Turkey has denounced Israel’s latest strikes on Gaza as an attack on press freedom after at least 20 people, including five journalists, were killed at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
Burhanettin Duran, Head of Turkey’s presidential communications directorate, said in a post on X, “Press freedom and human values have once again been targeted, under the shadow of genocide, amidst the anguished cries of the innocent.”
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the five journalists killed in the Israeli attack on Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza, include Al Jazeera photographer Mohammad Salama, Hussam al-Masri, who worked as a photojournalist for the Reuters news agency; Mariam Abu Daqqa, who worked as a journalist with several media outlets, including The Independent Arabic and The Associated Press news agency; and journalist Moaz Abu Taha.
The Media Office statement added that a fifth journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz, who worked for the Quds Feed Network and other media outlets, succumbed to his wounds.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the victims were killed on the fourth floor of the hospital in a double-tap strike – one missile hitting first, then another moments later as rescue crews arrived.
Duran noted in his X post that Israel, which continues its “atrocities without regard for any humanitarian or legal principles, is under the illusion that it can prevent the truth from being revealed through its systematic attacks on journalists.”
“It is necessary for everyone with a conscience, the international community, and organizations to now raise their voices louder and to stop this genocide, which will be written as a dark page in human history, as soon as possible.”
Burhanettin Duran
Nasser Medical Complex has been struck multiple times during Israel’s war. Multiple hospitals have been struck or raided across the Strip since the war began, with Israel claiming fighters are operating from inside the medical facilities without providing evidence. Israeli claims have never been backed by evidence.
The journalists’ killings come barely two weeks after renowned Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was killed along with four of his media colleagues in front of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Israel claimed that it targeted Anas, who had become the voice of Gaza for his extensive reporting from the enclave – home to more than two million people.
Attack On Nasser Hospital Labelled Israel’s Policy
Israeli Political Scientist, Menachem Klein said that the deadly attack on Nasser Hospital is a“policy, not an accident.”
“Israel implements this kind of criminal attack time and again. It’s not the first time, and unfortunately, I assume it won’t be the last time unless there is a ceasefire.”
Menachem Klein
Klein who lectures at Bar-Ilan University, told a news agency that he “won’t be surprised” if Israel’s army later issues a statement trying to justify the attack as targeting a Hamas member but “it’s a criminal act any way that we look at it.”
“The Israeli army dehumanises everyone who lives inside Gaza. That’s the problem. It’s morally corrupt. The international community should consider sanctions on Israel.”
Menachem Klein
Referencing attacks targeting and killing paramedics, aid workers and journalists, Mohamed Elmasry, Media studies Professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, noted, “If there’s anything that Israel has learned over the last 23 months, it’s that it can pretty much do whatever it wants and get away with it.”
“All they’ve [Israel’s army] have had to do is come out with a statement either denying it, deflecting it or blaming Hamas. We’ll see what they say about this [latest attack on Nasser Hospital].
Mohamed Elmasry
Rights groups have roundly condemned Israel’s targeting of journalists in Gaza, where reporters face more danger than anywhere else in the world.
