The United Nations has stated that “there needs to be justice” in the aftermath of Israel’s double raid on a Gaza hospital, which killed at least 20 people.
According to an early Israeli military assessment, the strike targeted a “camera positioned by Hamas”.
The incident, which killed five journalists and four health professionals, has sparked widespread condemnation, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling it “completely indefensible”.
Later on Tuesday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced its preliminary findings, which highlighted various “gaps” for further study.
It happened as Israelis began a day of mass protests demanding that their government accept a deal to rescue the hostages.
The attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis began with an initial strike that killed at least one person, followed by a second strike about 10 minutes later that hit journalists and rescuers who were on the site.
At least 20 people were killed, including four health professionals and five journalists from international media sources such as the Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye.
“This is a shock, and this is unacceptable,” UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan said on Tuesday.
“This raises many, many questions about the targeting of journalists, and all of these incidents must absolutely be investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
Speaking about past Israeli investigations into deaths in Gaza, he added, “These investigations need to yield results. There needs to be justice. We haven’t seen results or accountability measures yet.”
In its statement, the IDF said it detected a camera positioned by Hamas in the neighbourhood of the hospital “used to observe the activity of IDF troops”.
“The troops operated to remove the threat by striking and dismantling the camera,” the statement said. It alleged that six of those killed were “terrorists”.
A military spokesperson later stated that journalists from Reuters and the Associated Press had not been targeted.
The IDF report appears to take a different tone from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks on Monday evening, which described the occurrence as a “tragic mishap”.
However, the IDF did not explain why a second attack occurred minutes after the first. Instead, it stated that more inquiry was required into the authorisation process, including the ammunition used and the military’s “decision-making process in the field”.
Protesters in Israel blocked highways with burning tyres and organised protests in Tel Aviv and other cities, demanding that their government agree to a ceasefire plan to restore Hamas’ remaining hostages and end the war.
Despite earlier agreeing to a ceasefire proposal, the Israeli government has rejected it thus far.
According to Netanyahu, the administration now wants an alternative arrangement in which all captives are released in one trade.
Israel estimates that only 20 of the 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are still alive after 22 months of conflict.
“Israel is standing against Netanyahu and his regime,” said Yehuda Cohen, father of Nimrod Cohen, who was taken hostage in the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023.
“Another day for protest, another day to make sure the issue of the hostages stays a high priority. Another day to pressure Netanyahu and force him to end the war and get a hostage deal.”
In Jerusalem, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the prime minister’s office, where a security cabinet meeting was taking place.
Qatar, one of the countries involved in the ceasefire discussions, said mediators were still “waiting for an answer” from Israel to the most recent proposal.
“The responsibility now lies on the Israeli side to respond to an offer that is on the table. Anything else is political posturing,” said foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza announced on Tuesday that 75 Palestinian bodies had arrived at its facilities in the previous 24 hours.
Despite overwhelming international and internal criticism, Israel has announced plans for its army to take control of Gaza City.
Israel’s defence minister has threatened to demolish Gaza City if Hamas does not agree to disarm and release all hostages.
A UN-backed agency has confirmed that a famine is occurring in Gaza City and its surrounding territories.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), more than half a million people in Gaza are living in “catastrophic” conditions marked by “starvation, destitution, and death”.
Israel, which has denied there is famine in the region, labelled the study an “outright lie”.
Israel’s military launched an operation in Gaza in reaction to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 more.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 62,819 individuals have been killed since then.
The majority of Gaza’s population has been moved several times; more than 90% of homes are expected to be damaged or destroyed; and the healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have all collapsed.
