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Saturday, Jun 07, 2025
Outside the box.
Five Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital, Including Journalists
The attack on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza has drawn international condemnation amid rising tensions and humanitarian concerns.
On June 5, 2025, an Israeli strike on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including three journalists.
The Anglican Church, which operates the facility, reported that the victims included a father accompanying his son for surgery and a bystander, while 30 others were injured, including four hospital staff.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem condemned the attack, calling it a violation of humanitarian norms.
The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate characterized the incident as a "full-fledged war crime," detailing that the journalists killed were Ismail Badah, a cameraman for Palestine Today TV; Soliman Hajaj, an editor from the same network; and Samir al-Refai of Shams News.
Additional reports indicate that at least four more journalists sustained injuries, with two, including a correspondent for Palestine Today, in critical condition.
In its defense, the Israeli military asserted that the strike was aimed at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighter operating from a command center within the hospital's compound.
The military claimed that armed groups had been utilizing al-Ahli for terrorist activity, thereby justifying the attack, although no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
The Israeli military previously denied allegations of targeting journalists during operations.
The incident occurred on the same day that over 130 global media and press freedom organizations called for unrestricted access for journalists to Gaza and full protections for local reporters.
They emphasized the dire conditions facing Palestinian journalists, stating that nearly 200 have been killed in conflict-related incidents, underscoring an ongoing crisis in press freedom within the region.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as medical personnel and bystanders rushed to assist the injured following the strike.
Video footage captured individuals, including medics, transferring casualties from the scene to medical facilities.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Civil Defense agency reported that Israeli airstrikes across Gaza led to at least 37 additional fatalities on that day.
While the conflict has escalated, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S. and Israeli-backed aid group, stated it had reopened two aid distribution centers after a brief closure for renovations, although access to these sites remains precarious due to ongoing violence.
The United Nations has warned of catastrophic levels of hunger affecting Gaza's 2.1 million residents due to prolonged Israeli blockades, which have significantly restricted food and medical supplies.
Humanitarian officials, including the executive director of the UN's World Food Programme, have called for unrestricted and scaled-up aid deliveries to address the critical food insecurity faced by the population.
In a related development, the Israeli military reported recovering the bodies of two Israeli-Americans who were taken hostage during the October 2023 attacks led by Hamas.
This event is part of the ongoing crisis involving violence and humanitarian needs in the region, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 54,677 fatalities in Gaza since the recent outbreak of conflict.
The Anglican Church, which operates the facility, reported that the victims included a father accompanying his son for surgery and a bystander, while 30 others were injured, including four hospital staff.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem condemned the attack, calling it a violation of humanitarian norms.
The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate characterized the incident as a "full-fledged war crime," detailing that the journalists killed were Ismail Badah, a cameraman for Palestine Today TV; Soliman Hajaj, an editor from the same network; and Samir al-Refai of Shams News.
Additional reports indicate that at least four more journalists sustained injuries, with two, including a correspondent for Palestine Today, in critical condition.
In its defense, the Israeli military asserted that the strike was aimed at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighter operating from a command center within the hospital's compound.
The military claimed that armed groups had been utilizing al-Ahli for terrorist activity, thereby justifying the attack, although no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
The Israeli military previously denied allegations of targeting journalists during operations.
The incident occurred on the same day that over 130 global media and press freedom organizations called for unrestricted access for journalists to Gaza and full protections for local reporters.
They emphasized the dire conditions facing Palestinian journalists, stating that nearly 200 have been killed in conflict-related incidents, underscoring an ongoing crisis in press freedom within the region.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as medical personnel and bystanders rushed to assist the injured following the strike.
Video footage captured individuals, including medics, transferring casualties from the scene to medical facilities.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Civil Defense agency reported that Israeli airstrikes across Gaza led to at least 37 additional fatalities on that day.
While the conflict has escalated, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S. and Israeli-backed aid group, stated it had reopened two aid distribution centers after a brief closure for renovations, although access to these sites remains precarious due to ongoing violence.
The United Nations has warned of catastrophic levels of hunger affecting Gaza's 2.1 million residents due to prolonged Israeli blockades, which have significantly restricted food and medical supplies.
Humanitarian officials, including the executive director of the UN's World Food Programme, have called for unrestricted and scaled-up aid deliveries to address the critical food insecurity faced by the population.
In a related development, the Israeli military reported recovering the bodies of two Israeli-Americans who were taken hostage during the October 2023 attacks led by Hamas.
This event is part of the ongoing crisis involving violence and humanitarian needs in the region, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 54,677 fatalities in Gaza since the recent outbreak of conflict.