No fewer than at least 15 persons, including four journalists working for the international media, have been reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip.
A Reuters cameraman and an Associated Press (AP) journalist were among those killed in the attack at Nasser Hospital.
Another journalist is reported to have worked for Al Jazeera.
Several people were k!lled in an initial strike, and others in a second which happened as rescuers attended the scene, the Hamas-run Civil Defence said.
The Israeli military said it had carried out an attack on the hospital and an investigation had been ordered. It added that it “does not target journalists as such”.
The Hamas-run health ministry said people were killed when a missile hit the fourth floor, followed by a second missile on the same spot when rescuers arrived, AP reported.
Reuters news agency said its cameraman, Husam al-Masri, was among those killed.
AP said Mariam Dagga, a freelance journalist working for it, was also killed. The news agency said it was “shocked and saddened” by the 33-year-old’s death.
The others are said to have been Mohammed Salameh working for Al Jazeera, and photographer Muath Abu Taha.
US TV network NBC said Taha did not work for it, as had been initially reported.
The Civil Defence said 15 people were killed, including one of its members, AFP news agency reported.
Monday’s attack comes two weeks after six journalists, including four from Al Jazeera, were k!lled in an Israeli targeted attack near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
