According to the Palestinian group, no fighters were killed in the Israeli military’s double-tap attack on Nasser Hospital.
Hamas has stated that none of the 21 individuals killed in the Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital were members of the Palestinian movement. This contradicts the Israeli military’s claim that it targeted a Hamas surveillance camera and killed six fighters in the attack on the medical facility.
Hamas, in a statement reported by Reuters, challenged the Israeli government’s account, which had named six fighters allegedly killed in the attack, and which has drawn international condemnation for targeting journalists, medics, rescue workers, and civilians.
According to Hamas, at least two of the six Palestinians named by the Israeli military were not killed in the hospital attack but in different times and locations, including one who died in al-Mawasi, away from the hospital in Khan Younis.
The Israeli military had previously claimed that its “initial investigation” into the attack suggested the target was a Hamas camera used to monitor Israeli troop movements.
“The force acted to destroy the camera,” according to the Israeli army statement.
A Reuters live feed being operated by cameraman Hussam al-Masri suddenly shut down at the time of the initial strike, resulting in his death. A second strike was recorded live minutes later, killing rescue workers and four more journalists who had arrived to assist the victims of the first strike.
In addition to al-Masri, the other four journalists killed were Ahmed Abu Aziz, Mariam Abu Daqqa, Mohammad Salama, and Moaz Abu Taha.
The attack was described as a double-tap strike, where Israeli forces hit the facility and then targeted emergency responders and journalists who arrived on the scene, aiming to maximize casualties.
Israel commonly justifies its attacks on civilians in Gaza by claiming they are targeting Hamas.
Human rights groups accuse the Israeli military of war crimes due to its widespread bombing of Gaza. A recent report found that 83 percent of all individuals killed since the start of the conflict are civilians.
