TEHRAN — Global outcry continues after an Israeli strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital killed journalists and first responders, fueling condemnation and political backlash around the world. 

On Monday, Israel struck the hospital in Khan Younis—southern Gaza’s last functioning public hospital—twice. 

Witnesses said the second strike hit just as rescue crews and journalists arrived to evacuate the wounded from the first bombing, killing both first responders and media workers. More than 20 people, including five journalists, were killed.

The victims included reporters working for Reuters, Associated Press, and Al Jazeera, along with independent journalists. 

The attack, described as a “double tap” strike, prompted media organizations to issue statements mourning their colleagues and demanding an investigation.

The United Nations has pressed Israel for accountability, warning that previous inquiries into unlawful killings in Gaza have failed to deliver results. “There needs to be justice,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN’s human rights office in Geneva. “The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations … We have yet to see results or accountability measures.” According to the UN, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war on the enclave on October 7, 2023.

Condemnation has poured in from governments across the globe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the killings “unjustifiable.” The Organization of Islamic Cooperation described them as a “war crime”. Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Spain also issued similar denunciations, with Egypt calling the attack a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law.” Germany said it was “shocked” and urged Israel to allow independent foreign media access to Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes were “intolerable,” while Canada labeled them “unacceptable,” stressing Israel’s duty to protect civilians. China, Pakistan, and other nations also joined in condemnation.

Press freedom groups have also raised alarm. Reporters Without Borders accused Israel of attempting to silence reporting from Gaza. “How far will the Israeli armed forces go in their effort to eliminate information from Gaza?” asked RSF’s director general Thibaut Bruttin, urging the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a prompt and impartial investigation, recalling that civilians, medical personnel, and journalists must always be protected. But rights groups remain skeptical of Israel’s willingness to investigate itself. A report published this month by Action on Armed Violence found that 88% of Israel’s investigations into alleged war crimes in Gaza were either closed without resolution or left unresolved. These include probes into the killing of at least 112 Palestinians waiting for flour in Gaza City in February 2024 and an airstrike that killed 45 people in a tent encampment in May 2024. Researchers concluded that the figures point to a “pattern of impunity” in cases of wrongdoing by Israeli forces.