Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday issued a statement expressing deep regret after an Israeli strike at Gaza’s Nasser hospital killed at least 20 people, including five journalists.
Describing the incident as a “tragic mishap”, Netanyahu emphasised that Israel does not target civilians and values the work of journalists, medical staff, and other individuals caught in the ongoing conflict.
He further stated that the military authorities had launched a thorough investigation into the incident.
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“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,” the Israeli prime minister said in a post on X.
“Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation,” Netanyahu said.
“Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home,” he added.
Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza.
Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation.
Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) August 25, 2025
Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills 20
The Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip on Monday killed at least 20 people, including five journalists.
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The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged launching strikes targeting the area and said that the chief of the general staff had ordered an inquiry.
The IDF “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such. The IDF acts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible while maintaining the safety of IDF troops,” it said.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that the military, in line with international law, would launch an investigation into the incident.
“As always, we will present our findings as transparently as possible,” he said.
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“Reporting from an active war zone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organisation such as Hamas, which cynically hides behind the civilian population,” he said.
World leaders and journalist groups condemn Gaza strike
The Committee to Protect Journalists released a statement, carried by news agency Reuters, “The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Israeli strikes that killed five journalists in Nasser hospital in southern Gaza and calls for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its continued unlawful attacks on the press.”
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said the strike was a deliberate attempt to silence the media. “This heinous crime represents a dangerous escalation in the direct and deliberate targeting of Palestinian journalists… with the aim of terrorising journalists and preventing them from carrying out their mission of exposing its crimes to the world,” the group said, quoted by Reuters.
French President Emmanuel Macron said, “This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected in all circumstances. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict.”
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The strike killed five journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, along with other outlets.
Trump claims war in Gaza would reach a ‘conclusive ending’ in coming weeks
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed that the ongoing war in Gaza would reach a “conclusive ending” in the coming two to three weeks.
“I think within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have pretty good, conclusive — a conclusive ending,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
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“Right now, they’re talking about Gaza City. They’re always talking about something,” he said. “At some point, it’s going to get settled… You better get it settled soon.”
(With inputs from agencies)