KHAN YUNIS, Gaza— Five Palestinian journalists were killed and several others injured on Monday when Israeli forces bombed the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, according to Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) and the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate.

Those killed in the strike were identified as Mariam Abu Daqqa, a contributor to Independent Arabia and the Associated Press; Mohammad Salama, a photographer for Al Jazeera; Hossam Al-Masry, who worked for Palestine TV and Reuters; Moaz Abu Taha, a contributor to NBC; and Ahmed Abu Aziz, who reported for several local media outlets, including Tunisian station Diwan FM. Among the wounded were Hatim Omar, a Reuters photographer, and Jamal Badah from Palestine Today TV.

Footage of the bombing circulated widely on Monday, showing the destruction inside the hospital complex and rescue teams evacuating the injured.

WJWC Condemnation

Women Journalists Without Chains condemned the strike as part of what it described as a continuing campaign of deliberate targeting of media workers. The organization said Israeli forces have killed journalists in their homes, in the field, and now inside hospitals, underscoring what it called the “systematic” nature of the attacks.

WJWC chairperson and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman held the United States responsible for enabling the killings through unconditional military and political support to Israel. She also criticized Western governments for their silence, which she said shields Israel from accountability.

Karman warned that the world was facing a “moral and humanitarian test,” saying the international community must act to defend justice and human rights.

Record Toll

WJWC said the killing of journalists is part of a wider campaign in Gaza to suppress information about atrocities committed during what it called an “extermination war.”

According to the group, at least 244 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for media workers in modern history. The number exceeds the combined journalist death toll of World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that from October 2023 to August 25, 2025, at least 62,744 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, including 2,123 who died while seeking aid. It said at least 300 people — among them 117 children — have died from starvation due to the ongoing blockade.

Hospitals Under Fire

WJWC documented at least seven separate incidents this year in which journalists were killed in hospitals or in makeshift press tents inside hospital grounds. These include strikes on Shifa Hospital, the Baptist Hospital, and earlier attacks on Nasser Medical Complex.

The group said such targeting constitutes a “double violation” of international law, as both journalists and hospitals are entitled to special protection under the Geneva Conventions.

Escalating Military Campaign

The latest strike came as the Israeli army expanded Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, an offensive aimed at seizing control of Gaza City. The campaign has involved widespread bombardments, the destruction of residential neighborhoods, and the forced displacement of more than one million civilians.

Calls for Action

WJWC called for:

·         An independent international investigation into the killings of journalists.

·         Immediate protection for Palestinian journalists through UN monitoring missions.

·         International pressure on Israel to halt attacks on civilians, hospitals, and media workers.

·         Support and compensation for the families of slain and injured journalists.

The group said that the silence of the international community amounts to complicity, stressing that protecting journalists in Gaza is now an urgent humanitarian responsibility.