AP, Reuters demand answers on Nasser Hospital strike last month that killed their workers

Two major news agencies demand that Israel explain what happened during a strike on a hospital in Gaza last month that killed five journalists, calling for concrete actions to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Reuters and The Associated Press — through their top editors, Alessandra Galloni and Julie Pace — urge the Israeli government to “explain the deaths of these journalists and to take every step to protect those who continue to cover this conflict.”

Their statement comes on the one-month anniversary of the strike.

Killed in the strikes were five journalists, including visual journalist Mariam Dagga, who worked for AP and other news organizations; Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri; and Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work had been published by Reuters. Seventeen others were killed in the strike.

According to the IDF, which is investigating the incident, Hamas had installed a surveillance camera on hospital grounds, and six of the more than 20 people killed were terror operatives, including one who took part in the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel.

According to Hebrew media reports, the incident took place after Israeli troops spotted the Hamas camera, received approval for a drone strike, and shortly afterward spotted what they thought was a rifle scope and fired two shells at the site, followed by two more after armed men were identified.