An Israeli airstrike on al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Thursday claimed the lives of five individuals, including three journalists, sparking international condemnation and renewed concerns over press freedom and civilian safety in the conflict zone.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which operates the hospital, confirmed the deaths and said the attack injured 30 others, including four hospital staff. According to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, the strike directly hit a media tent set up on the hospital grounds, accusing Israel of committing a “full-fledged war crime.”
The deceased journalists were identified as Ismail Badah and Soliman Hajaj, both affiliated with Palestine Today TV, and Samir al-Refai of Shams News. Four other journalists were injured, two critically. Video footage from the scene showed medics rushing to assist casualties in the hospital yard.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it had “precisely struck” a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighter operating from a command centre within the hospital’s yard. However, it provided no evidence to support the claim and did not name the alleged target.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are protected spaces unless used for military operations. While Israel has accused armed groups of misusing medical facilities, al-Ahli hospital and other observers have denied such allegations.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny over the treatment of journalists in Gaza. More than 130 global media and press freedom organizations, including the BBC, have called for unrestricted access to Gaza and protections for Palestinian journalists. Nearly 200 journalists have been killed since the start of the conflict in October 2023.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) resumed aid operations after briefly shutting down its centres. The group, which bypasses the UN in delivering aid, has been criticized by aid agencies for violating humanitarian principles.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 54,600 people have died in Gaza since Israel began its military campaign following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 others.
