After the Israeli army attacked the Nasser Hospital in the Gaza Strip on the 25th and drew international condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel 'deeply regrets' this tragic incident.
That evening, he issued a statement in English, saying: 'Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.'
He reiterated that Israel's goal is to defeat Hamas and bring all hostages home.
The Israel Defense Forces earlier issued a statement confirming that the military had attacked the area around Nasser Hospital that day.
The statement said that the Chief of General Staff had instructed a 'prompt preliminary investigation,' and that 'the IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved parties; the IDF does not target journalists.'
According to sources in Gaza on the 25th, the Israeli army first bombed Nasser Hospital, then attacked medical personnel who rushed to the rescue, resulting in at least 20 deaths, including 5 journalists.
A statement from the Gazan health authorities pointed out that those killed included medical staff, patients, journalists, and civil defense workers, with dozens more injured.
The Hamas media office said in a statement that at the time of the Israeli attack, a group of journalists were reporting at Nasser Hospital. The journalists killed worked for Reuters, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other media outlets.
UN Secretary-General Strongly Condemns
On the 25th, UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through spokesperson Dujarric, strongly condemning the Israeli military’s attack that day on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, and called for a prompt and impartial investigation into the incident.
The statement said that the victims of the attack included not only ordinary civilians but also medical staff and media journalists. This 'latest horrific killing' highlights the extreme danger faced by medical staff and journalists in carrying out their vital work in this brutal conflict. Guterres reiterated that civilians, including medical staff and journalists, must be respected and protected, and that medical staff and journalists must be able to carry out their duties in accordance with international humanitarian law without interference, threats, or harm.
Guterres again called for an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unimpeded humanitarian access, and the immediate and unconditional release of detainees.