UN, WHO, Türkiye, others condemn Israeli attack that killed 20 including Journalists

The United Nations, World Health Organization and countries have reacted to the latest Israeli offensive in Gaza that claimed the lives of at least 20 people including five journalists.

The air strikes which happened on Monday 25th August at the Nasser Medical center in the Khan Younis area consisted of two attacks.

United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in an interview with Al Jazeera condemned the attack, describing it as "disgraceful" and "abominable," calling for urgent sanctions. 

Meanwhile Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy join a growing number of nations condemning the attacks while calling for Israel to provide a safe haven for Journalists. 

Turkey's presidential communications office in a post on X on Monday called Israel's latest strikes on Gaza "an attack on press freedom and another war crime while UK David Lammy also in a post on X said he was “horrified” and called for the protection of civilians, healthcare workers and Journalists. 

The Spanish Government in a statement released on Monday condemned Israel's attack on the Nasser Hospital in Gaza, calling it a "flagrant" and "unacceptable" violation of humanitarian law.

While Italian foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told news agency ANSA "We believe it is right to guarantee the safety of journalists, and it is right that journalists can also carry out their work in the Gaza Strip,”

The Israeli Military in a statement released after the attacks says that it does not target journalists and has ordered an investigation into the matter. 

“Earlier today (Monday), IDF troops carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such.” it said in the statement. 

A video published by Al Jazeera in the aftermath of the strikes appears to show hospital staff evacuating in panic among debris and smoke after the hospital was hit. 

Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed in the first strike, according to the officials. Photographer Hatem Khaled, who was also a Reuters contractor, was wounded in a second strike on the hospital, they said.

Witnesses said the second strike took place after rescue workers, journalists and other people had rushed to the site of the initial attack.

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