The Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes late Sunday night, including what Gaza officials and witnesses describe as a “double-tap” strike targeting Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. The attack, which struck the fourth floor of the hospital where patients and medics were sheltering, left at least 15 civilians dead, including four journalists, and wounded numerous others.
The term “double-tap” refers to a military tactic where a second strike follows shortly after the first, often hitting rescuers or survivors attempting to provide aid. Human rights organizations have long criticized this approach as a potential war crime under international law. In this case, the second strike struck moments after medics had rushed to the site of the first blast.
Among the dead were four local journalists who had been covering the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Their deaths have sparked anger across the international press community, with several organizations demanding accountability and urging for the protection of media personnel in conflict zones.
The Gaza Health Ministry described the attack as “a deliberate targeting of medical facilities and the press,” while Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted “a Hamas command post operating inside the hospital building.” However, no independent evidence has been provided to support this claim, and both local residents and medical staff have denied that militants were present in the area.
International condemnation has been swift. The United Nations has called for a full investigation, while humanitarian groups including Doctors Without Borders emphasized the “dangerous escalation of strikes against medical facilities.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also urged Israel to halt its military actions against press workers.
The incident underscores the growing toll of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, where hospitals, schools, and refugee camps have frequently been caught in the crossfire. With thousands already displaced and healthcare services collapsing, the strike at Nasser Hospital highlights the fragility of civilian infrastructure amid the conflict.
