IDF Concludes Initial Investigation Into Strike On Gaza’s Nasser Hospital

An initial inquiry by the Israeli Defense Forces into Monday’s strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital found that six terrorists were among the 20 people the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported as killed.

The strike, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a “tragic mishap” due to civilian deaths, consisted of both an initial attack and a second strike — captured in viral footage — that occurred as rescue workers arrived.

According to the IDF, the Golani Brigade troops identified a camera positioned by Hamas in the area of the hospital that was being used to monitor Israeli troop movements in order to “direct terrorist activities against them.”

The IDF added that it had intelligence confirming that Hamas has used Nasser Hospital to carry out terrorist activities since the start of the war.

“In light of this, the troops operated to remove the threat by striking and dismantling the camera and the inquiry showed that the troops operated to remove the threat,” the IDF said.

One of the six terrorists, according to the IDF, was Jum’a Khaled Jum’a al-Najjar, who infiltrated Israel during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre of Israeli civilians.

The IDF said others killed in the strike included Hamas terrorists Hisham Tayseer Ibrahim Quweder, Imad Abd al-Hakim Ali al-Shaer, Salah Yusuf Muhsin Barbakh, and Omar Kamal Shahada Abu Teim, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad member Muhammad Ahmad Salem Abu Hadaf.

The terrorists killed in the Monday strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, according to the IDF.

Netanyahu apologized for the harm caused to civilians in a post on Monday, calling it a “tragic mishap.”

“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,” Netanyahu wrote. “Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians.”

In the aftermath, world leaders swiftly condemned the attack, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for a prompt investigation.

“The Secretary-General recalls that civilians, including medical personnel and journalists, must be respected and protected at all times. He calls for a prompt, impartial investigation into these killings,” Guterres’s spokesperson told reporters.

Others killed in the strike included individuals affiliated with media outlets such as Al Jazeera and Reuters: Mariam Abu Dagga, Mohammed Salama, Ahmed Abu Aziz, Moaz Abu Taha.

According to Israeli activist Eitan Fischbarger, several of them had troubling histories. Salama, who worked with Al Jazeera, reportedly entered Israel on October 7. Dagga hosted trainings for Hamas’s “information ministry” in 2019. Ahmed Abu Aziz called October 7 “the greatest day of our generation,” and Taha glorified on social media a terrorist who killed Rabbi Raziel Shevach, a father of six.

While the initial inquiry has concluded, the IDF’s Chief of the General Staff instructed that additional gaps be examined, including the authorization process prior to the strike, the type of ammunition approved for use, and the timing of the authorization.

He added that Israel’s war is with “Hamas terrorists” and its goals are “defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home.”