Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza k!ll three journalists, 12 others

At least 15 people, including three journalists, were killed on Monday following Israeli airstrikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.

Among the victims was Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman contracted by Reuters. Two other journalists were also confirmed dead, while Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled sustained injuries during the attack. The strike further deepened concerns about the targeting of civilian infrastructure and press workers in the ongoing conflict.

Famine Declared in Gaza

The bombing occurred just days after the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first time such a declaration has been made in the Middle East. The UN warned that nearly half a million Palestinians face catastrophic hunger, with children most at risk.

“It is a famine: the Gaza famine,” said Tom Fletcher, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator. He accused Israel of “systematic obstruction” of humanitarian aid, which has left large parts of the population without access to food, clean water, and medical supplies.

Israel has rejected the UN’s assessment. In a statement, its foreign ministry insisted there was “no famine in Gaza,” describing the report as propaganda based on “Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests.”

Criteria for Famine

The famine classification was made by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), a UN-mandated coalition of experts tasked with monitoring food crises. According to IPC standards, famine is officially declared when 20% of households suffer extreme food shortages, 30% of children under five show acute malnutrition, and at least two out of every 10,000 people die daily from starvation or related causes.

Growing International Alarm

The strike on Nasser Hospital is the latest in a series of deadly bombings on civilian areas, adding to fears that hospitals, schools, and shelters are increasingly becoming targets in the war. International organisations, including press freedom groups, have condemned the killing of journalists and renewed calls for greater protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.

With famine officially declared and civilian casualties mounting, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, raising pressure on the international community to push for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted aid access.

(Al-Jazeera)