the strike,” said an IDF spokesperson, reiterating that Israel does not target journalists. The chief of staff has already ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the authorization process, the munitions used, and the circumstances leading to the strike. Officials emphasized that the IDF “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals” but stressed the military imperative of neutralizing Hamas’s presence in civilian spaces.
The journalists killed—Hussam al-Masri, Mariam Abu Dagga, Mohammed Salama, Moaz Abu Taha, and Ahmed Abu Aziz—had been working at the hospital, which had become a hub for international reporting. While their deaths are mourned, Israel has pointed to a long-standing and dangerous problem: Hamas embeds itself within the civilian environment, ensuring that any military action carries grave risks. The tragic outcome at Nasser Hospital illustrates how Hamas turns hospitals into shields, using the world’s outrage as a weapon against Israel.
The case also revived memories of Hassan Aslih, a Gaza journalist killed in May in another Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital. Israel presented evidence that Aslih was more than a journalist—he rode with Hamas attackers on October 7, 2023, into southern Israel to document the massacre of civilians. International outlets severed ties with him after the revelations, bolstering Israel’s argument that Hamas exploits media credentials to mask terrorist activity.
Despite the outrage, Israeli leaders have stressed that their war aims remain clear: dismantle Hamas, free the hostages, and prevent another October 7. They argue that Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths at Nasser Hospital by turning medical facilities into military outposts. Israel has vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly, but it will not allow Hamas’s exploitation of hospitals and civilians to paralyze its operations.
For Israel, the strike on Nasser Hospital is a tragic chapter in a war forced upon it. The deaths of the journalists are deeply regretted, but they serve as a stark reminder of Hamas’s true strategy: hiding behind innocents to shield its fighters. Israel insists it will continue to fight with regret but also with resolve, determined to end Hamas’s reign of terror once and for all.
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