UN demands accountability for Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed journalists
Iran Press TV
Tuesday, 26 August 2025 4:37 PM
The United Nations has demanded that Israel investigate its latest deadly strike on a Gaza hospital, which killed civilians, including medics and journalists, and ensure the probes deliver accountable results.
"We haven't seen results or accountability measures yet. We have yet to see the results of these investigations, and we call for accountability and justice," UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.
The statement came a day after five journalists were killed in a "double-tap" Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which claimed around two dozen lives on Monday.
The attack, which targeted reporters working for Al Jazeera, Reuters, the Associated Press (AP), and other news agencies, was among the deadliest of numerous Israeli strikes that have hit hospitals and media personnel during the nearly two-year genocidal war on Gaza.
The UN human rights spokesperson said the high number of media workers killed in the conflict "raises many, many questions about the targeting of journalists."
Al-Kheetan said at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza in Israel's nearly 22-month-long assault on the besieged strip, including multiple confirmed cases of targeted strikes.
"It's of course the responsibility of Israel, as the occupying power, to investigate - but these investigations need to yield results," he stressed.
Outrage is mounting over Israel's Monday attack on the Gaza hospital, with international organizations and several countries condemning the horrific incident.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press and Reuters have jointly called on Tel Aviv to conduct a full and transparent investigation into its strike on journalists carrying out their professional duties.
In a letter addressed to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, minister of military affairs Israel Katz, and other senior officials, the two leading news agencies demanded a clear explanation from Israel for targeting journalists.
"We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law."
Both agencies raised concerns over Israel's failure to fulfill its obligations under international law to protect journalists and civilians.
"Striking a hospital, followed by a second strike while journalists and rescuers were responding, raises urgent questions about whether these obligations were upheld," the letter read.
The attack killed AP freelancer Mariam Dagga, Al Jazeera photographer Mohammad Salama, Reuters contributor Moaz Abu Taha, and cameraman Hussam Al-Masri. A fifth journalist, Ahmed Abu Aziz, who worked for the Quds Feed Network and other media outlets, succumbed to his injuries.
Rights groups and media agencies have raised concerns about the credibility of Israel's internal probes, citing a lack of transparency and past failures to deliver accountability and action.
The groups said this raises "serious questions, including whether Israel is deliberately targeting live feeds in order to suppress information."
The news agencies reiterated their call for Israel to allow safe and unimpeded access to Gaza for independent journalists.
They urged the Tel Aviv regime to uphold press freedom and protection.
"We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to deliver crucial eyewitness reporting under extremely dangerous conditions," the letter stated.
The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media working in the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed its outrage at the attack, demanding "an immediate explanation" from the Israeli army and the Israeli PM's office.
The association called on Israel "once and for all to halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists."
"This must be a watershed moment. We appeal to international leaders: Do everything you can to protect our colleagues. We cannot do it ourselves," the news agencies added.
Israel's relentless air and artillery bombardment continues to devastate Gaza, killing and wounding more Palestinians.
The death toll from the US-Israeli genocide has topped 62,800, with over 158,600 others injured.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
