Witnesses said the second strike hit just as rescue crews and journalists arrived to evacuate the wounded from the first bombing, killing both first responders and media workers. More than 20 people, including five journalists, were killed.
The victims included reporters working for Reuters, Associated Press, and Al Jazeera, along with independent journalists.
The attack, described as a “double tap” strike, prompted media organizations to issue statements mourning their colleagues and demanding an investigation.
The United Nations has pressed Israel for accountability, warning that previous inquiries into unlawful killings in Gaza have failed to deliver results. “There needs to be justice,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN’s human rights office in Geneva. “The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations … We have yet to see results or accountability measures.” According to the UN, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war on the enclave on October 7, 2023.
Condemnation has poured in from governments across the globe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the killings “unjustifiable.” The Organization of Islamic Cooperation described them as a “war crime”. Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Spain also issued similar denunciations, with Egypt calling the attack a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law.” Germany said it was “shocked” and urged Israel to allow independent foreign media access to Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes were “intolerable,” while Canada labeled them “unacceptable,” stressing Israel’s duty to protect civilians. China, Pakistan, and other nations also joined in condemnation.