Key facts
- An Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza killed 22 Palestinians, including journalists and rescue workers, one year ago.
- Israeli officials claimed the strike targeted a suspected Hamas camera on the hospital roof.
- Among the victims were Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri and AP journalist Mariam Dagga.
- An anonymous Israeli soldier has stated that no evidence linked the camera to Hamas and the intended target was not among those killed.
- The Israeli military has not provided details on its investigation into the strike.
- The military stated the incident is under examination, with findings to be reviewed for a potential criminal investigation.
A year after an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza resulted in the deaths of 22 Palestinians, including journalists and rescue workers, accountability remains elusive. Israeli officials stated the target was a suspected Hamas camera on the hospital roof, claiming six of those killed were linked to Hamas. However, an anonymous Israeli soldier, privy to discussions surrounding the military's response, has revealed that no evidence linked the camera, belonging to Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, to Hamas. The soldier also stated that none of the six individuals allegedly linked to Hamas were the intended target of the strike.
Among the victims were al-Masri and Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who worked for The Associated Press and other news organizations. AP had repeatedly informed the Israeli army of its journalists' presence at the hospital, which was a vital location for news agencies filming in Gaza. The first strike killed al-Masri and another individual. A second strike, occurring as journalists and rescue workers rushed to assist the wounded, killed 20 more people, raising accusations of a "double tap" attack, which could constitute a war crime.
Israeli officials had alleged that Hamas used the camera to observe nearby troops, citing a towel draped over it and the person filming as suspicious behavior. However, al-Masri routinely covered his equipment with a white cloth for protection from the elements, a common practice in Gaza. The soldier's account, corroborated by AP and Breaking the Silence, suggests a pattern of "retroactive incrimination" where deceased Palestinians are automatically counted as militants to justify strikes and avoid real investigations.
Despite repeated requests for details about the investigation, the Israeli military has not provided a timeline for its completion. They stated the incident is being examined and findings will be transferred to the Military Advocate General’s Corps for a verdict on whether to open a criminal investigation. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace expressed that the information received has fallen short of the clear answers and accountability required for such a grave incident.