Photo: Sacha Myers / Save the Children
Two hits, minutes apart. Medics and journalists among the dead. If deliberate, it’s a textbook war crime.
By Citizen of Europe — Analysis
26 August 2025
Israel’s strike on Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital on 25 August 2025 did not end with one blast. It was followed by a second strike roughly a quarter of an hour later—after first responders and camera crews had arrived. At least twenty people were killed, including five journalists who had rushed to the upper floors and the external stairwell used for live shots. Israel says it does not target journalists and has opened an internal inquiry. If the sequence is confirmed as intentional, it meets the profile of a double-tap attack: a prohibited method that deliberately hits rescuers and those documenting the aftermath.
How the attack unfolded
- First strike: An initial blast hit the upper floors of Nasser Hospital, killing Reuters contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri near a live broadcasting position.
- The pull: Medics, civil defence workers in orange vests, and multiple journalists moved toward the impact area, some ascending an exterior stairwell long used for live feeds.
- Second strike: ~15 minutes later, a follow-up strike hit the same spot, killing additional journalists and rescuers on scene.
- Confirmed victims (journalists): Hussam al-Masri (Reuters contractor), Mariam Abu Dagga (AP freelancer), Mohammed Salama (Al Jazeera), Moaz Abu Taha (freelance), and Ahmed Abu Aziz (Quds Feed). Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was wounded.
📌 At a glance — Nasser Hospital, 25 Aug 2025
- Location: Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis (southern Gaza)
- Casualties: At least 20 killed; five journalists confirmed among the dead
- Method: Two strikes on the same spot ~15 minutes apart (double-tap)
- Visual evidence: Live TV footage captured rescuers seconds before the second blast
- IDF position: Says journalists are not targeted “as such,” orders preliminary inquiry
Verdict: The timing and target repetition match a classic double-tap pattern that, if deliberate, is unlawful under IHL.
Why “double-tap” matters
Double-tap strikes are designed to magnify harm: the first blast injures and draws in helpers and witnesses; the second blast kills them. Beyond the immediate toll, the tactic chills rescue work and intimidates the press—controlling what the world can know.
The law — hospitals and journalists are protected
Under International Humanitarian Law, medical units “shall be respected and protected at all times and shall not be the object of attack” (Additional Protocol I, Art. 12; ICRC Customary IHL Rule 28). Journalists on dangerous professional missions are considered civilians (AP I, Art. 79) and enjoy full civilian protection. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians and against medical units are war crimes under the Rome Statute (Art. 8(2)(b)(i) and 8(2)(b)(ix)). Any claim of military necessity requires credible, specific evidence of direct use for hostile acts, with feasible precautions and proportionality—none of which excuses a calculated follow-up strike on rescuers and press.
📌 War-Crime Checklist — Nasser Hospital Strike
- Object of attack: Hospital building + stairwell used for broadcasting. Protected civilian object under IHL.
- Status of victims: Journalists and medics. Both explicitly protected as civilians/humanitarian actors.
- Intent: Two timed strikes, same spot, ~15 minutes apart. Pattern consistent with double-tap method.
- Precautions: No evidence of warnings or evacuation measures before the second hit.
- Proportionality: Civilian harm (20+ dead including 5 journalists) outweighs any unproven military advantage.
Verdict: The sequence aligns with the prohibited double-tap pattern. If deliberate, this is not “collateral damage” but a prima facie war crime.
Israel’s position and accountability gap
Israel says it does not target journalists and expressed regret for harm to uninvolved people, announcing an internal review. Historically, such inquiries have seldom delivered accountability, and international press-freedom groups are calling for independent investigations. Whether by design or reckless disregard, the legal analysis turns on intent, precautions, and proportionality—issues an external probe is best placed to assess.
The bigger picture
Across this war, Gaza’s health system has been repeatedly struck, and local reporters—barred from foreign backup—have shouldered the risk. Killing five journalists in a stairwell moments after a first hit is not a fog-of-war footnote. It’s a line in bright red.
Disclaimer & Sources
This report synthesizes verifiable, on-the-record coverage and legal texts. All claims and figures are cross-checked as of 26 Aug 2025. URLs archived where possible.
- Reuters: strike acknowledged; sequence and casualties; names of journalists; IDF statement.
- AP News: two strikes; stairwell/liveshot details; list of victims; newsroom responses.
- The Guardian: timing (~15 minutes); live video from AlGhad TV; additional corroboration.
- CPJ alert: names/affiliations of the five journalists; context on press killings.
- IHL texts: AP I Articles 12 & 79; ICRC Customary IHL (Rules 28 & 34); Rome Statute Art. 8.
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