Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills 20, Including Five Journalists

An Israeli airstrike hit a hospital in the Gaza Strip on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people and injuring dozens more, according to reports from Palestinian health officials. Among the deceased were five journalists who were at the medical facility at the time of the attack.

The strike caused significant damage to the hospital, which was reportedly overwhelmed with patients and displaced Palestinians seeking shelter from ongoing hostilities. Emergency crews were seen digging through rubble to rescue the wounded in the aftermath of the explosion.

The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the operation, stating it targeted a "command and control center" allegedly operated by the militant group Hamas within the hospital complex. The military claimed Hamas systematically uses civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, for military purposes, a charge Hamas denies.

This incident is expected to significantly escalate international pressure on Israel over the high civilian casualty toll in its military campaign in Gaza, which was launched in response to a deadly incursion by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7. The targeting of medical facilities and the killing of journalists are particularly sensitive issues under international law.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and other media freedom organizations have been notified and are likely to issue statements condemning the deaths of the media personnel. 

The strike marks one of the single deadliest incidents involving a medical facility in the recent conflict, raising urgent questions about the protection of civilians and the conduct of warfare in one of the world's most densely populated areas.