As he lived in a tent and battled to provide for his family, Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters journalist killed by Israeli fire on Monday while running a live video feed at Gaza's Nasser Hospital, covered the suffering of civilians during the conflict. According to journalist colleagues, Masri, 49, was a seasoned cameraman who was well-liked by Gaza's close-knit community of reporters because of his upbeat demeanor in the most perilous circumstances. In the months before his death, he would say, "Tomorrow will be better," despite the fact that the Palestinian enclave was becoming increasingly desolate and hungry. That was the conclusion of his final discussion with Mohamed Salem, a senior Reuters visuals journalist who had collaborated with Masri in Rafah, in southern Gaza, last year and had known him since 2003. Salem, who left Gaza later in 2024 but stayed in daily contact with Masri until Monday morning, said he was a pleasure to work with because of his smiles and o...
At least 20 people, including five journalists from Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other outlets, were killed when Israel struck the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.
In an initial strike, Palestinian health officials reported that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed close to a live broadcasting position run by Reuters on an upper floor just below the roof of the hospital in Khan Younis.
Israel then struck the site a second time, according to hospital officials and witnesses, killing other journalists as well as rescuers and medical personnel who had hurried to the scene to assist.Among the journalists killed were Ahmed Abu Aziz; Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist who worked for a number of news organizations, including occasionally contributing to Reuters; Mohammed Salama, who worked for the Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera; and Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer for the Associated Press and other outlets.
Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor and photographer, suffered injuries.
Israel expressed deep regret for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a "tragic mishap," according to his office. He added that Israel's war was with Hamas and that Israel valued the work of medical personnel and journalists.
The Israel Defense Forces, Israel's military, admitted to hitting the Nasser Hospital area and stated that the general staff chief had directed an investigation.
Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor and photographer, suffered injuries.
Israel expressed deep regret for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a "tragic mishap," according to his office. He added that Israel's war was with Hamas and that Israel valued the work of medical personnel and journalists.
The Israel Defense Forces, Israel's military, admitted to hitting the Nasser Hospital area and stated that the general staff chief had directed an investigation.
The IDF "does not target journalists as such and regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals." In order to protect IDF troops, the IDF takes steps to minimize harm to those who are not directly involved," the statement stated.
"We are devastated to learn that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed this morning in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza," a Reuters spokesperson said in a statement. Additionally, Reuters contractor photographer Hatem Khaled was injured, and freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha, whose work had been published by Reuters on occasion, was killed.
"We are devastated to learn that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed this morning in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza," a Reuters spokesperson said in a statement. Additionally, Reuters contractor photographer Hatem Khaled was injured, and freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha, whose work had been published by Reuters on occasion, was killed.
"We have asked authorities in Israel and Gaza to help us get urgent medical assistance for Hatem, and we are urgently seeking more information," the spokesperson continued.
When asked for a response, U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his disapproval.
He questioned a White House reporter, "When did this happen?" "I was unaware of that. Well, it doesn't make me happy. I'd rather not see it. We must put an end to that entire nightmare at the same time.
Abu Dagga frequently based herself at the hospital for coverage, including recent reports on malnourished and starving children, and the AP expressed its "shocked and saddened" response to the deaths of Abu Dagga and other journalists.
The Palestinian presidency called on the international community, especially the U.N. Security Council and the United Nations, to protect journalists and hold Israel responsible in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
He questioned a White House reporter, "When did this happen?" "I was unaware of that. Well, it doesn't make me happy. I'd rather not see it. We must put an end to that entire nightmare at the same time.
Abu Dagga frequently based herself at the hospital for coverage, including recent reports on malnourished and starving children, and the AP expressed its "shocked and saddened" response to the deaths of Abu Dagga and other journalists.
The Palestinian presidency called on the international community, especially the U.N. Security Council and the United Nations, to protect journalists and hold Israel responsible in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The strikes were denounced by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate as "an open war against free media, with the aim of terrorizing journalists and preventing them from fulfilling their professional duty of exposing its crimes to the world."
According to the syndicate, since the war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli fire in Gaza has killed over 240 Palestinian journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists demanded that "the international community hold Israel accountable for its continued unlawful attacks on the press." The group estimated that 197 journalists and media professionals had been killed since the start of the war, including 189 Palestinians in Gaza.
According to the syndicate, since the war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli fire in Gaza has killed over 240 Palestinian journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists demanded that "the international community hold Israel accountable for its continued unlawful attacks on the press." The group estimated that 197 journalists and media professionals had been killed since the start of the war, including 189 Palestinians in Gaza.
In a statement released late Monday, Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the military was required by international law to conduct an investigation.
He declared, "As always, we will present our findings as transparently as possible."
He stated, "Reporting from an active war zone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization like Hamas, who cynically hide behind the civilian population."
Local journalist Hassan Dohan was killed, and several others were injured by Israeli gunfire at a tent encampment in the Mawasi neighborhood of Khan Younis, according to doctors at Nasser Hospital in a separate incident on Monday.
He declared, "As always, we will present our findings as transparently as possible."
He stated, "Reporting from an active war zone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization like Hamas, who cynically hide behind the civilian population."
Local journalist Hassan Dohan was killed, and several others were injured by Israeli gunfire at a tent encampment in the Mawasi neighborhood of Khan Younis, according to doctors at Nasser Hospital in a separate incident on Monday.
Prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif and four other journalists were killed in a strike by Israel two weeks ago. Israel admitted to targeting Sharif in that attack and claimed he was affiliated with the Hamas militant group, a claim the broadcaster refuted.
When the first strike occurred on Monday, the Reuters live video feed from the hospital in Masri abruptly stopped working.
During significant news events, Reuters and other news organizations frequently send live video feeds to media outlets around the world to provide a real-time, on-the-ground view of the scene. During the Gaza conflict, Reuters regularly aired a feed from Nasser Hospital. For the past few weeks, the news agency has been providing daily feeds from the damaged Nasser hospital location.
When the first strike occurred on Monday, the Reuters live video feed from the hospital in Masri abruptly stopped working.
During significant news events, Reuters and other news organizations frequently send live video feeds to media outlets around the world to provide a real-time, on-the-ground view of the scene. During the Gaza conflict, Reuters regularly aired a feed from Nasser Hospital. For the past few weeks, the news agency has been providing daily feeds from the damaged Nasser hospital location.
Since the war began in 2023, Israel has prohibited all foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip. Palestinian journalists, many of whom have worked for international media outlets, including wire services like Reuters and the Associated Press, have covered the conflict from the region.
Separately, Israel has stated that it is looking into the death of Issam Abdallah, a Reuters journalist who was killed by Israeli tank fire in southern Lebanon in October 2023 following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. No findings have been made public by Israel.
Separately, Israel has stated that it is looking into the death of Issam Abdallah, a Reuters journalist who was killed by Israeli tank fire in southern Lebanon in October 2023 following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. No findings have been made public by Israel.
SOURCES: NEWS AGENCIES